anitasanecdotes

Daniel 4 is a testimony of King Nebuchadnezzar of a dream he had that God fulfilled. After that the king praised God because His works are true.

Daniel 5 tells of a vision King Belshazzar, Nebuchadnezzar’s son had after he used the vessels from the temple in Jerusalem as utensils at a banquet. A hand began to write on the wall. No one could interpret the writing. Daniel was called in. He told the king that it was because he had not acknowledged God’s power that he was receiving this message. It said that he had been found wanting by God, he would be killed and the Medes and Persians would gain his kingdom. Belshazzar tried to pay Daniel off but that night he was killed and Darius the Mede became king.

Nebuchadnezzar showed pride but eventually came to trust the Lord. Belshazzar was also prideful but trusted in other gods and was taken down.

When we recognize that our pride is leading us astray we need to confess that sin and turn to God. He is the one deserving our praise.

1 John 5 continues to encourage us to love others and obey the commandments of God. John also tells us that it is through Jesus that we have eternal life and through him alone. If we ask anything according to his will he hears us and answers our prayers. We need to be careful not to trust in the things of this world but rather to trust in Jesus.

Daniel 1 begins with the coming of King Nebuchadnezzar to Jerusalem. He besieges the city and takes the best and the brightest back to Babylon to serve in his palace. Among those young men are Daniel, who is called Belteshazzar by the Babylonians; Hananiah, who is called Shadrach; Mishael, who is called Meshach; and Azariah, who is called Abednego. These young men are educated in the literature and language of the Chaldeans. They are also to be given royal rations of food and wine.

Daniel refuses to eat the royal food because it would defile his body. The palace master was afraid to do this because Daniel might not be as fit as the other captives. So Daniel asked him to feed him just vegetables and water for ten days and see if he is less fit. He also asked that Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego would receive this diet as well. God allowed Daniel to receive favor from the palace master who did as he requested. At the end of ten days, Daniel, Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego were fitter than those who had received the royal rations. They continued to receive the diet God prescribed. God gave them knowledge and skill and Daniel also received insight into dreams and visions. They became more skilled than any of the others and served the king in his court.

This should be a wake-up call for those of us who prefer a rich diet. God’s plan is if we eat simply and healthily, we will thrive physically and mentally. Maybe if we thought of eating rich foods as defiling our bodies it would help us be more disciplined. Of course, remembering that God wants to be involved and allowing him to help also makes it easier. Daniel and his friends, of course, had a purpose for keeping fit, other than just thinking of it as keeping healthy. It was part of their worship of God. Everything we do is worship. We can either worship badly or worship well. That is for us to decide with our Lord.

In Daniel 2 King Nebuchadnezzar begins to have disturbing dreams. He calls all of his magicians together to tell him what the dream meant. He requires that they both tell him the dream and its interpretation or else they will be killed. None of them could do it, they say that only a god who does not dwell on earth could do it. The king flies into a rage and calls Daniel and the three to kill the magicians. Daniel asked that the king wait while he figured out the dream. He and his friends prayed and God gave him the interpretation. God has given the king power for a time. Other kings will follow but also will fall when God establishes His kingdom forever.

The king was impressed with what God had told him through Daniel and promoted Daniel to be the ruler over the province of Babylon and chief over all of the wise men. Daniel requested that his friend be allowed to supervise the affairs of Babylon and Daniel stayed at the king’s court.

In Daniel 3 the king erects a huge golden statue and requires everyone to bow down and worship it. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refuse to worship the god. Punishment for this disobedience is to be thrown into a fiery furnace. The three were thrown into the fire. When the king looked into the furnace he saw a fourth person in the fire, one who looked like a god. The king called to the three and they came out of the furnace unharmed. The king acknowledged the power of God declared that no one should speak against Him.

Daniel and his friends remained faithful to God even though it might have cost them their lives. God rewarded their faithfulness by giving them the tools they needed for the situation they were in. Even when they were in the fire God was with them. God is with us wherever we go and in whatever situation we find ourselves. We need to trust in His providential care and believe that He will help us triumph.

Psalm 132 retells the story of David’s desire to build a temple to God. God had David’s son build the temple and called it His habitation.

Psalms 133 and 134 speak of how good it is to live in unity with others and exhorts the reader to bless the Lord.

Ezekiel 48 concludes the apportionment of land. God also allocates land to the priests, the Levites who will maintain land holy to God. They are not allowed to give it away. The gates of the city are named for each of the twelve tribes. The city’s name will forever be “The Lord is There.”

1 John 4 exhorts us to love one another. Love comes from God because God is love. God’s love was revealed in Jesus. God didn’t love us because we loved Him. We love because God loved us first. Because we have the love of God in us we do not need to be afraid. We can stand up against injustice. We can speak out the truth. We can be bold in our faith. Our lives must reflect the love of God for us through our love for each other. We cannot love God and yet not show love for others. God commands us to love God and others as well.

Ezekiel 46 and 47 continue to discuss the offering the prince is to make to the Lord. God also deals with issues of inheritance for the prince’s servants and sons. God shows Ezekiel rivers that flow from the temple out to the land of Israel. They will provide sustenance for plants and animals. God divides the land between the twelve tribes. Each tribe receives an equal share. Resident aliens associated with the tribes will also receive an inheritance. They shall become citizens. God shows favor to those who are faithful whether they are from the people of Israel or not. God makes no distinction among the faithful.

