Posts that reference the book of Daniel

STT: The Prayer-Reading Method

STT: Prayer-Reading Method title graphic featuring praying hands over an open Bible

When Daniel received divine revelation, his immediate response was prayer: “Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes” (Daniel 9:3). His example shows us that Scripture study and prayer are meant to be intimately connected.

The Prayer-Reading Method interweaves Bible study with prayer, creating a dynamic conversation with God rather than a one-sided academic exercise. This approach transforms Bible study from information gathering to relationship building.

1. Prepare Your Heart

Begin with an attitude of receptivity:

Acknowledge God’s presence with you
Confess any known sin that might hinder communion
Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your understanding
Express your desire to hear from God

A simple prayer might be: “Lord, open my eyes to see wonderful things in your Word. Speak, for your servant is listening.”

2. Read Prayerfully

Approach the text as God’s personal message:

Read slowly and attentively
Pause after significant verses
Listen for the Spirit’s prompting
Be alert to words or phrases that stand out

As you read Psalm 46, you might pause at “Be still, and know that I am God” (v.10), sensing God’s invitation to quiet your anxious thoughts.

3. Respond in Prayer

Turn the text back into conversation:

Praise God for truths revealed about His character
Confess areas where you fall short of His standards
Thank Him for promises and provisions mentioned
Ask for help to apply what you’re learning

If studying Romans 8:15, you might pray: “Father, thank you that I am your child. Help me to live today not in fear but in the confidence of your love.”

4. Listen in Silence

Allow space for God to speak:

Sit quietly after reading and praying
Reflect on impressions or insights that come
Consider how the passage connects to your current circumstances
Note any action steps the Spirit brings to mind

For your next study session: Try the Prayer-Reading method with Psalm 139. Read a few verses, then pause to pray in response to what you’ve read. Continue this pattern through the psalm. Notice how this approach transforms your reading from a monologue into a dialogue with God.

How might this conversational approach to Scripture deepen your relationship with God beyond just acquiring biblical knowledge?

STT: Seas

By Paula Wiseman

Study Tip Tuesday Water Water Everywhere Seas title graphic

“You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them.” – Psalm 89:9

Throughout Scripture, seas and oceans represent more than vast bodies of water—they embody both chaos and divine control, danger and deliverance. By understanding how God interacts with the seas, we gain profound insights into His sovereignty, power, and redemptive purposes.

The Red Sea: Waters of Deliverance and Judgment

The Red Sea crossing stands as one of the most dramatic sea narratives in Scripture, revealing God’s dual purpose through water:

Deliverance

God parted the waters to create a path of escape for His people: “The Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided” (Exodus 14:21)
Israel passed through on dry ground, experiencing God’s protection within what should have been a place of death (Exodus 14:22)
This deliverance became a defining moment in Israel’s identity, repeatedly referenced throughout Scripture as evidence of God’s faithfulness (Psalm 106:9-11, Isaiah 51:10)

Judgment

The same waters that delivered Israel destroyed Pharaoh’s army: “The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen” (Exodus 14:28)
This dual function established a pattern seen throughout Scripture: the same divine action brings both salvation and judgment depending on one’s relationship with God

The Sea of Galilee: Waters of Ministry and Miracles

This freshwater lake (actually a sea by biblical definition) features prominently in Jesus’ ministry:

Jesus called His first disciples from among fishermen on these shores (Matthew 4:18-22)
Many of His teachings occurred near or on these waters, including parables from boats (Mark 4:1-2)
Jesus demonstrated His authority over creation by calming the stormy sea (Mark 4:35-41)
He revealed His divine nature by walking on these waters (Matthew 14:22-33)
The Sea of Galilee became the backdrop for the miraculous catch of fish, both early in His ministry (Luke 5:1-11) and after His resurrection (John 21:1-14)

The Mediterranean Sea: Waters of Mission and Providence

The “Great Sea” of biblical times played a crucial role in the spread of the gospel:

Paul’s missionary journeys frequently involved Mediterranean Sea travel (Acts 13-28)
His shipwreck experience demonstrated God’s providential care even amid maritime disaster (Acts 27:13-44)
The Mediterranean connected the early church communities, allowing for the spread of letters and teachings

Seas as Symbol of Chaos and Evil

In ancient Near Eastern thought, seas represented primordial chaos, which God’s creative power ordered (Genesis 1:2, 6-10)
The prophets used sea imagery to represent hostile nations and forces opposing God’s people (Isaiah 17:12-13)
Daniel’s vision depicts beasts rising from the sea, symbolizing threatening empires (Daniel 7:2-3)
The beast of Revelation emerges from the sea, representing anti-God political power (Revelation 13:1)

Seas as Display of Divine Power

God’s control over the seas demonstrates His sovereignty: “The sea is his, for he made it” (Psalm 95:5)
Jesus’ authority over stormy waters revealed His divine nature to the disciples: “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41)
God sets boundaries for the seas, showing His ordering of creation: “I placed boundaries on it and set a bolt and doors, and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther'” (Job 38:10-11)

The Promise of No More Sea

Revelation’s vision of the new creation declares, “the sea was no more” (Revelation 21:1)
This symbolizes the end of chaos, separation, danger, and all that threatens God’s people
The absence of sea represents the complete victory of divine order over chaos

When you encounter seas and oceans in your Bible reading, consider:

Theological significance: How does this passage reveal God’s power over chaos and evil?
Narrative purpose: How does the sea function in this story—as barrier, instrument of judgment, or setting for divine revelation?
Symbolic meaning: What might the sea represent in this context—chaos, nations, separation, or danger?
New Testament connections: How does Jesus’ interaction with the sea fulfill or transform Old Testament sea imagery?

