Today’s Reading: Zechariah 1-2

RETURN, rebuild, renew, repent.

Return to me. Come to me. Pursue my ways for I have redeemed you.

The Lord says, “Come away! Flee from Babylon in the land of the north, for I have scattered you to the four winds. Come away, people of Zion, you who are exiled in Babylon!” – Zechariah 2:6-7

Yet even now, be free from your captivity! Leave Babylon and the Babylonians.
Sing out this message! Shout it to the ends of the earth!
The Lord has redeemed his servants, the people of Israel. – Isaiah 48:20

Just as God had promised, the exile for the Hebrews ended after seventy years. Cyrus the Great, King of Persia, conquered Babylon and allowed all of the nations exiled to Babylon to return to their homelands. He did this in order to form alliances with these nations, expecting loyalty in future diplomatic matters. The Jews returned to Judah and Jerusalem. The stories of their return are recorded by the prophets Haggai, Zechariah, Ezra, Nehemiah and Malachi. God was calling His people to return – return to the Promised Land and return to Him.

“I, the Lord, was very angry with your ancestors. Therefore, say to the people, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Return to me and I will return to you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.’ Don’t be like your ancestors who would not listen or pay attention when the earlier prophets said to them, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Turn from your evil ways, and stop all your evil practices.’

“Where are your ancestors now? They and the prophets are long dead. But everything I said through my servants the prophets happened to your ancestors, just as I said. As a result, they repented and said, ‘We have received what we deserved from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. He has done what he said he would do.’” – Zechariah 1:2-6

I once heard someone say, “We may waiver in our faith, but God never waivers in His faithfulness.” That is so true. God is consistent and we can trust that He will do what He says He will do. The same God who was calling to the fickle Israelites to return to Him is offering us grace when we stray away. He opens the way for us to RETURN to Him so that we can once again be drawn into His presence.

Return to me. Come to me. Pursue my ways for I have redeemed you.

The Lord says, “Shout and rejoice, O beautiful Jerusalem, for I am coming to live among you. Many nations will join themselves to the Lord on that day, and they, too, will be my people. I will live among you, and you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies sent me to you. The land of Judah will be the Lord’s special possession in the holy land, and he will once again choose Jerusalem to be his own city. Be silent before the Lord, all humanity, for he is springing into action from his holy dwelling.” – Zechariah 2:10-13

What a powerful visual of God’s love for us. He is springing into action on our behalf and happy to do it! He was coming to live among His people in order to show them mercy and carry out His plan of redemption. That’s how much He loves us! He desires to create a path of reconciliation for us to travel as we return to Him — as we flee from our “Babylon”. He came to us so that we could come to Him — so that we could be set free from our captivity. He describes this love for us as passionate and strong (1:14).

Are you praying for a prodigal in your life to RETURN to the Lord? Are you hoping they will turn from the evil ways of this world and receive all God has planned for them? I join you today in praying for those who are lost. May they hear the call of Jesus to come to Him. May they understand the extent Christ went to for them to be redeemed and set free.

Return to me. Come to me. Pursue my ways for I have redeemed you.

Today’s Reading: Daniel 11-12; Psalm 129

In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) had another vision. He understood that the vision concerned events certain to happen in the future—times of war and great hardship. When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three whole weeks. – Daniel 10:1-2

Daniel’s visions spoke of what would happen in the near future and also what would happen at the end of time. Daniel’s vision spoke of a long battle between the king of the north and the king of the south — how each would plot against each other and attempt to deceive each other. With Israel positioned between the two nations, the wrath of the battle will be poured out against the people of the holy covenant. The king of the north will reward those who forsake the covenant, flattering and winning them over.

But the people who KNOW their God will be strong and will resist him. – Daniel 11:32

THOSE WHO KNOW THEIR GOD WILL BE STRONG AND ABLE TO RESIST THEIR OPPRESSOR!

Praise God! The God who draws us into a personal relationship with Him strengthens us through that relationship. It is our connection, our intimacy with God that gives us the strength to resist evil. And it is the experience of facing a battle with evil that changes us. It refines us, cleanses us and makes us pure.

