Hello
Friends!
Welcome
back
to our Encouraging Concepts Bible
study series focused on the powerfully PROPHETIC picture portrayed in the Old Testament book
of Daniel painted as a panoramic
landscape of World History in FIVE successions “written” in
ardent ADVANCE some 2,600 years ago…
“The Book of Daniel: Prophecy PAST, PRESENT
& FUTURE!”
The Book of Daniel: Prophecy PAST,
PRESENT & FUTURE (Chapter 1: Verses 17-21)
17 As for these four children, God
gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had
understanding in all visions and dreams. 18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he
should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before
Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And
the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel,
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. 20 And in all matters of
wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten
times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.
21 And Daniel
continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus – Daniel
1:17-21
OPENING POINTS TO PONDER: Our
great “God” has ornately “ordained”
each of “us” as bold BELIEVERS by His great “grace through
faith” clearly “created
in Christ Jesus” unto ACCOMPANYING glorious “good
works” completed FOR
Him:
For by grace are ye saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest
any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto
good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them – Ephesians 2:8-10
What doth it profit, my brethren,
though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a
brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say
unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give
them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even
so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou
hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will
shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou
doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain
man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by
works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith
wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture
was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him
for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by
works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab
the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had
sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith
without works is dead also – James 2:14-26
Therefore,
as “we” purposely PRAY
for His willful “workmanship”
and wonderful “wisdom” to be DONE in
kind, we must “walk” out
for Him ALL He has “set”
forth according to His Sovereign plan. And often times, a deeply
difficult problem can be best SOLVED by solemn poignant PRAYER unto Him. Thus, as we proceed with our
serious “study” in the beautiful book
of “Daniel” it is discovered that ALL true
“knowledge” and “skill”
are indeed GIVEN as the GREAT grandiose – Gifts FROM God!
Gifts FROM God!
As
we have duly discovered in our previous “study”
session, “Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah”
had avidly AVOIDED the languished lifestyle and dank diet
of which the “Chaldeans” sought to impose
upon them. WHY? Because of their UNCOMPROMISING spirits!
And
as a right RESULT our great “God”
had grandly honored their willful OBEDIENCE as He gladly “gave”
each of “them” the "knowledge and skill in all
literature and wisdom" that
was necessary
for their heavenly ORDAINED tasks:
As for these four children, God
gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had
understanding in all visions and dreams – Daniel 1:17
However,
“Daniel” himself ALONE also “had”
a very UNIQUE in-depth “understanding in all visions and dreams”
as well. And as we will “learn”
later in this historical narrative, many very vivid “visions” will be “given”
to him while he is AWAKE and more demanding “dreams”
will be “granted” to him while he is ASLEEP in
kind. Hence, here was a young “Hebrew”
lad with the grand GIFT of an Old Testament
sort of “seer” and purposed “prophet” accordingly. And this kind of strength
comes from PURITY of the “heart”
from “God” Himself. Therefore, “they” had passed this very unusual
TEST with
flying colors! Such an uncompromising strict STAND on
the “Word of God” leads to unashamed BOLDNESS, an uncommon STANDARD, an unearthly PROTECTION, an unhindered PERSISTENCE, an unblemished FAITH and
as a “righteous” result, there WILL follow – Unmeasurable
BLESSINGS!
Thus,
in these poignant passages “Daniel”
begins to set the Sovereign stage for this ENTIRE perfect
PROPHECY to
be professed
in that “we” too TODAY
may rightly RECEIVE God’s – Wonderful Word!
CONTEXTUAL COMMENTS: The nation of “Babylon”
was the epicenter of worldly “knowledge”
in that tumultuous “time” with advanced “science” and libraries of a GREAT scope,
including secular scholars leading the “world”
in such areas of life. And “God”
Himself had “given” to “Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah” a
keen “knowledge” of absolutely ALL such aspects via the true APPLICATION of His divine “Word” to the situation at hand. And “God” gave “each”
of “them” His wonderful “wisdom”
in kind. And in BOTH instances were found a magnificent means
of real REVELATION rightly RECEIVED directly from “God”
Himself – Prophetic PROMISE!
Indeed
“God” had abundantly BLESSED their unbelievably UNCOMPROMISING
lives for Him. And here brings together the TWO wonderful
truths of our great “God’s”
sweet Sovereignty soundly coupled with “mankind’s” total Responsibility unto Him. Therefore, “God”
had Sovereignly rewarded
“Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah”
when they were totally COMMITTED to live via an – UNCOMPROMISING life!
