DANIEL 1-6: DAY 223 JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
August 11, 2023
DANIEL 1-6
DAY 223 JOURNEY THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
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Focus Verse For Today: Daniel 1:8a
Today our journey takes us through the first six chapters of the book of Daniel. These six chapters establish to the reader the kind of men Daniel and his friends, Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego chose to be. Men totally committed to the God of Israel.
Before you begin reading Daniel 1-6, spend some time in prayer asking God to reveal its meaning to you. Read Daniel 1-6. Let’s journey!
Daniel 1-6: Daniel and his friends Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego, are young men living in Jerusalem at the time of its fall to King Nebuchadnezzar: King of Babylon. They were taken captive to serve in the royal court of King Nebuchadnezzar. They were placed in a three-year class to learn the language, literature, astronomy, astrology, architecture, and customs of the Chaldeans (Babylonians). The young men meet their first challenge when they refuse to eat food offered to idols. Daniel describes and interprets a dream for King Nebuchadnezzar. No other wise man or magician could do this. Sadrack, Meschach, and Abednego are delivered from the furnace of fire after refusing to worship an idol. Daniel interprets a second dream for King Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel interprets the writing on the wall for King Belshazzar introducing the beginning of the Medo-Persian empire under King Darius. Daniel is delivered from the lion’s den after refusing to stop praying to the true God, the God of Israel. (Daniel 1:1-6:28)
Our focus verse for today:
But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine,
(Daniel 1:8a, NIV)
Daniel resolved himself to honor God in all that he did. Daniel’s first challenge came from knowing that he would not eat food offered to idols. Daniel wasn’t arrogant about it. He was diplomatic in addressing this problem with his overseers and, most importantly, he knew God would deliver him and his friends from this situation. Daniel was a man of prayer. He prayed for God to provide him with the interpretations of the dreams that he rendered for the kings he served. Daniel’s refusal to pray to Darius, and cease praying to the God of Israel for a month, got him put in the lion’s den. God delivered him. Daniel was serious about his relationship with the true God, the God of Israel.
Daniel had confidence in God and was seeking God’s purpose above his own. Daniel did not know what King Nebuchadnezzar, King Belshazzar, or King Darius’ reaction would be toward an interpretation or an act of defying a king’s orders. Daniel knew that God may choose to allow his life to end – Daniel was fully committed to serving God. Daniel was all in. Are you?
Godspeace!
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