Bible Reading Reflection from Daniel 1-12

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (FG) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible] 

𝔻𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟙:𝟠

"But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself."

Normal people follow the crowd. Normal people are actually "fools." That's why everyone wants to be somebody, better than normal people. Even smart and good people under pressure give up. Good people when they see others prospering through compromise, and when nothing bad happened to such, and everyone seems to be doing, they too are often swept away.

Well, a faithful man shines best in persecution, in darkness, just as your mobile screen shines best in darkness. Daniel was mandated to eat the King's food, by the order of the King. Daniel was a young boy, a captive, not even a citizen. He shone in this situation, and God honored him. There's no excuse when you say, "Everybody was doing it, so I thought it was ok." It should have been, "Everyone was doing like that, so I decided to be different. It motivated me all the more to be different"

 

𝔻𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟚:𝟚𝟠

"But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these:"

Live differently because of your conviction upon your daily walk with God, and when people ask "Really?" you should be able to say, "Not really, but there's a God in heaven, and He is my God."

Start using "There's a God in heaven" in day-to-day life's conversation! 👍

 

𝔻𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟛:𝟙𝟟-𝟙𝟠

"If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."

Everyone will pray more if God answers each time he/she prays. Everyone will serve God if God rewards him/her accordingly. Everyone will praise God if God blesses him/her prosperously.

And if you do that, you are not different from anybody. And if you stop when God doesn't respond, or if you would continue only if God continues, be aware that your god is yourself; you don't know the God of the Bible.

Satan thought Job would stop worshipping God if God stopped blessing him. Job knew the real God of the Bible. So, even in unthinkable suffering, Job worshipped God. He said that he will still worship God even if God slays him! Wow! Habakkuk decided to worship God even if there be no fruit on the vines and no herd in the stall. Daniel's three friends chose to worship God even when they were under torture. Even if God abandoned them to be burnt up, they will worship only God. These people truly know God.

Now, relate that to your prayer life. Relate that to your walk with God. Even if God shatters your dream, will you choose to live for Him? And btw, life is full of disappointments, shattered dreams, and failures. It will always be no matter whether you're righteous or wicked. And God does not exist to fix your problem. You exist to worship God. And he who lives for God, God makes sure to honor him.

 

𝔻𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟜:𝟙𝟡

"Then Daniel, whose name is Belteshazzar, was appalled for a while as his thoughts alarmed him. The king responded and said, 'Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.' Belteshazzar replied, ‘My lord, if only the dream applied to those who hate you and its interpretation to your adversaries!’"

Daniel served the king faithfully, desiring his well-being, his prosperity. This king is a pagan king and Daniel was a man of God.

You can serve your boss, your company, your government faithfully. You can desire their prosperity even if they don't know God. You can still love them and work for them. Look at Daniel.

But Daniel never compromised his conscience, so he was thrown into the pit of lions. Daniel was always godly. He would do nothing evil. But he lived with these pagan people without complaints, without disappointment. He seemed to enjoy his life. After all, everywhere is sinful and sinners all around. Even inside the church. So, live life.

However, in v27, we see the real color of Daniel. He always must have been preaching the gospel of repentance. He even preached to the king. True love speaks the truth. Daniel really loved the king enough to tell him the truth to repent.

 

𝔻𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟝:𝟙𝟘-𝟙𝟙

"...O king, live forever! Let not your thoughts alarm you or your color change. 𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕚𝕤 𝕒 𝕞𝕒𝕟 𝕚𝕟 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕕𝕠𝕞 in whom is the spirit of the holy gods..."

The book of Daniel is famous for the phrase "there is a God in heaven." And deservingly, it is mentioned "there is a man in your kingdom" concerning Daniel.

Live a life that people may say about you like that— there's a man who can do this. Be that man!  Joseph Chamberlain said, "On every committee of thirteen persons there are twelve who go to the meetings, having given no thought to the subject and ready to receive instructions. One goes with his mind made up to give those instructions. I make it my business to be that one."

