Daniel

Listen to today’s reading:

Daniel 9:16-19

Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us.

“Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”

Psalm 34:4-7

I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.

Ephesians 3:20-21

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Today’s Reading:

After experiencing the glory of Solomon’s kingdom, it would be hard-pressed for Israel to understand that in just four centuries their kingdom would divide and then also go into exile under the rule and reign of the Babylonians. As Jeremiah prophesied, Israel was taken over, which would test Israel’s faithfulness and perseverance to God. In the stories of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and the fiery furnace and also Daniel and the lion’s den, these leaders (as people of Israel in a foreign land) were commanded to worship other gods at the risk of being put to death if they didn’t obey orders. This was a pivotal point in the story of God’s people, where God could’ve easily given up on Israel. The odds were heavily stacked against them. Have you ever been in a game and lost hope of winning? There have been some amazing baseball games over the years - one in particular, you may remember. According to a baseball reference website, the probability that the Mariners could win over the Padres in their game on June 2, 2016 after the 5th inning was at 0% following a 10 run deficit. The odds-of-winning-percentage dropped all the way to zero after Mike Montgomery of the Mariners walked Yangervis Solarte during the fifth inning. Amazingly, against all odds, the Mariners scrapped back in a 16-13 win as they strung together 8 singles in the 7th inning. A miracle? In the Book of Daniel, we come to the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men disobeyed Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, on conscience of bowing down and worshipping a false god and were lifted and thrown into a furnace. David, in another story, chose to disobey the decree to worship the king and was thrown into a den of hungry lions. It would take a miracle for all of these men to live… and that’s exactly what God did! Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego remained unburned and walked around in and then out of the flames. Daniel was left alone with the lions overnight and God kept their mouths shut until daybreak. The kings of Babylon decreed worship of the one true God, although it wouldn’t last. And Gentiles praised the Lord – a picture of the kingdom to come. Without God’s hand on Israel, they would have perished as a people. In Daniel 9 after the episode with the lions, Daniel prayed a beautiful prayer of confessions and repentance for his nation. Then, an angel named Gabriel came to Daniel – reminding him of the Anointed One, the Messiah to come, “to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.” None previous we’re able, but he is! The Lord was and is able to save, despite our inability to save ourselves!

Today’s Prayer Guide:

Praise – Praise God for his ability to work miracles and his unfailing love for us.

Confession – Confess that you wrongly doubt his power.

Ask – Ask him to give you more faith in his ability to work miraculously in the world where things are impossible for us.