Day 267: Daniel 10, 11 and 12

Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt (Daniel 12:2).

According to biblical scholar Walter Brueggemann, this is one of only two clear Old Testament references to the resurrection of the dead. The first is Isaiah 26:19 – Your dead will live; their bodies will rise. You who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy. Your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead (NIV 1984). He is careful to connect this with Isaiah 25:6-10a.

Daniel, then, is the second. Whereas the Isaiah text focuses on the joy associated with resurrection, Daniel says there are two sides to that coin. Some will be resurrected to everlasting life and some to everlasting contempt.

Brueggemann writes that we are mistaken to limit resurrection to a merely private experience… reward or punishment, or even that of being restored to our loved ones. It’s bigger than that. Let Brueggemann speak: “It is clear that the affirmation of life-beyond-death that is only at the fringes of the Old Testament is able to speak of resurrection as a function of ‘the end’ (12:13) that is also the beginning of ‘new life.’ That is, resurrection is a vehicle for radical, apocalyptic thought that bespeaks fearful endings and amazing beginnings, all of which are wrought by the power of God” [4].

TODAY’S MEDITATION

Reflect on the promise of resurrection and its implications for your life.
 

Day 266: Daniel 7, 8 and 9

We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy (Daniel 9:18).

In the Christian Bible, The Book of Daniel is placed among the prophets, right between Ezekiel (the last major prophet) and Hosea (the first minor prophet). But in the Hebrew Bible, Daniel takes its place among the Writings, along with Ezra/Nehemiah and Chronicles, the most recent additions to the Hebrew canon.

This creative narration of events involving Daniel is aimed at Jews experiencing persecution under the harsh rule of Antiochus IV (Epiphanes), a Greek tyrant ruling over Jerusalem in the second century BC. Antiochus had installed his own High Priest, executed many notable Jewish leaders, ordered the worship of Zeus, criminalized possession of the Jewish Scriptures, and slaughtered a pig on the temple altar. Because of Jewish resistance in Jerusalem, Antiochus attacked without mercy. Forty thousand Jews were killed in three days, with another forty thousand sold into slavery.

Apocalyptic literature (Daniel 7-12, Revelation) is aimed at persecuted peoples for the purpose of encouraging them to hold on in faith; to let them know that, even though troubles may come, God has not forgotten them; and that in the end good triumphs over evil.

We can take comfort that God preserved the Jews during the rage of Antiochus and Christians under Roman domination. Likewise, God wants you to hold on. Things will get better.

TODAY’S MEDITATION

Ask God for grace to endure; and then hold on.
 

Day 265: Daniel 4, 5 and 6

May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you! (Daniel 6:16).

You know the story. The new king Darius gave responsibility for the daily affairs of his kingdom to three rulers, one of whom was Daniel. Daniel outperformed his counterparts and was slated to receive a promotion, which made his opponents very envious of his success and position. Rather than work harder, they determined to bring Daniel down a notch.

Fast forward to a reluctant king caught by his own words. Darius doesn’t want to punish Daniel, his chosen second-in-command, but he also doesn’t want to vacillate in front of would-be contenders for the throne looking for any sign of weakness. So Daniel becomes potential Fancy Feast for ferocious felines.

Before the sentence is carried out, Darius whispers a message of regret mixed with a tinge of hope: May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you! The king knew Daniel’s life was consistent. Daniel wasn’t one who served God just for God’s blessing. He would not deny God to save his own skin. On the contrary, he wasn’t the other kind of man with a milk toast faith who, when things start going bad, suddenly calls out for deliverance to a God whom, when everything was good, he had previously ignored.

Daniel’s faith was solid. Daniel knew it, Darius knew it, and those conspiring against Daniel knew it.

TODAY’S MEDITATION

Is your walk consistent whether life is good or circling the drain? Is it a secret or is it common knowledge? What are you going to do about that?
 

Day 264: Daniel 1, 2 and 3

Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact (Daniel 2:14).

Most critical biblical scholars affirm that Daniel was written not to the Jews in Babylonian exile, but to their grandchildren several generations removed who lived 400 years later and were being butchered by the Greek tyrant Antiochus IV (Epiphanes). The last six chapters are apocalyptic literature, written to persecuted people during dark times.