And some of the wise will fall victim to persecution. In this way, they will be refined and cleansed and made pure until the time of the end, for the appointed time is still to come. – Daniel 11:35

Praise God! He does not leave us alone during difficult times. He does not ask us to do something by ourselves, of our own strength. He is with us. His angels are defending us. He is strengthening us for that to which he has called us. Then he allows the difficult times to refine us, and to make us clean and pure before Him.

The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace. – Psalm 29:11

I am so thankful this morning that our God gives us strength. I have prayed a lot this year for strength and peace, and God has been faithful. This year would have been a lot more difficult if I had not felt that connection with God. I pray that God will use today’s verses to encourage you whether you are going through persecution, temptation, or difficulties.

God is awesome in his sanctuary. The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. – Psalm 68:35

God revealed to Daniel what was happening in the spiritual realms, unseen in the earthly realm. What a gift to see beyond our current reality. There is a spiritual battle taking place on behalf of God’s people, and God has commissioned His archangels to fight the battles. It is difficult for us to understand and comprehend the descriptive visions, just as it was difficult for Daniel. Theologians disagree on the meaning of these last three chapters of Daniel, but in this passage we can hear God saying – I will fight the battle; I will be victorious! (Daniel 10:13-14, 20-21).

At that time Michael, the archangel who stands guard over your nation, will arise. Then there will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence. But at that time every one of your people whose name is written in the book will be rescued. Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace. Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever. – Daniel 12:1-3

From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me.
Let all Israel repeat this:
From my earliest youth my enemies have persecuted me,
but they have never defeated me.
My back is covered with cuts,
as if a farmer had plowed long furrows.
But the Lord is good;
he has cut me free from the ropes of the ungodly. — Psalm 129:1-4

LIFE IS HARD BUT THE LORD IS GOOD! LET US PRAISE THE LORD TOGETHER!

The twenty-four elders sitting on their thrones before God fell with their faces to the ground and worshiped him. And they said,
“We give thanks to you, Lord God, the Almighty,
the one who is and who always was,
for now you have assumed your great power
and have begun to reign.
The nations were filled with wrath,
but now the time of your wrath has come.” – Revelation 11:16-18a

Today’s Reading: Daniel 10, Psalm 28

What God was asking of Daniel was huge! His visions left him feeling weak, as if all his strength had left him. Can you relate? Has your life journey or the life situations you are facing left you drained of all energy and strength? Are you feeling alone or unheard? May these words to Daniel wash over you and give you strength. May you hear the voice of God and picture the heavenly realms today. May you know with confidence that you are loved by God and that you are most definitely not alone. God is listening. May you feel the hand of God touch you and lift you up today.

My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak. Then I heard the man speak, and when I heard the sound of his voice, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground. Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees. And the man said to me, “Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling.

Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer.” – Daniel 10:8b-12

Notice the progression of Daniel’s position. He faints and lays with his face to the ground. The hand of God touches him and lifts him up, but only to his hands and knees. Then, with a voice that roared like a vast multitude of people, the man of God told Daniel to stand up. Then Daniel, still trembling, stood up.

DO YOU EVER FIND IT HARD TO PRAY?

Have you ever been so drained from your life experiences, from the struggles and troubles surrounding you, that it was difficult for you to pray? You fall on your face before God and perhaps weep, but there are no words.

There are times when we need the strength of God simply to get on our knees and to be able to come before him and speak — to pray what we are feeling and present our requests to Him. He is just the kind of God to give us the strength we need to pray. Praise God! He also loves us enough to tell us when to stand, to confirm to us that He has heard our prayers.

While he was speaking to me, I looked down to the ground, unable to say a word. Then the one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing in front of me, “I am filled with anguish because of the vision I have seen, my lord, and I am very weak. How can someone like me, your servant, talk to you, my lord? My strength is gone, and I can hardly breathe.” – Daniel 10:15-17

DO YOU EVER FIND IT HARD TO BREATHE?

It’s too much! It’s more than I can handle! I can’t breathe! Have you ever spoken these words or prayed something similar? There are times when what God is asking us to do or asking us to experience seems impossible, seems too big for us. At times the situation ahead is difficult, painful, and overwhelming. Listen to God’s words to Daniel:

“Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!” As he spoke to me, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, “Please speak to me, my lord, for you have strengthened me.” – Daniel 10:19

JUST A WORD FROM GOD AND WE SUDDENLY FEEL STRONGER!

