Category: Christian Blog

How to Overcome Anger and Terror On Our Knees

In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans; In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: Daniel 9:1-5

Although a captive, Daniel had been placed in a position where he served the King of Babylon, his successor and now was held in a high position even with the Medes. In part, due to his humility of heart. He had the heart of a servant—first and foremost toward God and then toward those whom God had placed over him. He did not fear them; because, he trusted God. He did not rebel, riot or try to incite discontent when the pagan King would declare edicts that went against God. Instead, Daniel would with a gentle voice say, “I will follow God first.” At risk of death, he refused to eat the foods that had been presented to idols. Knowing that he would be thrown into the Den of Lions for praying, he prayed anyway. He did not fear what man could do to him. He served God first with all his heart. Then, from that same heart of a servant he served those whom God had placed in authority over him.

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A Vision Come True is the Hope for Our World

And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man. And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.Daniel 8:15-17

 

When I embarked on this series through the book of Daniel, I had felt God drawing me to just this task. Each step of the way, I have prayed earnestly for His guidance to reveal His truth to me and to you my readers. “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him” (Proverbs 30:5). As we reach Chapter 8 in this series, at first glance it appeared the same vision of the future of the Jewish nation being shown with a few minor details being added to present parts of the vision with greater clarity. Yet, at closer examination and with a lot of prayer; I began to see the miraculous way in which God was reminding us not to lose hope even when everything around us appears hopeless.

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Where Is Hope Found When Darkness Invades Our World?

Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations (deepest thoughts, contemplations) much troubled me, and my countenance (mental composure) changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart. Daniel 7:28

Daniel had been God’s instrument as the interpreter of dreams for Nebuchadnezzar. His faithfulness despite being a captive had lead him to a place of position within the courts of King Nebuchadnezzar, ruler over Babylon. Ultimately, King Nebuchadnezzar worshipped God. Then, came his grandson, Belshazzar, who had no respect for God. During a lavish drunken, sensual party; God wrote upon the walls those fateful words of Weighed, found wanting, and dissected as the army of the Medes easily took over the Babylonian empire fulfilling the next historical phase prophesied to King Nebuchadnezzar in his dream many years before. After Daniel told us of this historical event in Chapter 5 followed by the events in his own life under Darius in Chapter 6 that lead to Darius worshipping God; he now in chapter 7 reflects back to a prophetic dream that God had given to Daniel.

As, Daniel begins chapter 7, he writes “in the first year of Belshazzar, king of Babylon, I had a dream”. He saw the winds blowing over the Mediterranean Sea and beasts that would come out of the sea, each different and each one devouring the one before. Each beast was more frightening and more ferocious  in nature until,

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How to Really Overcome the Jaws of Pride and Jealousy

Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast forever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth Daniel 6:25-27

Jealousy, Pride and Self-Exaltation are at the center of the human heart. It is that which separates us from the sweet communion with God. It is what cuts wounds so deep that we cannot know the truest of joy in our relationship with God or others. It not only is the poison within our own heart. It is at the center of the turmoil placed upon us by the world that surrounds us.

So, it was for Daniel as well who would find himself thrown deep into the pit of lions because of the jealousy, pride and the self-exalting hearts of those who surrounded him. Despite his being placed into captivity at a young age with his manhood stripped from him, Daniel had risen to a position of respect both within the courts of King Nebuchadnezzar and later under King Darius of the Medes after they had invaded and overtook Babylon. That in itself is remarkable! When another country takes seize of a former government, one would suspect that they would not wish to keep in high regard officials from the original government. Yet, Daniel was highly respected even by this new Monarch. Perhaps it was Daniels humility, grace, and wisdom that they noted, all learned by his constant devotion to studying Gods word and through his dedication to prayer. Daniel never ceased to pray three times every day.

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What is the Only True Hope for Our Nation?

But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this. And you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified. Then the fingers of the hand were sent from Him, and this writing was written. Daniel 5:22-24 (NKJV)

 

The Mede army was encamped just outside the walls of Babylon; yet, Belshazzar cloaked in his arrogance and false sense of security proclaimed loudly to all the people that there was nothing to fear. “No one could take down their mighty empire,” he declared with confidence. He knew the stories of his grandfather, Nebuchadnezzar. He was well aware that Nebuchadnezzar had surrendered his heart to worship God. Yet, he did not take heed. While the Mede army was pressing in, Belshazzar called the people to a lush and extravagant party. This was a party filled with drunkenness, sexual immorality, and blasphemy against God. Indeed, they had all of the sacred golden goblets that had once been in the Temple of Jerusalem brought to the feast that they might drink their wine from them. While they were partying, declaring that all was good; the hand appeared and wrote these words upon the wall. “MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN”— “Account, Account, Weighing, and Bisecting”. Belshazzar was suddenly filled with fear. He could not even read the words, nor did they make sense. But how did a large hand with no body appear and write this? What could it mean?

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