During this first encounter between Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar, the King asks for something totally preposterous. He demands that not only must his wise men interpret his dream, but that they interpret it without being told what it is! When no one can comply, the king orders the deaths of all his advisors, even though some have not yet been tested. When they come to arrest Daniel, instead of panicking, and instead of flying off the handle at the injustice of the situation, the writer says Daniel responded with wisdom and tact.

No matter how unreasonable the request or violent the attack, we don’t have to respond with panic or anger – even when our assailant is a monstrous tyrant. In faith, we can choose how to respond, and respond with wisdom and self-control. If a violent response is deemed necessary, let it be a reasoned response, not a knee-jerk reaction. Very few convincing arguments ever came out of a shouting match. Because he kept his head when others were losing theirs, Daniel emerged as the king’s most trusted advisor.

When was the last time panicking or losing your temper successfully resolved anything?

TODAY’S MEDITATION

In what areas do you need wisdom and tact?

Day 267: Daniel 10, 11 and 12

Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:2)

According to biblical scholar Walter Brueggemann, this is one of only two clear Old Testament references to the resurrection of the dead. The first is Isaiah 26:19 – Your dead will live; their bodies will rise. You who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy. Your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead. He is careful to connect this with Isaiah 25:6-10a.

Daniel, then, is the second. Whereas the Isaiah text focuses on the joy associated with resurrection, Daniel says there are two sides to that coin. Some will be resurrected to everlasting life and some to everlasting contempt.

Brueggemann writes that we are mistaken to limit resurrection to a merely private experience… reward or punishment, or even that of being restored to our loved ones. It’s bigger than that. Let Brueggemann speak: It is clear that the affirmation of life-beyond-death that is only at the fringes of the Old Testament is able to speak of resurrection as a function of ‘the end’ (12:13) that is also the beginning of ‘new life.’ That is, resurrection is a vehicle for radical, apocalyptic thought that bespeaks fearful endings and amazing beginnings, all of which are wrought by the power of God. [1]

What does the promise of resurrection mean to you?

[1] Walter Brueggemann, An Introduction to the Old Testament. (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2003), 358.

Day 266: Daniel 7, 8 and 9

We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. (Daniel 9:18)

In the Christian Bible, The Book of Daniel is placed among the prophets, right between Ezekiel (the last major prophet) and Hosea (the first minor prophet). But in the Hebrew Bible, Daniel takes its place among the Writings, along with Ezra/Nehemiah and Chronicles, the most recent additions to the Hebrew canon.

This creative narration of events involving Daniel is aimed at Jews experiencing persecution under the harsh rule of Antiochus IV (Epiphanes), a Greek tyrant ruling over Jerusalem in the second century BC. Antiochus had installed his own High Priest, executed many notable Jewish leaders, ordered the worship of Zeus, criminalized possession of the Jewish Scriptures, and slaughtered a pig on the temple altar. Because of Jewish resistance in Jerusalem, Antiochus attacked without mercy. Forty thousand Jews were killed in three days, with another forty thousand sold into slavery.

Apocalyptic literature (Daniel 7-12, Revelation) is aimed at persecuted peoples for the purpose of encouraging them to hold on in faith, to let them know that even though troubles may come God has not forgotten them, and that in the end good triumphs over evil.

We can take comfort that God preserved the Jews during the rage of Antiochus and Christians under Roman domination. Likewise, God wants you to hold on. Things will get better.

What are you enduring? Hold on to God’s great mercy.

Day 265: Daniel 4, 5 and 6

May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you! (Daniel 6:16)

You know the story. The new king Darius divided up his kingdom under three rulers, one of whom was Daniel. Daniel outperformed his counterparts and was slated to receive a promotion, which made his opponents very envious of his success and position. Rather than work harder, they determined to bring Daniel down a notch.

Fast forward to a reluctant king caught by his own words. Darius doesn't want to punish Daniel, his chosen second-in-command, but he also doesn't want to vacillate in front of would-be contenders for the throne looking for any sign of weakness. So Daniel becomes potential Fancy Feast for ferocious felines.

Before the sentence is carried out, Darius whispers a message of regret mixed with a tinge of hope: May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you! The king knew Daniel's life was consistent. Daniel wasn't one who served God just because God had blessed him. He would not deny God to save his own skin. On the contrary, he wasn't the other kind of man with a milk toast faith who, when things start going bad, would suddenly call out for deliverance to a God whom, when everything was good, he had previously ignored.

Are you more likely to cling to God when life is looking sunny or when it's circling the drain? Or, do you – like Daniel – continually and consistently serve the Lord your God?