When God speaks, there is a new hope born in us that strengthens us for what is ahead. Praise God, He gives us the strength we need. When we do not have the words to describe what we need or what we are asking God to do for us, He understands our heart and knows our thoughts. That awareness alone can give us the strength we need to put one foot in front of the other, trusting Him to lead us into the unknown.

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. – Romans 8:26-30

Lord, give us a word from you today. Hear our requests and strengthen us. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, align our hearts with the heart of the God who knows us, who hears us, who sees us, and who lovingly says — You are precious to me. Be encouraged. Be strong. Amen.

The Lord gives his people strength. – Psalm 28:8a

Today’s Reading: Ezra 3:7 – 6:14, Psalm 147

With praise and thanks, they sang this song to the Lord: “He is good! His faithful love for Israel endures forever!” Then all the people gave a great shout, praising the Lord because the foundation of the Lord’s Temple had been laid. – Ezra 3:11

When the foundation of the Temple was completed in their second year back in Jerusalem, the people stopped to celebrate. Many wept aloud. Others were shouting for joy. The sounds of the shouts and weeping could be heard far into the distance.

Praise the Lord!
How good to sing praises to our God!
How delightful and how fitting!
The Lord is rebuilding Jerusalem
and bringing the exiles back to Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted
and bandages their wounds.
He counts the stars and calls them all by name.
How great is our Lord! His power is absolute!
His understanding is beyond comprehension! – Psalm 147:1-5

As often happens when things are going well, opposition began to arise among those from other nations who were living in Jerusalem. They wrote a letter back to King Artaxerxes of Persia convincing him to stop the reconstruction of the Temple. Then, with a show of strength, they forced the Jews to stop building. The construction remained at a standstill until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia (Ezra 4:23-24).

This was around the same time that the prophets Haggai and Zechariah were encouraging God’s people to finish what they had started as God had commanded. The building started back up again, as did the opposition. God’s people had confidence that God was watching over them (5:5) and the local residents once again tattled back to the King, reporting that the work was progressing with great energy and success.

King Darius, however, found a scroll with the decree from King Cyrus that the Temple should be rebuilt on the site where the Jews used to offer their sacrifices, using the original foundation (6:3). His reply back to the opposition was to “stay away…do not disturb…let it be rebuilt…do not hinder…Moreover, I hereby decree that you are to help these elders of the Jews as they rebuild this Temple of God. You must pay the full construction costs, without delay, from my taxes collected in the province west of the Euphrates River so that the work will not be interrupted” (Ezra 6:6-8).

King Darius also donated young bulls, rams, and male lambs to be used for burnt offerings presented to the God of heaven, as well as wheat, salt, wine and olive oil. His desire was that the Israelites would present acceptable sacrifices to God and pray for King Darius and his sons.

Do you ever just get tickled at these kinds of stories? We still hear them today! What others do in hopes of harming or discouraging us, God makes into opportunities to bless us! What comes in the form of OPPOSITION becomes OPPORTUNITY. Today’s morning coffee was rich with encouragement for me.

• When we are unified with one purpose given by God, we have the strength to move forward even in the midst of fear and opposition.
• When God works through us to accomplish His will, it is time to celebrate and give Him praise!
• When faced with opposition, trust in God to make something wonderful come out of the struggles.

When opposition grows against us, let’s be encouraged to keep pressing forward. We need to continue to do what God has called us to do, even when commanded to do something different. We need to trust that something beautiful will come out of the struggle.

May this message in Ezra give us a new perspective. Let’s celebrate ALL that is going on in our lives and give Him praise, trusting that OPPOSITION will become OPPORTUNITY for God to do something wonderful in our hearts and in our lives. Let’s move forward in strength, praising God for all He has done and will continue to do in our lives.

Today’s Reading: Ezra 1-3:6, 1 Chronicles 9, 2 Chronicles 36:22-23, Psalm 126

The Persian Empire grew in power, overthrowing the Babylonians and changing the climate in which the exiled Jews were living. This new leader, King Cyrus, had a policy of setting captives free. And, of course, the timing of this change happened at exactly the time God promised it would.