1 John 3 makes some harsh statements regarding sin. John states that those who abide in Christ do not sin. If one commits sin one does not abide in Christ. He says that Christians cannot sin because they have been born of God. This seems inconsistent with some of Paul’s writings and with life experience. What it does is to challenge us to lead holy lives. We may be tempted to sin but we have Christ in us and are capable of conquering sin. We do not need to assume that we are still prisoners of our fleshly desires. We are able to overcome. God is in us and we are His.

John repeats again that we are to love others. Even if they show us hate we are to show love. Our love should be seen in our treatment of others, our charitable acts.

Ezekiel 44 and 45 states that uncircumcised foreigners are not allowed into the temple. Only the Levites are allowed into the inner court. They are given strict rules of conduct and are given specific instructions regarding their dress while they are in the temple. The priests are also to act as judges for the people in disputes.

God gives specific instructions for the allocation of property. God gives instructions to future princes regarding the taxes they will collect from the people. The prince and priests are given instructions regarding festival days and offerings.

Psalm 129 recalls the oppression faced by the people of Israel and praises God for punishing those who oppress others.

Psalm 130 speaks of the grief we feel when we know that we have sinned. It also assures us of God’s forgiveness and our hope in Him.

Psalm 131 speaks of the life of the faithful. We do not greedily aspire for things we do not need. We calm ourselves in the Lord.

Ezekiel 42 and 43 continue the description of the temple. The glory of God enters the temple and Ezekiel hears a voice, the voice of God. He claims the temple as His residence. Ezekiel is told to write down what he has seen and heard so that when the people return to Jerusalem they can build a proper house for the Lord. (We read about the rebuilding of the temple in Ezra and Nehemiah.) God gives instructions regarding the atoning sacrifices the people are to offer to receive God’s forgiveness.

1 John 2 speaks of Jesus being the atoning sacrifice for our sins. John goes on to describe the kind of life we are to lead as those who have been forgiven. We are to live lives of love for one another. If we hate then we are not living in the light. We are not to love the things of the world. We are not to get caught up in fulfilling our desires; they will only lead us away from God. We are to be discerning regarding the Christian teachings we believe. Not everything we hear form those who say they love God is consistent with the scriptures that we know to be true. We must know the scriptures well enough that we can tell right and wrong teaching.

Ezekiel 40 and 41 are part of a vision God gave to Ezekiel. It is a description of the temple and its measurements.

1 John 1 speaks about the connection between being forgiven and living the holy life. We spend most of our time talking about whether we are forgiven. We are assured of forgiveness in Jesus Christ. Knowing that we are forgiven does not give us license to continue to “walk in darkness” or live as though God is not in charge of our lives. We recognize our sinfulness and Christ’s forgiveness, and then we live out our changed lives. We are live in the reality of being transformed people and no longer participate in those things that we know are against God’s commands.

Ezekiel 38 and 39 speak of an invader from the north that comes and destroys all those who are occupying the land of Israel. As the people see God’s will being done and the nations being punished they will know that the Lord is God. They will recognize the prophecies they have heard throughout the years and will know that they are true.

God mentions the latter days in this prophecy. It is unclear if it simply refers to the time that Persia conquered Babylon or because of the prophecy preceding it regarding a king like David if it refers to the last days and Christ’s second coming. It could potentially refer to both events.

2 Peter 3 addresses the fact that many of the apostles spoke of Jesus’ return as being very soon. Time has passed and now Christians are being mocked because Jesus has not come yet. Peter describes God’s time as not being like our own. While we may think that God is late in answering us, God is simply waiting for the right time…God’s perfect time.

Our task is not to try to predict when Jesus is coming, nor is it to stop doing what we are doing and simply to wait. Our task on earth is to continue to live the life God sets before us, to do the things God wants us to do, to live holy, godly lives so that we will be ready whenever Jesus comes.

Ezekiel 36 and 37 describe how during the time of the exile other nations took over the land of Israel. God will mete out punishment on those nations who have used the land. The people of Israel will be re-established on their land. Their cities will be rebuilt.  God’s reputation is on the line. He will prove that He is the Most High God. Even though His people have sinned, God will cleanse them, getting rid of their idols and putting a new, faithful heart in them. God will bless the people of Israel and all the nations will know that He is the Lord God.

God will breathe the new life of His Spirit into His people They have been withering away since they turned their backs on God and now God is renewing, restoring, regenerating them. God will restore them as one nation, undivided. In the past they have been split as two nations Judah and Israel. Now they will again be one as in the time of David. The chapters end with a prophecy that prophesies of Jesus, the new David, who will establish an eternal covenant with God’s people.

We often feel like our sins are unforgiveable. Somehow, God could never find it in His heart to forgive us. But, if we have learned nothing else from reading the Old Testament, we have learned that God’s love for us is steadfast. Despite our most egregious sins God is able to forgive us and make us right again. God’s faith and hope in us is everlasting. He is able to restore us as His people. He is able to renew us with His Spirit. This is not just for us but for the glory of His most holy name.

Psalms 126, 127 and 128, while not actually related speak of similar things. They are giving thanks to God for restoring Israel’s relationship with God. They encourage those who dwell in the cities to build them with the Lord. All of our houses must be built by God. If God is not in our families, our homes, our cities, we will not survive.

Ezekiel 34 and 35 speaks of how God will seek out those who have strayed as sheep who stray from their shepherd. God is displeased with those who were called to lead His people. He himself will seek them out and establish a covenant with them. The new leader will shepherd the people like David. They will be blessed and prosper.

The enemies of Israel will be punished.

2 Peter 2 warns the faithful to be careful against false prophets and teachers who might lead them astray. As for those who would hurt the righteous, God will punish them.