Seas in Scripture remind us that what appears most threatening and uncontrollable to us remains fully under God’s sovereign command. The waters that seem ready to overwhelm us can become, in His hands, the very means of our deliverance.

Intercession: Identification

By Paula Wiseman

Intercession is intervening. More specifically it is going to God on someone’s behalf. In the Old Testament, the priests did this. As New Testament believers, we are priests (1 Peter 2:9, Rev 5:10). We have access to God through Jesus Christ, but rather than enter the Holy Place in the tabernacle or Temple, we enter God’s presence through prayer. It a holy privilege and duty, not to be taken lightly. But it is no less strenuous and sometimes no less messy. Last week we looked at Nehemiah and his BURDEN for others. This week, let’s learn from Daniel and his IDENTIFICATION with those for whom he was interceding.

We know Daniel was a man of prayer. Habitual, heartfelt, prayer. Several are recorded in Scripture, but we are going to focus on his great prayer is in Daniel 9:4-19.

I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. Daniel 9:4-5 (ESV)

Look at what Daniel confessed. WE have sinned, done wrong, acted wickedly, rebelled and turned aside. Daniel had not done any of those things. I mean, he wasn’t perfect, but his life was exemplary. Was it false modesty? Was it delusion? Was it an overly active guilty conscience? No. None of those. He was identifying himself with his people who needed God’s forgiveness and help.

It takes humility and compassion to identify with those who have sinned and stand in need of prayer.

In the days of the Old Testament sacrifices, the one bringing the offering would first put his hands on the animal’s head in a symbolic gesture. It was a way of proclaiming, “The death of the animal is the death I should have received because of my sin.” That’s the humility part.

But it also takes a deep sense of compassion for those in sin, and sense of responsibility for their well-being. Daniel had just finished reading Jeremiah and he understood that the exile was the outworking of God’s judgment. Now the people would continue to suffer unless God showed them mercy. Because Daniel loved his people and identified with them, he interceded for God to act quickly to forgive them and restore them (vv. 16-19)

Identifying with sinners is Christlike.

Jesus Christ identified with us. Philippians 2:8 explains how He humbled Himself and became a man. Hebrews 2:9-10 shows us that His being made a little lower than the angels allowed Him to go through the death sentence for every person.

Identifying with sinners is not sinning with them.

It is intervening on their behalf before the Father. Again, Jesus did not sin. Ever. Daniel did not commit the sins that caused the captivity of Judah. But their love for others, their heartbreak at the suffering caused them to act. In an oversimplified analogy, think of it like a prince who has access to his father the king. The prince knows a group of people in his kingdom who are suffering because they rebelled against the king. But the prince goes and asks for the king to be merciful. While the king might not hear the rebels, he might be moved by the pleas of his son.

The people may never know you are interceding for them.

It is unlikely the people in Judah knew how Daniel prayed for them. We don’t know all the ways Jesus intercedes for us even today. That shouldn’t stop us. In humility, we don’t pray to win points with God or with those we pray for. We do it because we love people, we want God to bless them and we know that God cannot bless them in their rebellion against Him?

So, what situations cause your heart to break because you know God is not pleased? What injustices need to be made right for us to live as God’s people? These things, the things that move you are invitations to intercession. Take those opportunities, identify with those people, and meet God in humility and with compassion just like Daniel.

A Study in Contrasts: Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael

By Paula Wiseman

Study in Contrasts Hananiah Azariah and Mishael title graphic

Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael responded, But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” Daniel 3:18

We are continuing our look at contrasts in Scripture marked by the conjunction “but.” Today let’s look at a story we’ve known since preschool. Three young men, who were friends of Daniel, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, were officials in the Babylonian government of King Nebuchadnezzar. They weren’t “children” any more than the “children of Israel” were. They are tremendous examples of courage and faith. That “but” is the high point of their testimony.

As the account begins, the king had erected a giant statue on the plain at Dura. Its dedication was set to be a great celebration and all the government officials from all the provinces were summoned. The program was straightforward. The court musicians would play an anthem which was the cue for all the officials to bow down and worship the statue, and by extension, the king. In short, it was a recognition of the deity of the king.

You know what happens. The young men refuse to bow and they are brought before the king. He gives them another chance. “But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?” (Daniel 3:15) The king asserts he is the most powerful deity around.

The first commandment the LORD gave His people at Sinai was “I am the LORD, your God. You will have no other gods before me.” And the second, “You shall not make any kind of image for yourselves to worship.” Nebuchadnezzar’s statute and the requirement to bow down and worship were clear-cut violations of these first two commandments. These young men resolved to disobey the king rather than Yahweh. It’s easy to skim over that commitment but let’s think about what these guys had been through.