“Now” at the “end of
the days” that were ESTABLISHED for their “three
years” of appointed TRAINING time, “they” were then
“brought” into the powerful PRESENCE of their “King
Nebuchadnezzar” by the “prince of the eunuchs” himself
as the “king” comfortably “communed” with
them…
Now at the end of the days that
the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs
brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king communed with them; and
among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
therefore stood they before the king – Daniel 1:18-19
Each of “them” soundly “stood” before
the “king” in kind and were thus MADE to be the
personal attendants and advisers of the mighty
monarch himself. WHY? Because out of “all” the OTHER men, “none” were “found” to be “like” these
named “Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah”
themselves! And these “young” lads of whom had been so absurd
as NOT to eagerly “eat the food” from the
“royal table” and so obstinate as NOT to deeply
“defile themselves” are the completely COMMITTED individuals
of whom can NOT be bent. They are the straight
and upright
ones of whom shall STAND before future
worldly “kings” one day. WHY? Because
our great “God” will absolutely always be
faithfully – Forever WITH them!
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: The FIRST group
of which the “king communed” with
represented ALL of “them”
that had been deported back in 606 B.C.
to include “Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah”
themselves. The SECOND group had not yet come to “Babylon”
until 598 B.C. of which included
the Prophet “Jeremiah” himself. And the THIRD group was not in exile until 587 B.C. in kind. Thus, these young lads have been groomed
in the meantime and “King
Nebuchadnezzar” thus converses deeply with
them. In a sense, this is their oral exam and final TEST to
verify how well they had “each”
done in their “three years” of a torrid tactical
training. And as a result, these particular young men “Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah”
were the Summa Cum Laude of whom had
greatly graduated at the TOP of their class and yet NEVER did
“they” duly “defiled”
themselves – NO
Compromise!
Therefore,
“Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah”
had strongly “stood before the king” in
complete CONFIDENCE in their
great “God” Himself! They were the
king’s personal protégé’ in kind. Imagine, the grand PRESTIGE of being in the “royal court” at the young age of 17 and standing alongside the mightily POWERFUL pagan “king”
himself of the brandish “Babylonian”
nation. And NEVER once having compromised any of your
righteous convictions of “heart”
center. And as a right RESULT
your great “God” had lifted you UP to
that very place of HONOR unto Him – BLESSINGS in Babylon!
Gifted BY God!
And Just
how GIFTED by
their great “God” were these FOUR fine young lads named “Daniel,
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah” as such?
And in all matters of wisdom and
understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better
than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm – Daniel
1:20
Real “men of God” are ALWAYS found to
be “ten times better” than ALL of that LOST lot
combined! And “they” had constantly “communed” with their
grand “God” Himself and that was much BETTER than being
mangled “magicians” or silly stargazers so
called. And these OBEDIENT boys were BLESSED in
absolutely “all matters” of wondered “wisdom and understanding” and were boldly
far – BEYOND everyone ELSE!
Therefore,
because “Daniel” had deliberately “purposed in his heart” to diligently
do all things RIGHT before Almighty “God”
Himself, he was ultimately USED for the “predestined”
practical PURPOSES within the PROPHETIC plan of his loving “LORD” for the trying “times”
of the future to come:
And Daniel continued even unto
the first year of king Cyrus – Daniel 1:21
“And” later in our serious “study” in this beautiful book we will “learn” that without ever compromising
this HUMBLE young man “Daniel”
will rightly RULE within that pagan “Babylonian”
land as the powerful Prime Minister
for the complete “seventy years” of the
powerfully PROPHESIED cursed “captivity” just as our great “God” had intended – Let GOD
lift you UP!
During
this “time” in history, the same “God” was preparing this
diligent “Daniel” to mightily minister
unto the “King Nebuchadnezzar
“ himself later in chapter 2. And “Daniel” would not only WIN the “King's” full favor in kind, he
would also reveal the purposeful PLAN of our great “God”
for the FUTURE through the intense “interpretation”
of a daring “dream” to come. Indeed “God” would USE this humble “Daniel”
to powerfully provide the PROPHETIC truths that perhaps diligently describe many of
the CURRENT events
we see forming around us TODAY in
stark evidence that we are no doubt “quickly”
approaching that trying “time”
of the righteous – RETURN
of our Lord!
God’s PROPHETIC Purposes!