 

𝔻𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟞:𝟝

"Then these men said, ‘We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.’"

Would we be blameless and faultless like Daniel! Even at the highest scrutiny, he was pure.

Jesus challenged His accusers if they could find any sin in Him; they couldn't!

 

𝔻𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟟:𝟚𝟚

"Until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom."

Believers will be vindicated and be rewarded. After all, the universe is God's universe, therefore, the people of God will rule the universe again.

The godless, wicked, unbelievers, sinners are just like a vapor; they shall not last. We will reign with Messiah!

 

𝔻𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟠:𝟚𝟝

"And through his shrewdness He will cause deceit to succeed by his influence; And he will magnify himself in his heart, And he will destroy many while they are at ease. He will even oppose the Prince of princes, But he will be broken without human agency."

Even the high and mighty of the earth are nothing in the sight of God. The most powerful person ever in world history will be the Antichrist. And some of the most powerful people ever will be those who oppose God.

No surprise if powerful people are full of anti-Christian activities, values, or teachings. And no surprise if we lose and they succeed in a moment. They shall lose and we shall triumph in the end. For believers, victory is not primarily the survival of the physical body, but the endurance of the faith on this side of heaven.

The real victory in every sense awaits, not in this life!

 

𝔻𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟡:𝟛

"So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes."

The discipline of a pious man. Piety is an art we must recover again.

Prayer. Supplications. Fasting.

It even had sackcloth and ashes!

 

𝔻𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟘:𝟙𝟛

"But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia."

Do not misapply this verse to think that fasting or prayer or spiritual discipline should last for at least 21 days. Daniel never had that thought. Actually, he intended to keep going until he understood v12. Probably he thought a day fasting would be okay, or a week, but he would go on until he understood.

Do we pray like that? Do we wait on God like that? Or do we give an ultimatum to God? Why do we set fixed days or amounts of time for certain things, which btw is not wrong? Actually, Paul recommended that to the Corinthians. But do you think through why, and know why any fixed days or amount of time? Daniel didn't have a fixed number of days, but until he understood.

 

𝔻𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟙:𝟙

"In the first year of Darius the Mede, I arose to be an encouragement and a protection for him."

An angel protecting king Darius. God sustains life. The devil wants to steal, destroy, and kill.

It's God who sustained Hitler till his death. It's God who sustains Modi, Kim Jong Un, everyone. When He said, it's done, like the dogs that come for the crumbs under the table when the master had his lunch, the devil will pounce upon.

God, indeed, sustains both the righteous and the wicked. Nobody lives on his own by his own strength or wisdom. Actually, even this angel was unable to battle against the demonic force, so Michael, the commander of God’s army had to help him. And puny man thinks he can hold off, that he can handle by himself!

 

𝔻𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟙𝟚:𝟚

"Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt."

It's like the book of Revelation. The resurrection of the dead – to life and to shame. And Daniel was assured of the resurrection to everlasting life in the last verse of the last chapter of the last book of the Major Prophets of the Old Testament (v13)

Bible Reading Reflection from Ezekiel 40-48

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (SSEU), a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible] 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟜𝟘:𝟜

"The man said to me, ‘on of man, see with your eyes, hear with your ears, and give attention to all that I am going to show you; for you have been brought here in order to show it to you. Declare to the house of Israel all that you see.’"

Declare all that you see. That's it

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟜𝟙:𝟙

"Then he brought me to the nave and measured the side pillars; six cubits wide on each side was the width of the side pillar."

Is there anything profitable in chapters 40-41? 😂 Of course, it's boring, and one would want to take scissors and cut them away like Thomas Jefferson. Unless one understands why these are included. It tells us what matters to God. He is detailed in His description of what is sacred to Him, and man ought to fear and tremble before Him.

