In the book of Daniel, the climax of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream is the rock that struck the feet of the statue, destroyed it, and then grew to be a mountain that filled the whole earth. Daniel interpreted this part of the dream, saying, “And in the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor shall it be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold.” (Daniel 2:44-45). Continue reading ““Rock of Ages””
“Magnificence for Strength”
The Book of Daniel is a magnificent story of the triumph of Daniel and three other godly men in the midst of the moral and spiritual miasma of ancient Babylon. But it is also a record of important visions that prophesy both immediate and distant historical events. Critical scholars of the Old Testament have been hard on Daniel – they cannot believe that God could have given his servant revelations of actual historical events to come. Continue reading ““Magnificence for Strength””
“To God Be the Glory”
When the command went out to execute the astrologers, Daniel was included. Soon the commander of the king’s guard, came to escort Daniel and his friends to death row.
At this point young Daniel reveals an astonishing measure of faith. He went to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him. Where did Daniel get faith in God strong enough to make such an offer? Continue reading ““To God Be the Glory””
“God of the Nations”
At the end of Daniel 1 we are told that God gave Daniel three things. Because of his decision not to defile himself with the food and culture of the Babylonians, God granted Daniel wisdom beyond the wisdom of the Babylonians, influence beyond that of any in the kingdom, and health that resulted in long life. However, when we move from the end of the first to the beginning of the second chapter, we find that each of these is at once either disregarded or threatened. Continue reading ““God of the Nations””
“A Young Man Makes A Decision”
The most important verse in the first chapter of Daniel is verse 8, which says, “But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine.”
What is your reaction to that? Remember that Daniel was a young man at this time. We know from the later development of the story that he lived for a very long time beyond this – through the rule of four emperors. He was probably in his nineties when he died. So at this point he was probably between fifteen and seventeen. Continue reading ““A Young Man Makes A Decision””
“Freedom In Slavery”
In 605 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar invaded Judah and enslaved many of the brightest and most promising Hebrew boys and took them back to Babylon. In Babylon they were to be trained for three years and then placed into the Babylonian King’s service. Approximately fifteen years of age, Daniel. Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four of the Hebrew boys who were first captured. Continue reading ““Freedom In Slavery””