Day 264: Daniel 1, 2 and 3

Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. (Daniel 2:14)

Most critical biblical scholars affirm that Daniel was written not to the Jews in Babylonian exile, but to their grandchildren living 400 years later being butchered by the Greek tyrant Antiochus Epiphanes. The last six chapters are apocalyptic literature, written to persecuted people during dark times.

During this first encounter between Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar, the King asks for something totally preposterous. He demands that not only must his wise men interpret his dream, but that they interpret it without being told what it is! When no one can comply, the king orders the deaths of all his advisors, even though some have not yet been tested. When they come to arrest Daniel, instead of panicking, and instead of flying off the handle at the injustice of the situation, the writer says Daniel responded with wisdom and tact.

No matter how unreasonable the request or violent the attack, we don't have to respond with panic or anger – even when our assailant is a monstrous tyrant. In faith, we can choose how to respond, and respond with wisdom and self-control. If a violent response is deemed necessary, let it be a reasoned response, not a knee-jerk reaction. Very few convincing arguments ever came out of a shouting match. Because he kept his head when others were losing theirs, Daniel emerged as the king's most trusted advisor.

When was the last time panicking or losing your temper successfully resolved anything?

Day 267: Daniel 10, 11 and 12

Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:2)

According to biblical scholar Walter Brueggemann, this is one of only two clear Old Testament references to the resurrection of the dead. The first is Isaiah 26:19 - Your dead will live; their bodies will rise. You who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy. Your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead. He is careful to connect this with Isaiah 25:6-10a.

Daniel, then, is the second. Whereas the Isaiah text focuses on the joy associated with resurrection, Daniel says there are two sides to that coin. Some will be resurrected to everlasting life and some to everlasting contempt.

Brueggemann says we are mistaken to limit resurrection to a merely private experience... reward or punishment, or even that of being restored to our loved ones. It's bigger than that. Let Brueggemann speak: It is clear that the affirmation of life-beyond-death that is only at the fringes of the Old Testament is able to speak of resurrection as a function of 'the end' (12:13) that is also the beginning of 'new life.' That is, resurrection is a vehicle for radical, apocalyptic thought that bespeaks fearful endings and amazing beginnings, all of which are wrought by the power of God. [1]

What does the promise of resurrection mean to you?

[1] Walter Brueggemann. An Introduction to the Old Testament (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2003), 358.

Day 266: Daniel 7, 8 and 9

We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. (Daniel 9:18)

In the Christian Bible, The Book of Daniel is placed among the prophets, right between Ezekiel (the last major prophet) and Hosea (the first minor prophet). But in the Hebrew Bible, Daniel takes its place among the Writings, along with Ezra/Nehemiah and Chronicles, the most recent additions to the Hebrew canon.

This creative narration of events involving Daniel is aimed at Jews experiencing persecution under the harsh rule of Antiochus IV (Epiphanes), a Greek tyrant ruling over Jerusalem in the second century BC. Antiochus had installed his own High Priest, executed many notable Jewish leaders, ordered the worship of Zeus, criminalized possession of the Jewish Scriptures, and slaughtered a pig on the temple altar. Because of Jewish resistance in Jerusalem, Antiochus attacked without mercy. Forty thousand Jews were killed in three days, with another forty thousand sold into slavery.

Apocalyptic literature (Daniel 7-12, Revelation) is aimed at persecuted peoples for the purpose of encouraging them to hold on in faith, to let them know that even though troubles may come God has not forgotten them, and that in the end good triumphs over evil.

We can take comfort that God preserved the Jews during the age of Antiochus and Christians under Roman domination. Likewise, God wants you to hold on. Things will get better.

What are you enduring? Hold on to God's great mercy.

Day 265: Daniel 4, 5 and 6

May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you! (Daniel 6:16)

You know the story. The new king Darius divided up his kingdom under three rulers, one of whom was Daniel. Daniel outperformed his counterparts and was slated to receive a promotion, which made his opponents very envious of his success and position. Rather than work harder, they determined to bring Daniel down a notch.

Fast forward to a reluctant king caught by his own words. Darius doesn't want to punish Daniel, his chosen second-in-command, but he also doesn't want to vacillate in front of would-be contenders for the throne looking for any sign of weakness. So Daniel becomes potential Fancy Feast for ferocious felines.