How casual we are in church! We even say, "Come just as you are" Well, God doesn't say that. Some of the things God said, "None of you shall appear before me without an offering"

Hmm!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟜𝟚:𝟙𝟜

"When the priests enter, then they shall not go out into the outer court from the sanctuary without laying there their garments in which they minister, for they are holy. They shall put on other garments; then they shall approach that which is for the people."

A different dress for God and a different dress for people. Well, the cleanest, best, most expensive dress should be for God. God deserves the best.

And some people dare to come to church in half pants and a t-shirt. Well, some people come almost naked as well. Well, let sinners do whatever they like. But godly people revered God!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟜𝟛:𝟟

"He said to me, ‘Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell among the sons of Israel forever. And the house of Israel will not again defile My holy name, neither they nor their kings, by their harlotry and by the corpses of their kings when they die’"

In the previous account of Ezekiel, God's glory was departed, and so, God allowed His house to be profaned, desecrated, and destroyed. Now is the time for restoration. The glory of God comes back, and there shall be no desecration anymore.

Takeaway: It's the withdrawal of God that leads to the destruction of the temple.

As long as God remains, nothing can touch the people or temple of God. It reminds me of a situation when American Soldiers abandoned Afghanistan last year!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟜𝟜:𝟚

"The LORD said to me, ‘This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, and no one shall enter by it, for the LORD God of Israel has entered by it; therefore it shall be shut.’"

When Messi retired from Barcelona there were some people who demanded Jersey no 10 be retired. Now, think of that and re-read this verse. God is unique and nobody should even dare to imitate Him, and must treat God differently!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟜𝟝:𝟡

"Thus says the Lord GOD, "Enough, you princes of Israel; put away violence and destruction, and practice justice and righteousness. Stop your expropriations from My people," declares the Lord GOD."

How God wants leaders to reflect God's nature! To be caring, helping, and resourceful.

Human Leaders tend to corrupt, to abuse, to oppress, to cheat, to discriminate, to flatter, to nepotism, to oh... so many things...

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟜𝟞:𝟚𝟜

"Then he said to me, ‘These are the boiling places where the ministers of the house shall boil the sacrifices of the people.’"

God has a long, long list of prescriptions for how he must be worshipped. And how different that we love to say we can worship God as we like!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟜𝟟:𝟞

"He said to me, "𝕊𝕠𝕟 𝕠𝕗 𝕞𝕒𝕟, 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕤𝕖𝕖𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤?" Then he brought me back to the bank of the river."

Well, God is revealing (illuminating) the truth, and we shall see if we take time to think about God. I would like to think one of the ways is meditating in the word of God.

We live in this world, and we don't need to spend a laborious hour studying the culture and times in this world. When we are deep in the word of God, we will detect the ups and downs of our world.

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟜𝟠:𝟛𝟝

"The city shall be 18,000 cubits round about; and the name of the city from that day shall be, 'The LORD is there.'"

That's the name. A name has meaning, significance, and reason. And how interesting is it that its name is "the LORD is there."

Bible Reading Reflection from Ezekiel 33-39

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (SSEU), a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟛𝟛:𝟙𝟟

"Yet your fellow citizens say, 'The way of the Lord is not right,' when it is their own way that is not right."

Context: Ezekiel was one of the most eccentric, ludicrous prophets of God. Certainly, I would not wish to live like him. God told him to walk naked for 3 years. And God told him to sleep only on his left side for more than a year and another 40 days only on the right side.

Ezekiel was to be an object lesson for the people of his times. He was a living lesson for them, an example, demonstration, prediction. In chapter 3, he was made a watchman, to warn people. And now, in chapter 33, he was reminded of his task: watchman! Well, the majority of the people would not listen to him. Those few who listened to him shall live. And people complained; they were like us.

One of the most common sayings in our life is "that's not fair" maybe, to parents, teachers, friends, everyone. And we dared to think like that of God too. And some people even said, God is not great and that He is not fair. That He is a malevolent bully.