Those wonderful words sweetly summarize the whole of “Daniel’s” lauded LIFE and
magnificent MINISTRY mandated: “Daniel
continued” until the “first year” of the
next “king” named “Cyrus of Persia” of whom
was to PROPHETICALLY come along in history…
THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: In
the Old Testament book of Ezra all the “people”
of jaundice “Judah” were going back
to the city “Jerusalem” from their PROPHESIED caustic
“captivity” and guess WHO is boldly behind that godly
migration? The man “Daniel”
himself! HOW? His great “God” had GIVEN him great influence that no doubt DICTATED the
direct “decree of Cyrus king of
Persia” to willfully “let”
these horded “Hebrews” rightly RETURN unto “their”
own home “land of Israel” proper along “with”
all the taken “vessels of the house of the Lord” to boldly “build the house of the Lord God” in kind:
Now in the first year of Cyrus
king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by
the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia,
that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in
writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me
all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at
Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? his God
be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the
house of the Lord God of
Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem… Also Cyrus the king
brought forth the vessels of the house of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and
had put them in the house of his gods; Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of
Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar, the prince of
Judah. And this is the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, a thousand
chargers of silver, nine and twenty knives, Thirty
basons of gold, silver basons of a second sort four hundred and ten, and other
vessels a thousand. All the vessels of gold and of
silver were five thousand and four hundred. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up
with them of the captivity that were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem – Ezra 1:1-3 & 7-11
That same godly Influence can also
be found in the Old Testament book of Nehemiah with the right REBUILDING of the worn “wall”
that was boldly “broken down” by the crass “King Nebuchadnezzar”
under the lay leadership of yet another mighty man of “God” named Nehemiah in kind:
So I came to Jerusalem, and was
there three days. And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither
told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was
there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon. And I went out by
night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung
port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates
thereof were consumed with fire… So built we the
wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the
people had a mind to work – Nehemiah 2:11-13 & 4:6
PROPHETIC PROMISE: And
the very same godly Influence that would eventually LEAD the wondering “wise men”
from the “east” to one “day” arrive in “Israel”
to correctly CROWN our Eternal “King” of Whom was “born
in Bethlehem” as “God”
incarnate:
And she shall bring forth a son,
and thou shalt call his name Jesus:
for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it
might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold,
a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call
his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us – Matthew
1:21-23
This man “Daniel”
is found behind the scenes of the HISTORY of the “Messiah”
Himself as well as the “Jewish”
people themselves. WHY? Because he brings homage
to the Ultimate “King” of Whom is “above
every name” as the “King
of kings” and “Lord of lords”
Who reigns FOREVER more…
Wherefore God also hath highly
exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name
of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and
things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ
is Lord, to the glory of God the Father – Philippians 2:9-11
And he hath on
his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord
Of Lords – Revelation 19:16
Therefore, it was “Daniel’ who penned this
powerful PROPHECY concerning the HISTORY of the whole “world”
up until the FUTURE ruling righteous REIGN of
our “Lord Jesus Christ” Himself – Incredible INFLUENCE!
From
the HUMAN viewpoint: “Daniel,
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah” knew that everything was dependent
upon “their” right Responsibility. And from the DIVINE viewpoint:
“God” had absolutely everything soundly
secure
in His Sovereignty. This is the
working of BOTH truths
simultaneously TOGETHER succinctly in what is known as
the “theology” of Concurrence.
And as a result, “God” gladly GAVE to each
of them “knowledge and skill in learning and wisdom”
for ALL they needed to keenly “know” being aptly applied as they
practically participated within this pragmatic – PAGAN society!
These four godly young lads “Daniel,
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah” greatly expressed their longing LOYALTY unto the great “God” of their “fathers” and their OBEDIENCE to His “law” in heart…
But without
faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he
is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him
– Hebrews 11:6
Therefore, the “Lord” rightly REWARDED them for their FAITHFULNESS to Him. After all, He is STILL the righteous “rewarder” of all “them ” of whom “diligently seek” Him and WALK in solemn separation from this “world” of waning – WICKEDNESS!
May “God” give to each of “us” His great
GRACE to continue as “Daniel” did! In fact, TODAY as a “Christian” who has the REVELATION of our great “God” in our hands and the
indwelling POWER of the “Holy Spirit”
within our hearts we are indeed “ten
times” smarter than the smartest LOST person in the “world”
who does NOT know “God”
at all. WHY? Because “we” actually “know”
the REAL telling “truth”
that will PERSONALLY one day “set”
us finally – FREE
from sin!
In
closing:
REAL REFLECTIONS: The twelve chapters of “Daniel” are powerfully PROMISED prophecies depicting the unfolding
of the HISTORIC events of which will take place leading up to
the literal “time” of the SECOND awaited
physical “coming” of our loving “Lord Jesus Christ” back to the earth:
And in the days
of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be
destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall
break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever – Daniel 2:44
And
our SERIOUS study of these PROPHECIES will
rightly REVEAL to each student of God's wonderful “Word” that the events FORETOLD
some 2,600 years ago could
possibly be FULFILLED in the seemingly near future…
We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!
If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com
I love hearing from you. Keep reading Encouraging Concepts!
Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><
Encouraging Concepts
Truth for Today
"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"