GOD’S HAND WAS NOT ONLY EVIDENT, IT WAS OBVIOUS.

This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Any of you who are the Lord’s people may go there for this task. And may the Lord your God be with you!” – 2 Chronicles 36:23

God stirred the heart of King Cyrus of Persia to let the Israelites return to Jerusalem for the specific purpose of rebuilding the Temple. Then God stirred the hearts of the priests, Levites and all the leaders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple of the Lord. This stirring of hearts created a culture of generosity. Cyrus generously returned 5400 articles of silver and gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Temple. Those who had lived among the Israelites and who had been their neighbors for so many years also gave generously of silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock. They voluntarily lavished God’s people with valuable gifts to take with them.

GOD’S GENEROSITY WAS NOT ONLY EVIDENT, IT WAS OBVIOUS.

In response to this generosity, the leaders of each family unit among the people of God returning to Jerusalem also gave voluntary offerings, each leader giving as much as they could. God was generous, stirring others’ hearts toward generosity, and the response was the desire of God’s people to also be generous (Ezra 2:68-69).

When God’s people arrived in Jerusalem, they assembled with a unified purpose – to rebuild God’s Temple. During the seventy years that the Israelites had been gone, other people groups had settled into the city, making it their home. God’s people were intimidated by the foreigners who had moved into their city, but they found the courage to rebuild the altar, overcoming their fear in favor of leaning into their faith. They began sacrificing burnt offerings on the altar of the Lord each morning and evening (Ezra 3:3).

Imagine the excitement after all these years to be back home again, offering daily sacrifices to God – dedicating each day to God. The first Festival they celebrated was the Festival of Shelters, reminding the people of God’s guidance and care for His people as they spent 40 years living in tents in the desert as they traveled from exile in Egypt to their new home in the Promised Land. Wow! How significant this must have been to the people as they had just completed their own journey living in tents, traveling from exile in Babylon back home to Jerusalem. God’s timing is always significant!

GOD’S PROVISION WAS NOT ONLY EVIDENT, IT WAS OBVIOUS.

When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem,
it was like a dream!
We were filled with laughter,
and we sang for joy.
And the other nations said,
“What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”
Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us!
What joy!
Restore our fortunes, Lord,
as streams renew the desert.
Those who plant in tears
will harvest with shouts of joy.
They weep as they go to plant their seed,
but they sing as they return with the harvest. – Psalm 126

What a great reminder for us today! Father God, help us to always trust your timing and recognize your hand at work in our lives. Lord, we celebrate all of the amazing things you have done and are doing in our lives. We trust you for what is to come, even when it seems far away. We pray that you will create a stirring in our lives, reminding us that you are on the move. May others see our lives and say, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.” Amen.

Today’s Reading: Daniel 9, Psalm 66

Daniel was a young man when he was brought into the royal service, but he would have heard the stories of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob from his parents and grandparents. He might have celebrated Passover and heard how the angel of death passed over the homes of the Israelites. He would have heard the stories of how Moses led them out of captivity in Egypt into the Promised Land, and he most likely had the Ten Commandments memorized. Yet now, at this stage in his life, he was coming to a new understanding of what God had done for His people, despite their continued unfaithfulness generation after generation.

During the first year of King Darius’ reign, Daniel was studying the word of the Lord as revealed to Jeremiah the prophet. He read that this exile to Babylon was to last seventy years. It must have become apparent to him that the seventy years was coming close to completion. He saw the need for his countrymen and his people to fully repent and turn to God, so that their captivity could come to an end and they could return home to Jerusalem.

Daniel put his spiritual concerns ahead of his physical needs and began fasting; he turned to the Lord God in prayer, pleading for his people. He went into mourning by dressing in burlap and sprinkling himself with ashes. He took it upon himself to fall before the Lord and confess on behalf of the Israelites.

DO WE PRAY LIKE THAT?