Well, this v17 reminds us that it's we who are not fair. Whatever God does is fair, right, good, actually the best! Nobody can suggest or improve God's ways! Let's remind ourselves every day that "God is God, and I am not God."

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟛𝟜:𝟚𝟘

"Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD to them, ‘Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.’"

First, Shepherd and Sheep. God has 3 main indictments against the shepherds:

1. They did not feed them.

2. They didn't strengthen the sick, the diseased, the broken.

3. They did not look out for the lost sheep.

What are those? They have to be Discipleship, Counseling, and Evangelism. That's pastoral ministry! Rather, they eat them, were indifferent, and dominate over them. Unfaithful pastors want money and popularity. They are abusive, immoral, greedy, and indifferent to the state of the soul.

Second, Ezekiel went on to pronounce judgment upon the false sheep and true sheep. They looked like sheep but actually not. Wolves in sheep's clothing. They were starving the true sheep to suffer, to be scattered, and to die.

Third, between the true sheep: the fat ones and the lean ones. The fat ones are selfish and arrogant.

Ezekiel 34 has direct teaching for all of us.

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟛𝟝:𝟙𝟝

"As you rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel because it was desolate, so I will do to you. You will be a desolation, O Mount Seir, and all Edom, all of it. Then they will know that I am the LORD."

One of the recurring themes, repeated phrases in the book of Ezekiel is "then they will know that I am the LORD." God, indeed, wants to be known. And one day everyone will confess Jesus is Lord. God is going to accomplish this either by the glory of salvation or by the terror of judgment.

Blessed is the one who knows God in His love, not in His wrath!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟛𝟞:𝟛𝟙-𝟛𝟚

“‘Then you 𝕨𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝕣𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕞𝕓𝕖𝕣 your evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you w𝕚𝕝𝕝 l𝕠𝕒𝕥𝕙𝕖 yourselves in your own sight for your ɪɴɪǫᴜɪᴛɪᴇs and your ᴀʙᴏᴍɪɴᴀᴛɪᴏɴs. I am not doing this for your sake,’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘let it be known to you. 𝔹𝕖 𝕒𝕤𝕙𝕒𝕞𝕖𝕕  and c𝕠𝕟𝕗𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕕 for your ways, O house of Israel!’”

This is what repentant people do. This is what a true believer does. Those who do not loathe their sins cannot possibly be true converts. And since we sin every day, we must come to God every day in contrite spirit.

True joy thrives in godly sorrow over sin!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟛𝟟:𝟛

“He said to me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’ And I answered, ‘O Lord GOD, You know.’”

Also, read v11-14.

Almost every time I set out to preach, I ask this question, "Can the dried bones live?" I am no man of great faith, but I want to believe dried bones can live by the preaching of God's word. I've got to preach to myself so that I believe in the efficacy of preaching.

Every great preacher believes dry bones can live. Every preacher must ask "Can these dry bones live?" when he sets his face towards his hearers.

Yes, my bones were dried, yet he made me alive. Everyone who is alive in Christ now was once a dried bone. So, definitely, these dried bones can live.

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟛𝟠:𝟚𝟛

"I will magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations; and they will know that I am the LORD."

Magnify, Sanctify, Verify.

Let the business of God be our business. To verify among people that our God is God. To sanctify Him that He is not like other gods or like man, that He is distinct. To magnify Him that God is the absolute ruler of all. He is the Potentate, Despot, Lord!

He does everything for Himself and the creatures find their happiness in fulfilling the business of God. If you have complaints, watch Tom Hank's movie series Toy Story, where Sheriff Woody expressed that their purpose, happiness, and fulfillment lie in making Andy happy.

Even Hollywood seems to be more logical than Arminians and Wesleyans. 😎

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟛𝟡:𝟚𝟜

"According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions I dealt with them, and I hid My face from them."

