The Prophet Daniel
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.
And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes; Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. (Daniel 1:1-4)
WITH THESE WORDS, WE BEGIN OUR STUDY OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL, the foundational book for the study of Bible Prophecy. It is the weight of prophecy that draws stray minds to the Bible to consider its claim to be the Word of God.
I HAVE TWO BRICK-SHAPED PIECES OF IRON ON MY BACK PORCH. One piece, I use in making kraut, to weight the plate on top. This helps fermentation and helps to prevent spoilage. The other piece of iron I put on the lid of a churn containing cat food to keep the coons out. If the mama coon gets the lid off the cat food, she will have to struggle. When enemies of the Bible encounter the prophecies of the Book, they are forced to struggle. Nobody can predict the future…but the Bible does it.
ISAIAH PUT IT THIS WAY: Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: (Isaiah 46:9-10)
THE BOOK OF DANIEL IS ONE OF THE MOST DESPISED BOOKS IN THE BIBLE, because it claims to be able to predict future things. The next most-hated book of the Bible is the book of Genesis, because it tells us that God made us and that we did not make ourselves or just appear on the scene without a designer/maker. The earth and the universe are strong evidence of a designer and maker.
FULFILLED PROPHECIES AND THE MILLIONS OF DESIGNED THINGS on the earth and in the universe are extremely heavy and challenge the challengers who do not want these things to be true. It is amusing and yet tragic, how so many people struggle ‘till they’re out of breath trying to keep true things from being true. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (Rom 1:20)
I AM AT A DISADVANTAGE IN EMBARKING ON A STUDY OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL because so many people of this era have decided they prefer pictures over printed words. I was given a book 20 years ago entitled: The Vanishing Word. Twenty years before that and I would not have believed it. But I do believe the printed page is vanishing with each generation. Read to your children. Let them read to you. Make a big deal out of reading at your house.
IF I COULD MAKE THIS STUDY INTO A VIDEO, the viewership would be larger than a mere readership. Newspapers are going broke and closing because so many people don’t like to read. Nevertheless, there ARE those die-hard, stone-age readers who draw their breath through printed words in a book. Take away their books or their hand-held readers and they would die of suffocation.
IT IS FOR THESE FOLKS I'VE DECIDED IT'S WORTH WRITING FOR. Also, it was our Almighty Designer and Maker who thought that languages made up of words in a vocabulary is a good idea. Pictures are nice, too, of course. But, nothing takes the place of words and the printed page.
SOMEONE MAY BE ASKING: “Is all this chatter worthwhile?” I think so. In a not-so-subtle way, I’m asking our readers to determine that you will read the stuff I dig up and send your way from the life and book of Daniel. If it’s old hat, you will enjoy visiting with an old friend. If it’s brand new, then read with full attention and do your homework that may be asked of you. Keep your Bible opened to the Book of Daniel. Ω
Read Through the Bible in a Year
SEPTEMBER 13, 2018 – THURSDAY
A.M. Proverbs 23-24 P.M. 2Corinthians 4
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)
A Good Verse to Memorize:
If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? (Psalms 11:3)
(Write verse on scrap of paper and put in your pocket to memorize.)
Song for Today:
2nd Graders Recite Psalm 1 (1:13) (Calvary Christian School)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djIug0-Az8g
Give it a little time – You may need to adjust the sound.
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