Before the sentence is carried out, Darius whispers a message of regret mixed with a tinge of hope: May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you! The king knew Daniel's life was consistent. Daniel wasn't one who served God just because God has blessed him. He would not deny God to save his own skin. On the contrary, he wasn't the other kind of man with a milk toast faith who, when things start going bad, would suddenly call out for deliverance to a God whom, when everything was good, he had previously ignored.

Are you more likely to cling to God when life is looking sunny or when it's circling the drain? Or, do you - like Daniel - continually and consistently serve the Lord your God?

Day 264: Daniel 1, 2 and 3

Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. (Daniel 2:14)

Most critical biblical scholars affirm that Daniel was written not to the Jews in Babylonian exile, but to their grandchildren living 400 years later being butchered by the Greek tyrant Antiochus Epiphanes. The last six chapters are apocalyptic literature, written to persecuted people during dark times.

During this first encounter between Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar, the king asks for something totally preposterous. He demands that not only must his wise men interpret his dream, but that they interpret it without being told what it is! When no one can comply, the king orders the death of all his advisors, even though some have not yet been tested. When they come to arrest Daniel, instead of panicking, and instead of flying off the handle at the injustice of the situation, the writer says Daniel responded with wisdom and tact.

No matter how unreasonable the request or violent the attack, we don't have to respond with panic or anger - even when our assailant is a monstrous tyrant. In faith, we can choose how to respond, and respond with wisdom and self-control. If a violent response is deemed necessary, let it be a reasoned response, not a knee-jerk reaction. Very few convincing arguments ever came out of a shouting match. Because he kept his head when others were losing theirs, Daniel emerged as the king's most trusted advisor.

When was the last time panicking or losing your temper successfully resolved anything?

Day 267: Daniel 10, 11 and 12

Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:2)

According to biblical scholar Walter Brueggemann, this is one of only two clear Old Testament references to the resurrection of the dead. The first is Isaiah 26:19 - Your dead will live; their bodies will rise. You who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy. Your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead. He is careful to connect this with Isaiah 25:6-10a.

Daniel, then, is the second. Whereas the Isaiah text focuses on the joy associated with resurrection, Daniel says there are two sides to that coin. Some will be resurrected to everlasting life and some to everlasting contempt.

Brueggemann writes that we are mistaken to limit resurrection to a merely private experience... reward or punishment, or even that of being restored to our loved ones. It's bigger than that. Let Brueggemann speak: If is clear that the affirmation of life-beyond-death that is only at the fringes of the Old Testament is able to speak of resurrection as a function of 'the end' (12:13) that is also the beginning of 'new life.' That is, resurrection is a vehicle for radical, apocalyptic thought that bespeaks fearful endings and amazing beginnings, all of which are wrought by the power of God. [1]

What does the promise of resurrection mean to you?

[1] Walter Brueggemann, An Introduction to the Old Testament. (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2003), 358.

Day 266: Daniel 7, 8 and 9

We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. (Daniel 9:18)

In the Christian Bible, the Book of Daniel is placed among the prophets, right between Ezekiel (the last major prophet) and Hosea (the first minor prophet). But in the Hebrew Bible, Daniel takes its place among the Writings, along with Ezra/Nehemiah and Chronicles, the most recent additions to the Jewish canon.

Most critical scholars agree that the events of Daniel are aimed not at those in Babylonian exile, but to Jews experiencing persecution at the hands of Antiochus IV (Epiphanes), a Greek tyrant ruling over Jerusalem in the second century BC. Antiochus had installed his own High Priest, executed many notable Jewish leaders, ordered the worship of Zeus, criminalized possession of the Jewish Scriptures, and slaughtered a pig on the temple altar. Because of Jewish resistance in Jerusalem, Antiochus attacked without mercy. 40,000 Jews were killed in 3 days, with another 40,000 sold into slavery.

Apocalyptic literature (Daniel 7-12, Revelation) is aimed at persecuted peoples, for the purpose of encouraging them to hold on in faith, to let them know that even though troubles may come that God has not forgotten them, and that in the end good triumphs over evil.

We can take comfort that God preserved the Jews during the rage of Antiochus and Christians under Roman domination. Likewise, God wants you to hold on. Things will get better.

What are you enduring? Hold on to God's great mercy.

Day 265: Daniel 4, 5 and 6

May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you! (Daniel 6:16)

You know the story. The new king Darius divided up his kingdom under three rulers, one of whom was Daniel. Daniel outperformed his counterparts and was slated to receive a promotion, which made his opponents very envious of his success and position. Rather than work harder, they determined to bring Daniel down a notch.

