reflection

Reflection on Daniel 5:1-31

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Scripture

“For you are his successor and you knew all this. Yet, you have not humbled yourself.”

Observation

The story skips 23 years from Nebuchadnezzar to Belshazzar. This king gives a great feast for 1,000 of his nobles. He orders the gold cups that had been taken from the Temple in Jerusalem to be brought out, and they drink from them.

Suddenly they see the fingers of a human hand writing on the wall. The King summons all his wise men and fortune tellers, but they are not able to decipher the writing. The queen mother then tells Belshazzar about Daniel. Belshazzar promises Daniel that he will be honoured and given the third highest position in the land if he can explain the message.

Daniel recounts how Nebuchadnezzar had spent seven years living like a wild animal because he had refused to repent. Belshazzar should have known about this, but instead of repenting, he has defied the Lord of Heaven by defiling the cups from the Temple.

The writing on the wall is decoded as: “The days of the King’s reign have been numbered and will be brought to an end. He has been weighed and has not measured up. His kingdom will be divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”

This all happened that night.

Application

Belshazzar died and his empire with him because he refused to repent. He proudly defiled the sacred things of the Lord. There are many people who defy the Lord and blaspheme against Him. They want to be independent of God, so they curse and defile His name.

But God will not be defied. These people will face the judgement of God just as Belshazzar did.

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God,” but the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Prayer

Lord, may my heart never grow cold towards you. Please help me to stay humble before you. Amen.

Reflection on Daniel 4:19-37

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Scripture

“King Nebuchadnezzar, please accept my advice. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past and be merciful to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper.”

Observation

Daniel explains Nebuchadnezzar’s dream to him. At first, he was frightened by the dream’s meaning, but the king encouraged him to not be alarmed.

Daniel explains that the tree represents Nebuchadnezzar himself, who has prospered and grown very powerful. But the Lord will judge Nebuchadnezzar, and he will be driven from human society and live like a cow for seven years. But after this time, he will be restored to his position.

Twelve months later, while walking on the palace roof and admiring the city, he says out loud that this is all his own work. At this expression of pride, the judgement of God falls on him. He is driven out of the city and eats grass for seven years. At the end of that time, his sanity is restored, and he returns to the throne. Nebuchadnezzar honours the Lord who is truly ruler over all things.

Application

Daniel’s desperate plea to King Nebuchadnezzar applies to every person – “Stop sinning and do what is right.”

Nebuchadnezzar was judged dramatically for the sin of pride, which is actually at the root of all the other sins. We think that we are more entitled than other people, more important or more talented. These attitudes undermine relationships and can lead to more extreme sins, even murder.

It is not always the things that we are not good at that trip us up, but often the things that we excel at.

Pride can make us delusional as it did with Nebuchadnezzar. He did not build a city. Thousands of others did the work. How often do people make claims about their achievements that are, at best, shared with others or completely dependent on other people?

Pride comes before a fall, so let’s repent of it before it trips us up.

Prayer

Lord, please forgive my pride. Bring conviction to me and teach me the path of humility. Amen.

Reflection on Daniel 3:1-30

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Scripture

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied. “O Nebuchadnezzar, we don’t need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty

Observation

King Nebuchadnezzar has a statue of himself, some 27 metres high, set up on the plains adjacent to the city of Babylon. He decrees that at the sound of musical instruments, everybody must worship the statue.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are found to be ignoring this directive. So Nebuchadnezzar orders they be thrown into a fiery furnace. They tell him that their God is able to save them, but even if He does not save them, they will not worship the statue.

The men are thrown into the furnace, but the observers see not just the three men but another man also, one who looks like a god walking with them. So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are promoted to even greater positions of power.

Application

The faith of these men always astounds me. They refuse to disobey God’s commands to not worship idols. But when pressed, they express faith in God’s ability to save them in the furnace. However, even if God does not save them, there is no way that they will worship the statue. It is easy to be faithful to God in the small things of life. Choosing to obey God, rather than give in to sin is a fairly basic level of discipleship.

When we are faced with death, as the consequence of righteousness, it is a very big decision. We need to make. Will I save my flesh and potentially lose eternity?

It is in the life and death moments that our faith is greatly tested, But we cannot overcome that test until we have conquered the tests of daily temptations.

Prayer

Father, may I never have to make this kind of decision for you. Please help me to be faithful to you every day, so that when the time of testing comes I will stand firm. Amen.

Reflection on Daniel 2:24-49

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Scripture

“As you watched, a rock was cut from a mountain, but not by human hands. It struck the feet of iron and clay smashing them to bits…. but the rock that knocked the statue down became a great mountain that covered the whole earth.