Are we so concerned with the sins of our society that we fall on our knees and confess on behalf of our country? What would happen if we chose to pray like Daniel prayed — with fervency and desperation? What if we would weep as Jesus did when he looked out over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41)? What if we prayed this prayer:

“O Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill your covenant and keep your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey your commands. But we have sinned and done wrong. We have rebelled against you and scorned your commands and regulations. We have refused to listen to your servants, the prophets…

“Lord, you are in the right; but as you see, our faces are covered with shame. This is true of all of us, including the people of Judah and Jerusalem and all Israel, scattered near and far, wherever you have driven us because of our disloyalty to you. O Lord, we and our kings, princes, and ancestors are covered with shame because we have sinned against you. But the Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him. We have not obeyed the Lord our God, for we have not followed the instructions he gave us through his servants the prophets…

“…we have refused to seek mercy from the Lord our God by turning from our sins and recognizing his truth. Therefore, the Lord has brought upon us the disaster he prepared. The Lord our God was right to do all of these things, for we did not obey him…

“O our God, hear your servant’s prayer! Listen as I plead. For your own sake, Lord, smile again on your desolate sanctuary. O my God, lean down and listen to me. Open your eyes and see our despair. See how your city – the city that bears your name – lies in ruins. We make this plea, not because we deserve help, but because of your mercy. O LORD, HEAR. O LORD, FORGIVE. O LORD, LISTEN AND ACT! For your own sake, do not delay, O my God, for your people and your city bear your name.” – Daniel 9:4-19

DO WE PRAY LIKE THAT?

What happens next reminds us that God hears our prayers, sees our hearts and responds generously from His own heart. Consider what the angel Gabriel said to Daniel in response to his prayer, and hear God’s words to you this morning as you pour out your heart to Him.

“Daniel, I have come here to give you insight and understanding. The moment you began praying, a command was given. And now I am here to tell you what it was, for you are very precious to God…” – Daniel 9:22-23

Action was taken the moment Daniel began praying; the answer to his prayer began the moment he asked. Do we want to see God do something incredible for our nation in the next year? I think it is time to start praying for just that.

Dear Lord, this morning we come before you in repentance for our own sins and for the sins of our nation. Heavenly Father, you have poured out your blessings upon us and we have rebelled against you. As a nation, we have not obeyed you. O merciful God, lean down and listen to us this morning. We plea for your mercy on behalf of our country, even though we do not deserve it. O Lord, hear. O Lord, forgive. O Lord, listen and act! Please give us new insight and understanding. Like Daniel, may we hear from you today and feel your love. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Daniel 8, Revelation 13:11-18

In the third year of King Belshazzar’s reign, Daniel saw another vision. The vision started with a ram standing beside the Ulai River. The ram had two horns, one longer than the other.

The ram butted everything out of his way to the west, to the north, and to the south, and no one could stand against him or help his victims. He did as he pleased and became very great. – Daniel 8:4

As Daniel watched, a shaggy male goat appeared from the west so quickly that his feet did not even touch the ground. He had a large horn between his eyes and came charging at the ram, striking him and breaking off both of his horns. Now the ram who had become so great was the helpless one. The goat knocked him down and trampled on him and there was nothing anyone could do to rescue the ram from the powerful goat.

The goat continued to grow more and more powerful until his horn was broken off and replaced by four horns pointing in all four directions — west, north, east and south. Then from one of the horns came a small horn who grew in power. It reached up to the heavens to attack the heavenly army, knocking some of the heavenly beings and stars to the ground and trampling on them. It canceled the daily sacrifices to the Commander of heaven’s army and destroyed the temple.

Then I heard two holy ones talking to each other. One of them asked, “How long will the events of this vision last? How long will the rebellion that causes desecration stop the daily sacrifices? How long will the Temple and heaven’s army be trampled on?” The other replied, “It will take 2300 evenings and mornings; then the Temple will be made right again.” – Daniel 8:13-14

The angel Gabriel appeared to Daniel to explain that these events would take place at the very end of time. Overwhelmed by all he saw, Daniel fainted with his face to the ground. The same angel who announced the birth of John the Baptist and then the birth of Jesus Christ reached down to Daniel and helped him to his feet. He explained that the two-horned ram represented the kings of Media and Persia, and the goat represented the king of Greece (Alexander the Great) and how his kingdom would be split into four kingdoms. He then spoke to Daniel of another leader who would rise up at the end of human history.

