Posts that reference the book of Daniel

Intercession: Identification

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

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

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

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

Study Tip: Study Like a King

By Paula

After checking Ezra's and Daniel's Bible study examples, this week we'll look at the model for kings.

In Deuteronomy, in some of Moses' final teachings to Israel, he gives the standard for future kings of Israel.

Also it shall be, when [the king] sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel. Deuteronomy 17:18-20

Did you catch those details?
1. Write out a copy – longhand.
2. Keep it close.
3. Read it every single day

Moses then lists several reasons and benefits for the king if he follows this program.
1. He'll learn to fear God
2. He'll be careful to obey it God's laws. If he knows the law by heart, he won't deviate from it.
3. He won't think he's better than his subjects.
4. His reign will be extended, and his children will succeed him.

Sadly, the Old Testament history books show that few of the kings took Moses' advice.

Do you think the model is still valid?

Study Tip: Daniel’s Example

By Paula

Last week, we looked at Ezra's example of progressing Bible study. Today, we'll see what Daniel can teach us.

He says in Daniel 9:2 "In the first year of [Darius'] reign I, Daniel, understood … the word of the Lord through Jeremiah."

A super short reading, but there's a great model even in those few words. So what can we draw from this?

Never stop studying. There are always new insights to be gained.

By this time, Daniel was around 85 years old, having lived in Babylon for the last 70 of those years. And finally, after years of reading, studying, fasting and praying, God made a specific portion of the word come into clear focus for him.

Keep studying what you think you know.

No doubt, Daniel had read Jeremiah over and over and over in the course of his life. However, his diligence was rewarded.

God's word can help put your situation in perspective.

Jeremiah's writing helped Daniel see the Babylonian captivity as part of God's larger plan for dealing with the nation of Israel. He could see a purpose behind the difficult years in Babylon and a hope for the future.

Finally- did you see not only did Daniel keep notes about his study, but he shared what he learned? Just sayin' 🙂

Intercession: Identification

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

Identifying with sinners is Christlike.

Identifying with sinners is not sinning with them.

The people may never know you are interceding for them.

A Study in Contrasts: Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael

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

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

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.

Praying Like Daniel

Study Tip: Daniel

Study Tip: Study Like a King

Study Tip: Daniel’s Example

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