Observation

Daniel is given the revelation of what the King’s dream contained and also the dream’s interpretation. In the dream, Nebuchadnezzar saw a huge shining statue of a man. The head was made of gold, the chest and arms were silver, its belly and thighs were bronze, and the feet a mixture of iron and clay. A stone cut from a mountain struck the statue, obliterating it.

Daniel explains that the statue represents four great Empires. The Lord will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered, and this Kingdom will stand forever.

Nebuchadnezzar is so pleased with Daniel’s revelation that he makes him ruler over the province of Babylon and chief over the king’s wise men.

Application

This dream is a powerful description of the four empires of ancient times – Babylonian, Persian, Greek, and Roman.

The stone cut from the mountain but not by human hands is God’s kingdom, the church. This Kingdom is eternal and covers the entire world.

All of this was foretold centuries before the birth of Jesus. The church began as an offshoot of Judaism and quite insignificant in size. Yet, in a few generations, it conquered the Roman Empire by love, and it outlasted it. Now, the church spans the entire world.

It is estimated that one-third of all the people in the world identify as Christian

God’s kingdom is the greatest Kingdom in history. It is eternal and it is available for all people to enter it. Praise be to God, our great Creator and Sustainer.

Prayer

Lord, I marvel at your grace and power. You overcome great empires and prove yourself to be above every human kingdom. Amen.

Reflection on Daniel 2:1-23

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Scripture

“The King’s demand is impossible. No one except the gods can tell you your dream, and they do not live here among people.”

Observation

King Nebuchadnezzar has a disturbing dream. He calls in his magicians and sorcerers, and demands that they tell him the dream and what it means.

The advisers plead with the king to first tell them the dream so that they can interpret it. They say that only the gods can tell them the dream, and they do not leave amongst people.

Full of rage, the king orders, all the wise men to be executed.

When the commander of the king’s guard comes to kill them, Daniel asks that the king gives him more time. He ask, his three friends to pray so that they will not be executed.

That night, the secret is revealed to Daniel.

Application

All of King Nebuchadnezzar’s wise men knew that their powers were insufficient for the task. They could not read his mind to find out what the dream was. The gods could find out but they do not live among people.

This was a deadly situation, but God gave the victory.

God is greater than the pagan gods, Even the pagan gods of the great Babylonian Empire, They could not reveal the dream, but the Lord did.

Daniel did not do this alone. He was humble enough to realise that he needed his friends and their prayers. All great spiritual victories come through a united prayer team.

As we learn too lean on the Lord and to trust in Him, we can discover that our God is greater and that the gods of the world are puny, weak things.

Prayer

Lord God, you are the one true God. There is none like you. Please help me to trust in you at all times. Amen.

Reflection on Daniel 1:1-21

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Scripture

God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meaning of visions and dreams.

Observation

At the beginning of the exile in Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar orders his chief of staff to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah’s leading families. They are to be trained in Babylonian culture and wisdom, and they are to be fed from the royal kitchen.

Daniel is determined not to defile himself by eating unclean food. So he asks for permission to only eat vegetables and drink water. When the chief is staff is reluctant to do this, Daniel persuades him to give them a 10 day trial At the end of the 10 days. Daniel and his friends look healthier than those who were not on the restricted diet.

God blesses Daniel and his three friends with an aptitude for learning. To Daniel, he gives the ability to interpret dreams. The king consults these four men whenever he needs particular wisdom and balanced judgement.

Application

Daniel and his fellow exiles, found themselves thrust into a deeply pagan culture, Daniel, Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego end up in the pinnacle of the culture, the Royal Palace.

It seems that God gifted these four men with great wisdom and learning, This would position them to affect the way the whole empire was administered. Rather than being shaped by the culture, they were there to shape the culture.

God gives each person a particular place to shine His light. He also gives us each the gifts and abilities that we need to fulfil that purpose.

Let us find the place. God has appointed for us and be there as the culture shapers He calls us to be.

Prayer

Thank you, Lord, for your unique place and purpose. Please help me to be your witness in the place that you have called me to be. Amen

Reflection on 1 Peter 5:8-14

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Scripture

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

Observation

Peter admonishes us to stay alert and to be on the lookout for satan, the enemy of our souls. He is always prowling around looking for someone to devour. We must stay in firm against the evil one and be strong in our faith.

Our christian brothers and sisters are suffering as well. We will share in God’s eternal glory, so our suffering only lasts for a while.

Peter concludes the letter by commending his friend Silas to his readers. He also sends greetings from his church and from Mark.