“At the end of their rule, when their sin is at its height, a fierce king, a master of intrigue, will rise to power. He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause a shocking amount of destruction and succeed in everything he does. He will destroy powerful leaders and devastate the holy people. He will be a master of deception and will become arrogant; he will destroy many without warning. He will even take on the Prince of princes in battle, but HE WILL BE BROKEN, though not by human power.” – Daniel 8:23-25

OUR GOD WILL PREVAIL

Paul spoke of this great rebellion in his second letter to the Church of Thessalonica. He told how a man of lawlessness will exalt himself and defy God, even sitting in the temple of God claiming to be God. He will come to do the work of Satan but our God will prevail!

For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way. Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will kill him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming.

This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth. – 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12

Lawlessness is already at work all around us, but it is being held back from its full potential of destruction. Although it would be easy to succumb to fear of the unknown turmoil to come, we can rejoice in the power of our Savior. All the Lord Jesus will have to do is breathe for this man of lawlessness to be killed. Jesus will come in all of His splendor and evil will be destroyed.

So do not be deceived by evil. Choose to love and accept the truth that can and will save us. Cling to the truth and refrain from being enticed by all this sinful world tempts us to enjoy. The pleasures of this world are temporary, its power is counterfeit and its promises are false. Jesus will come, evil will be destroyed, and our God will prevail!

Then I saw the beast and the kings of the world and their armies gathered together to fight against the one sitting on the horse and his army. And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast… – Revelation 19:19-20a

Today’s Reading: Daniel 7, Revelation 13:1-10

Once more, we see evidence in the book of Daniel of how arrogance and pride can be destructive. Daniel had a dream during the first year of King Belshazzar’s reign and then again during his third year. These next two chapters reveal the dreams and then explain the meaning behind the dreams.

OUR FUTURE IS STRONG IN THE HANDS OF GOD!

Picture a powerful storm swirling around over a great sea with strong winds blowing in every direction. Out of the water came four huge beasts. The first beast was like a lion with eagles’ wings and a human mind, the second beast was like a large bear who was given the command to devour human flesh, and the third beast who was given great authority looked like a leopard with 4 wings and 4 heads.

Daniel described the fourth beast as terrifying, dreadful and very strong. It devoured its victims with its strong iron teeth and trampled them with its feet. It had 10 horns that represented kings but another small horn appeared as Daniel watched; it had human eyes and a mouth that boasted arrogantly. It was waging war against God’s holy people and defeating them until the Ancient One — the Holy One — came and judged in favor of His holy people (7:21-22).

I watched as thrones were put in place
and the Ancient One sat down to judge.
His clothing was as white as snow,
his hair like purest wool.
He sat on a fiery throne
with wheels of blazing fire,
and a river of fire was pouring out,
flowing from his presence.
Millions of angels ministered to him;
many millions stood to attend him.
Then the court began its session,
and the books were opened. – Daniel 7:9-10

Out of the four beasts that represented four nations, the only one that was immediately killed and destroyed by fire was the little horn whose speech was described as boastful. The other three lost their authority but were allowed to live a while longer (Daniel 7:11-12). It was as if the Ancient One sitting in judgment had heard enough and swiftly shut the mouth of the beast.

As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed. – Daniel 7:13-14

OUR FUTURE IS STRONG IN THE HANDS OF GOD!

It is difficult to understand how the end times will play out or what Daniel’s visions mean, but it is easy to understand that our God is powerful and that He has always been and will always be victorious. As God’s holy people, we can see that OUR FUTURE IS STRONG IN THE HANDS OF GOD. There is nothing to fear.

“But in the end, the holy people of the Most High will be given the kingdom, and they will rule forever and ever.” – Daniel 7:18

“But then the court will pass judgment, and all his power will be taken away and completely destroyed. Then the sovereignty, power, and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be given to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will last forever, and all rulers will serve and obey him.” – Daniel 7:26-27

OUR FUTURE IS STRONG IN THE HANDS OF GOD!

The future of those who bow to the authority of their Lord and Savior holds victory. But let us also remember that the future of those who are arrogant and proud is bleak. Those whose speech is boastful and who do whatever pleases them will be brought down and destroyed. There is only one God — the Most High, Omnipotent God — and our future is in His loving, yet just, hands.