Fast forward to a reluctant king caught by his own words. Darius doesn't want to punish Daniel, his chosen second-in-command, but he also doesn't want to vacillate in front of would-be contenders for the throne looking for any sign of weakness. So Daniel becomes potential Fancy Feast for ferocious felines.

Before the sentence is carried out, Darius whispers a message of regret mixed with a tinge of hope: May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you! The king knew Daniel's life was consistent. Daniel wasn't one who served God just because God had blessed him. He would not deny God to save his own skin. On the other hand, he wasn't the other kind of man with a milk toast faith who, when things start going bad, would suddenly call out for deliverance to a God whom, when everything was good, he had previously ignored.

Are you more likely to cling to God when life is looking sunny or when it's circling the drain? Or do you - like Daniel - continually and consistently serve the Lord your God?

Day 264: Daniel 1, 2 and 3

Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and with tact. (Daniel 2:14)

Most biblical scholars affirm that Daniel was written not to the Jews in Babylonian exile, but to their grandchildren living 400 years later being butchered by the Greek tyrant Antiochus Epiphanes. The last six chapters are apocalyptic literature, written to persecuted people during dark times.

During this first encounter between Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar, the King has asked for something totally preposterous. He has demanded that not only must his wise men interpret his dream, but that they interpret it without being told what it is! When no one can comply, the king orders the death of all his advisors, even though some have not yet been tested. When they come to arrest Daniel, instead of panicking, and instead of flying off the handle at the injustice of the situation, the writer says Daniel responded with wisdom and tact.

No matter how unreasonable the request or violent the attack, we don't have to respond with panic or anger - even when our assailant is a monstrous tyrant. In faith, we can choose how to respond, and respond with wisdom and self-control. If a violent response is deemed necessary, let it be a reasoned response, not a knee-jerk reaction. Very few convincing arguments ever came out of a shouting match. Because he kept his head when others were losing theirs, Daniel emerged as the king's most trusted advisor.

When was the last time panicking or losing your temper successfully resolved anything?

Day 265: Daniel 4 - 6

May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you! (Daniel 6:16)

You know the story. The new king Darius divided up his kingdom under three rulers, one of whom was Daniel. Daniel outperformed his counterparts and was to receive a promotion, which made his opponents very envious of his success and position. Rather than work harder, they determined to bring Daniel down a notch.

Fast forward to a reluctant king caught by his own words. Darius doesn't want to punish Daniel, his chosen second in command, but he also doesn't want to vacillate in front of would-be contenders for the throne looking for any sign of weakness. So Daniel becomes potential Fancy Feast for ferocious felines.

Before the sentence is carried out, Darius whispers a message of regret mixed with a tinge of hope: May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you! The king knew Daniel's life was consistent. Daniel wasn't one who served God just because God had blessed him and who would now deny God to save his own skin. He also wasn't the kind of man with a milk toast faith who would suddenly call out for deliverance to the God whom he had previously ignored when everything was going good.

Are you more likely to cling to God when life is looking sunny or when it's circling the drain? Or, do you – like Daniel – continually and consistently serve the Lord your God?

Day 264: Daniel 1 - 3

Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. (Daniel 2:14)

Most critical biblical scholars affirm that Daniel was written not to the Jews in Babylonian exile, but to their grandchildren living 400 years later being butchered by the Greek tyrant Antiochus Epiphanes. The last six chapters are apocalyptic literature, written to help persecuted peoples get through their dark times.

During this first encounter between Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar, the King has asked for something totally preposterous. He has demanded that not only must his wise men interpret his dream, but that they interpret it without being told what it was! When no one could comply, the king ordered the deaths of all his advisors, even though some had not yet been tested. When they came to arrest Daniel, instead of panicking, and instead of flying off the handle at the unjustness of the situation, the writer says Daniel responded with wisdom and tact.

No matter how unreasonable the request or violent the attack, we don't have to respond with panic or anger – even when our assailant is a monstrous tyrant. In faith, we can choose how to respond, and respond with wisdom and tact. If a violent response is deemed necessary, let it be a reasoned response, not a knee jerk reaction. Very few good arguments ever came out of a shouting match. Because he kept his head when others were losing theirs, Daniel emerged as the king's most trusted advisor.

When's the last time panicking or losing your temper successfully resolved anything?