Application

We must be constantly alert for the attacks of the devil. He hates us with a passion and is always, looking to destroy us. Many christians live in ignorance of the spiritual realm. This is a huge folly. Just because we cannot see angels and demons with our physical eyes does not make them any less real.

Satan holds people in bondage in various ways, including:

1. Temptation to sin. He does not bother with unbelievers because they are already in captivity to sin. In Christians he amplifies natural desires and fleshly thoughts, If we sin, he thinks we will become discouraged in following the way of holiness.

2. Demonic afflictions such as sickness, poverty, and mental illness.

3. Witchcraft, magic, spells, and curses. Spoken words can carry great effect in the world of the spirit.

So, we need to remember that we are in the middle of a war. The devil will not give up on pulling us down. But as we grow in faith, we can increasingly resist him to stand firm in Christ.

Prayer

Thank you. Lord, for the assurance that the battle belongs to you Teach me how to stand firm In my faith. Amen

Reflection on 1 Peter 5:1-7

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Scripture
Humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time, he will lift you up in honour. Give all your worries and cares to God for, he cares for you.

Observation
The elders in the church will share in the glory of Christ when he is revealed to the whole world. They are to care for their flock willingly not grudgingly. Not for their own gain, but because they want to serve God,

Elders are to lead by example and not lord it over their people. When the Great Shepherd appears, they will receive a crown of glory and honour.

Young men are to accept the authority of the elders. They must serve each other in humility. When they humble themselves under God’s mighty power He will raise them up at the right time.

Application
Humility is all about serving and respecting others. This can be a very hard quality for us to learn, especially in a culture that tries to tell us that we are all gods and worthy of the respect of others.

We must not raise ourselves up in the eyes of others and certainly not in our own eyes. Once we start to think we are better than other people, we lose the plot of Christian living.

The way up is down. It is when we choose to serve others without any thought of reward that we start to follow the way of the Lord who told us that the Son of Man came not to be served but to give His life as a ransom for many.

We choose to die to our own ambitions and desires so that the plans of Christ can be revealed to us. When we humble ourselves under the power of God, we can be sure that He will raise us up to a place of honour.

Prayer
Lord, you call me to die to myself. Please help me to do this so that I can come alive to you. Amen.

Reflection on 1 Peter 4:12-19

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Scripture

Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through as if something’s strange was happening to you.

Observation

We should not be surprised when we go through trials. Instead, we should rejoice, for in trials, we partner with Christ in his suffering. However, there is no value in suffering for doing evil deeds, such as murder, stealing, or stirring up trouble. It is no shame to suffer for being a christian.

The time has come for judgement, and this will begin with God’s people. It will spread from there to all people, and the godless will suffer a terrible fate.

Application

Suffering for our obedience to Christ is nothing new. Every year, thousands upon thousands of christians die for their faith. Others are imprisoned, tortured, cast out of their homes, or shunned by families.

We should not be surprised when we are mocked or fired from our job or harassed by government officials because of our beliefs. When these things happen, we share in Christ’s suffering.

However, we need to make sure that we really are suffering for Christ’s sake, and not just because we are being obnoxious.

Suffering for our faith is the normal christian life. It can strengthen our faith, and it can increase our determination to follow Jesus in all things.

Prayer

Lord, Jesus, thank you for the joy of being in your kingdom. Please help me to stand firm in you. at all times, especially when facing opposition. Amen.

Reflection on 1 Peter 4:7-11

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Scripture

Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as if God himself were speaking through you Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

Observation

The end of all things is coming soon. We need to be earnest and disciplined (sane and sober in some other versions) in our prayers,

Above all, we must be loving to our brothers and sisters in Christ, offering meals or a place to stay when needed.

God has given each of us a spiritual gift, out of his wealth of spiritual gifts, Whatever our gift, whether it is speaking or serving. We must use our gifts to God’s glory And layering him to lead and direct us Seen everything. We do will glorify us.

Application

Every believer has the Holy Spirit in them. We all have access to the mighty power of God. He chooses to grace us with particular gifts For some, this is speaking publicly, while for others, it is serving people, offering a meal or a place in the home when needed.

The point here is that every part of our life must be surrendered to God to use. If we use our natural gifts for God’s purposes, we discover along the way there are spiritual gifts as well that we can draw on.

The key is to give it all to God. It is not about me, but about the Lord. We should see ourselves as vessels for His purposes. When we say to God, “Here I am; use me,” He gives us lots of opportunities to do His work.

Prayer

Lord, you know what I can do for you and for your kingdom, Please show me how to surrender everything to you. Amen