When I was prosperous, I said, “Nothing can stop me now!”
Your favor, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain.
Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered. – Psalm 30:6-7

Father God, you are the one in whom we put our trust this morning; you are the one in whom our confidence lies. May we never become arrogant or prideful, losing sight of the source of our strength. May we never lose confidence in your power and presence, letting fear set in regarding our future or the future of our nation. May we know this morning without a doubt that our future is strong when we trust in you to be our rock and our fortress. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Daniel 6; Psalm 27

The Lord is my light and my salvation – so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?
When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.
Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident. – Psalm 27:1-3

If you can ignore the fact that he was in captivity, you can say that everything had gone right for Daniel. He went from being a Jewish captive to a member of the royal service to ruler over the whole province of Babylon, as well as chief over all King Nebuchadnezzar’s wise men. Under King Belshazzar’s reign, Daniel was made the third highest ruler in the kingdom and Darius the Mede appointed Daniel as one of three administrators over all the high officers. When Darius made plans to place Daniel over the entire empire, the other administrators decided they had had enough! They reacted with jealousy and found pleasure in the possibility of seeing something go wrong in Daniel’s life. Sadly, we see this same reaction play out today on the job, within families, and sometimes even in the church.

Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood, but jealousy is even more dangerous. – Proverbs 27:4

The plot to destroy Daniel struck where they knew it would affect him the most — the worship of his God. They stroked the pride of King Darius and tricked him into issuing a decree that no one could pray to any god except the king himself. Once more, someone placed in a leadership position and given authority over much allowed pride to take over, making a foolish decision based on his own wants and desires.

But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down AS USUAL in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, JUST AS HE HAD ALWAYS DONE, giving thanks to his God. Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help. – Daniel 6:10-11

DANIEL PRAYED TO GOD, JUST AS HE HAD ALWAYS DONE.

When he received word of the king’s decree, Daniel went to his knees to pray to God for protection. He was not praying because he was now in a difficult situation and needed rescuing; he prayed just as he had always done. Three times a day, without fail, Daniel took the time to direct all of his attention to the God he had given first place in his life. And let’s not miss the initial focus of Daniel’s prayer — thanksgiving. Daniel started by giving thanks to God before he asked for God’s help.

Daniel had faithfully developed a habit or life pattern of spending time in prayer, which is what made him the kind of man we have been studying. Spending time daily in God’s presence resulted in God’s presence dwelling daily within Daniel, giving him strength and wisdom. Today was no different.

DANIEL TRUSTED IN GOD, JUST AS HE HAD ALWAYS DONE.

As a result of his decree, King Darius had no choice but to follow through with the punishment as declared in the new law — Daniel must be thrown into the den of lions. The king was deeply troubled and spent the night fasting for the protection of his faithful servant, Daniel.

Was Daniel scared? Did he question his decision to pray JUST AS HE HAD ALWAYS DONE, with the windows wide open? I choose to believe that Daniel reacted the same way his friends Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did. I choose to believe that Daniel trusted in God to save him, but also loved God enough to say, “But even if He doesn’t…”

The next morning, the king hurried to the lion’s den and called out, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?”

Daniel answered, “Long live the king! My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.” – Daniel 6:20-22

DANIEL GAVE PRAISE TO GOD, JUST AS HE HAD ALWAYS DONE.

As a result of Daniel’s faithfulness and his testimony of how God had rescued him from what seemed an impossible situation, God was glorified and given the praise. I pray those around us can see that we serve God faithfully and that we trust in Him through all situations, good and bad. This kind of faithfulness starts in our quiet times with the Lord. It is in the intimate moments with God that He takes us deeper in our relationship with Him and draws us closer to Him, creating fellowship and oneness with Him.

“The lasting value of our public service for God is measured by the depth of the intimacy of our private times of fellowship and oneness with Him” – Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest. Chambers’ words bring conviction this morning, but they also inspire me. Oh how I long to go deeper.

Here me as I pray, O Lord.
Be merciful and answer me!
My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” – Psalm 27:7-8

I have no idea what you are going through right now, but I pray that the depth of your daily private times of fellowship and oneness with God give you the strength of faith to trust in Him. I pray you believe that He can rescue you just as He rescued Daniel. I pray He will strengthen your faith and give you the courage to say — I know my God is able to rescue me from all of this but, even if He doesn’t, I choose to trust in Him, be grateful for Him, and spend time daily praying to Him.