Sometimes, God seems to be silent, hiding from us. Actually, most probably He is, because He did hide before, and warned to hide again because of sins.

But there's good news for the penitent heart. God will show His face again v29.

Sermon Tips from the text of 1 Peter 4:7-11

 Sermon Tips for Expository Preachers, Listeners, and Students

Bible Reading Reflection from Ezekiel 25-32

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (PTS), a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible] 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟚𝟝:𝟙𝟟

"I will execute great vengeance on them with wrathful rebukes; and they will know that I am the LORD when I lay My vengeance on them."

Maybe one day I should preach through Ezekiel reading all the verses that say, "that they will know that I am the LORD"

That will take over 30 minutes, and the remaining 10 minutes explaining its meaning, and through a few other scripture references. I think that will really make an impression on those who have ears to hear!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟚𝟞:𝟚𝟙

"‘I will bring terrors on you and you will be no more; though you will be sought, you will never be found again,’ declares the Lord GOD."

Another chapter of judgment. It reminds me how disobedient, arrogant, ignorant, foolish human beings are. And how resolute God is. He does not back down. If everyone is unfaithful also, He will still not change His standard!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟚𝟟:𝟛𝟞

"The merchants among the peoples hiss at you; You have become terrified And you will cease to be forever."

God has the habit of doing the very opposite things ungodly people don't like.

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟚𝟠:𝟚

“Son of man, say to the leader of Tyre, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, "Because your heart is lifted up And you have said, 'I am a god, I sit in the seat of gods In the heart of the seas'; Yet you are a man and not God, Although you make your heart like the heart of God—"’”

God doesn't want competitors. God doesn't want people to act like Him. God wants man to be a man. That doesn't mean we shouldn't imitate His holiness, righteousness, and goodness. It just means in simple words, Humility. Be humble. Practice Humility or you shall be humiliated!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟚𝟡:𝟙𝟜-𝟙𝟞

"I will turn the fortunes of Egypt and make them return to the land of Pathros, to the land of their origin, and there they will be a lowly kingdom.  It will be the lowest of the kingdoms, and it will never again lift itself up above the nations. And I will make them so small that they will not rule over the nations. And it will never again be the confidence of the house of Israel, bringing to mind the iniquity of their having turned to Egypt. Then they will know that I am the Lord GOD."

Is it a wonder that Egypt is not a powerful country anymore? One of the theological reasons why God planned to do so is because of His people Israel. Indeed, everything is working together for the good of believers.

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟛𝟘:𝟙𝟙

"He and his people with him, The most ruthless of the nations, Will be brought in to destroy the land; And they will draw their swords against Egypt And fill the land with the slain."

Interesting is how God rules the world. He enthroned and dethroned kings. "The most ruthless of the nations" was raised up, chosen to punish others. And if that doesn't stupefy us, its king, Nebuchadnezzar was humbled by God again!

Manasseh the most wicked king of Israel, reigning for very very long years was also given repentance. If such great sinners, like Saul of Tarsus, Manasseh, and Nebuchadnezzar were humbled, and used by God, we all can be used by God.

As Spurgeon said, indeed there are only two types of people: those who are humbled, and those who are about to be humbled!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟛𝟙:𝟚-𝟛

"Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his hordes, ‘Whom are you like in your greatness? Behold, Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon With beautiful branches and forest shade, And very high, And its top was among the clouds.’"

History must be consulted for a wise living. Old Testament narratives are written for us to be an example. Even in the days of Ezekiel, the nations must learn a lesson from other former kingdoms and empires.

It was said, like Assyria, Egypt shall fall!

 

𝔼𝕫𝕖𝕜𝕚𝕖𝕝 𝟛𝟚:𝟛

"Thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Now I will spread My net over you With a company of many peoples, And they shall lift you up in My net.’"

The metaphor of Inescapability from God for good or bad, and this time for bad—they will be judged by God.

We may think we can run away, but God will catch us by surprise like a fish caught up in a net!