The first Babylonian captivity in 605 BC saw Daniel and his friends taken to a foreign country as prisoners. Their parents are never mentioned and its not unreasonable to think they were murdered by the Babylonians. The goal was to disrupt Jewish society, to induce terror and eventually submission. So the people of God, the ones with the Law, with the priesthood, with the Temple, had seemingly been abandoned by God.

We have to remain faithful to the sovereign God in spite of the events around us.

That’s the first lesson we can take away. We have to remain faithful to the sovereign God in spite of the events around us. So many of the Jews in captivity settled in, adopted as much of Babylonian culture as they could. In fact, after the seventy years of captivity, the majority opted to stay in Babylon rather than return to their homeland. Perhaps they were strengthened by God’s faithfulness to Daniel. But I suspect it was more their own personal commitment to God.

The young men answer the king. Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” Daniel 3:16-18

Being faithful to God doesn’t mean being disrespectful to unbelievers.

Here’s a second lesson. Being faithful to God doesn’t mean being disrespectful to unbelievers. Our current culture is one of rank disrespect to anyone who doesn’t see eye to eye with us on everything. But we don’t have to be like the culture. In fact, Proverbs tells us, “When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” (16:7) Let’s strive to be that kind of believer.

The king is enraged by Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael’s resolve and they are thrown into a furnace, probably the one used to prepare and refine the metal for the statue. Not only do the men survive but they are joined by a preincarnate Christ.

Sometimes God does not deliver us FROM the fires. His purposes are better served by having us go THROUGH the fire, but when that is the case, HE is there WITH us.

That’s the third critical lesson. Sometimes God does not deliver us FROM the fires. His purposes are better served by having us go THROUGH the fire, but when that is the case, HE is there WITH us. The last words Jesus spoke before He ascended were, “Remember, I am with you always.” (Matthew 28:20)

That promise still holds.

Praying Like Daniel

By Paula Wiseman

There are many prayers recorded in Scripture. Daniel’s are some of my favorites. Consider this one from chapter 2.

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
For wisdom and might are His.
And He changes the times and the seasons;
He removes kings and raises up kings;
He gives wisdom to the wise
And knowledge to those who have understanding.
He reveals deep and secret things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And light dwells with Him.
I thank You and praise You,
O God of my fathers;
You have given me wisdom and might,
And have now made known to me what we asked of You,
For You have made known to us the king’s demand.” (Daniel 2:20-23)

We may never find ourselves in a situation like the one Daniel was in, but we can pray like Daniel.

Begin with a statement of praise for two of God’s attributes.
Then name two things God does,
Two gifts God gives,
One more thing He does,
One thing He knows,
And one more attribute.
End with a statement of thanks and praise using a personal name for God for something He has given you, and for a prayer He has answered.

Journal your prayer. Try rewriting it in a week or so.

Study Tip: Daniel

By Paula Wiseman

Daniel is the last of the major prophets, but he's probably the most familiar. After all, he's got good stories. From the time we are kids in Sunday school, we hear about the lions' den, the fiery furnace, the handwriting on the wall and even the one about how Daniel chose vegetables. Those are great stories for sure. (The handwriting on the wall is one of my favorites … As a matter of fact, I need to work that into a book sometime.)

However, if we reduce the book of Daniel to nothing more than a collection of stories better suited to a children's Bible, we miss not only an unparalleled character profile of a man singularly devoted to God, but we also miss one of the two most significant apocalyptic visions God gives.

Daniel is taken into captivity as a young teenager, probably 12-15 years old. His parents were likely executed by the Babylonians. He spends the next seventy plus years in Babylon, most of them as a high-ranking government official. During his later adult years, God begins to give him intense visions of the future which he faithfully records. In fact some scholars question Daniel's authorship because his predictions are so spot on, they assert they must have been written after the fact.

So how should you approach Daniel?

If prophecy is intimidating, stick with the first six chapters. They are a chronological narrative, and are easy to follow.

People – Look at the people, especially Daniel and his friends. What do you notice about their faith in spite of their adverse circumstances? How does Daniel deal with opposition? What other traits are worth emulating?

Kings – What do you learn about the three kings mentioned (Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar and Darius)? How do they respond to God?

Prayers – Look at Daniel's prayers. (You may need to slide into the last few chapters to get them all.) How does he approach God? Notice how he intercedes.

Miracles – What miracles does God perform? What message is He sending by performing them?

Now, a word or two about prophecy…

It's hard to interpret.

We don't have all pieces.

Nobody has all the answers.

That said, if you dive into those last six chapters of Daniel (plus chapter 2 with Nebuchadnezzar's vision) you'll get a framework for end-time events. Taken with John's Revelation in the New Testament, they mesh together, offering two perspectives of the same time period.

Read carefully and notice time markers like "after this."

Focus on the "big picture" message rather than obsessing about what details like "seven heads and ten horns" means.

Then the big question, based on your understanding of the end-times, do you need to make changes in your life now?

Do you have a favorite story in Daniel?

Next week – Back to the New Testament – James