Today’s Reading: Daniel 5, Psalm 93

Common people are as worthless as a puff of wind,
and the powerful are not what they appear to be.
If you weigh them on the scales, together they are lighter than a breath of air. – Psalm 62:9

Have you stepped on the scale lately? It is one of my least favorite things to do yet I find myself doing it every day. Like it or not, the number on the scale is the reality I am facing and the need to make improvements in my daily habits is evident. I have been weighed on a balance and the truth is speaking louder than my denial.

The days of you being in control are numbered (Mene), you have been weighed (Tekel) on the balances and you have not measured up. Your kingdom has been divided (Parsin) and given to someone else. This is the writing on the wall – God’s message to the next King of Babylon, Belshazzar.

King Belshazzar knew Babylonian history. He knew that King Nebuchadnezzar’s heart and mind had been puffed up with arrogance and that he was brought down from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. Knowing all of this, King Belshazzar still did not humble himself but instead proudly defied God by drinking from the cups brought to Babylon from the Temple in Jerusalem (Daniel 5:20-23).

“You have not honored the God who gives you the breath of life and controls your destiny! So God has sent this hand to write this message. This is the message that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, and PARSIN.” – Daniel 5:23b-25

THE DAYS OF YOU BEING IN CONTROL ARE NUMBERED.

The king knew better. He knew what could happen if he put himself and what he wanted above the Most High God. He knew and yet he chose to build his own kingdom instead of honoring God. How often are we found guilty of the same thing? If we were weighed on a balance would we measure up? When we choose our own way and do our own thing and hope that God will bless our plans, we are fooling ourselves. The days of us being in control of our own life are numbered and the blessings God has poured out on our life can easily be taken away and given to someone else.

But when the queen mother heard what was happening, she hurried to the banquet hall. She said to Belshazzar, “Long live the king! Don’t be so pale and frightened. There is a man in your kingdom who has within him the spirit of the holy gods. During Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, this man was found to have insight, understanding, and wisdom like that of the gods. Your predecessor, the king – your predecessor, King Nebuchadnezzar – made him chief over all the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and fortune-tellers of Babylon. This man Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, has exceptional ability and is filled with divine knowledge and understanding. He can interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means.” – Daniel 5:10-12

YOU HAVE BEEN WEIGHED ON THE BALANCES AND YOU HAVE NOT MEASURED UP.

The queen mother was not a believer and yet she saw the difference in Daniel. She knew that Daniel had a holy spirit within him that set him apart from others. Each day we are surrounded by unbelievers and we have the opportunity to let them see something different in us that cannot be found in the hearts of the world – they can see Jesus! They can sense the power of the Holy Spirit actively at work in our lives.

That night King Belshazzar was killed and a new king took his place, King Darius. Just as the writing on the wall foretold, Belshazzar’s days were numbered and his kingdom was divided.

YOUR KINGDOM HAS BEEN DIVIDED AND GIVEN TO SOMEONE ELSE.

Darius the Mede decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces, and he appointed a high officer to rule over each province. The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the high officers and protect the king’s interests. Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire.

Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy. – Daniel 6:1-4

Daniel: insight, understanding, wisdom, exceptional ability, filled with divine knowledge and understanding, ability to interpret and solve difficult problems, capable, faithful, always responsible and completely trustworthy. Wow, what a description! When weighed by others, Daniel was found to be all of these things. When weighed by God, Daniel was found to be humble and faithful, and God’s blessings increased in his life.

IF WE WERE WEIGHED ON A BALANCE, WOULD WE MEASURE UP?

If left to our own ability and strength, probably not. But Daniel had something we have even more access to – a Holy Spirit. It is not a matter of trying harder and hoping to be something extraordinary, it is a matter of humbling ourselves before God and allowing Him to fill us with Himself so that He can be exactly who He is and we can become just what He created us to be.

Lord, I pray that others can see the evidence of your presence in our lives. I pray that you will be glorified in all that we say and do so that those around us will grow in their faith. As we step on the scale this morning, we pray that our value will be measured by the fruit of your Spirit living within us.

Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness. – Psalm 145:3