Links for today’s readings:

Read: Daniel 10 Listen: (4:39)
Read: Hebrews 8 Listen: (2:58)

Links for Thursday’s readings:

Read: Daniel 11 Listen: (4:39), Read: Hebrews 9 Listen: (2:58)

Scripture Focus: Daniel 10:15-17

15 While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless. 16 Then one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing before me, “I am overcome with anguish because of the vision, my lord, and I feel very weak. 17 How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe.”

Reflection: Is the Future Rendering Us Speechless?

By Erin Newton

Battles and cosmic warfare! A spiritual delay and enigmatic excuses! This chapter presents more questions than answers. The details of the identity of Michael and what exactly is going on are beyond the space we have here.

Daniel is an apocalyptic text. The word apocalypse has become associated with catastrophic end times. Movies in post-apocalyptic settings are often filled with scenes of cities razed to the ground, nature and agriculture ruined, and sometimes warring factions of people (or in speculative fiction—robots and AI).

Apocalypse within the context of the Bible is similar but not quite the same. The term has a broad use and encompasses biblical texts such as Revelation and books excluded from the Protestant canon such as 1 Enoch. The general concept is that these texts are simply divine “revelations” (a basic definition of the Greek word from which we get our English apocalypse).

Daniel’s visions are revelations from God and apocalyptic in nature. They include imagery that extends beyond the scope of what is easily explained. The creatures and events defy explanation. The future vision looks chaotic. The battles between Michael and princes of Persia and Greece echo this typical apocalyptic imagery.

Despite the “out of this world” imagery depicted here, we see the same tried-and-true reality that speaking truth is scary. The forecasted future—whether the picture is presented to us on social media, the news, or through discernment of the times—needs truth more now than ever.

Daniel saw a vision of a “great war.” Many “great wars” have occurred since this vision. Wars continue to escalate even now. Like Daniel, how do we find the strength to speak? We might find the future (and the present) so foreboding that we are rendered speechless.

Praise God that we do not speak alone. The angelic being touched Daniel and bestowed strength to him. Likewise, we are given strength through the Spirit.

But like Daniel, our fear and our weakness does not excuse us from the call to speak. God did not find another prophet when Daniel was afraid. God did not find another leader when Moses stuttered. God did not find another woman when Esther faced the threat of the king’s rage.

Look at the world around us. What can we do? What can we say? As God places the words on your heart, know that he will give you the strength to utter them.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

I will bear witness that the Lord is righteous; I will praise the Name of the Lord Most High. — Psalm 7.18

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more about Hate Conflict? Love Truth

Quelling conflict must never come at the cost of the truth. The person the Lord hates is the villain, not the victim.

Read more about Apocalypse, How?

When we read an “apocalyptic” passage in the Bible, we need to remember that something is being revealed or exposed.

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Daniel 9 Listen: (5:22)
Read: Hebrews 7 Listen: (4:01

Scripture Focus: Daniel 9.1-3, 17-19

1 In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian kingdom—2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. 3 So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.

17 “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. 18 Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. 19 Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”

Reflection: Praying Like an Exile

By John Tillman

Daniel’s prayer-life helped him survive in exile. Let our spiritual disciplines follow Daniel’s model.

Daniel prayed inspired and informed by scripture. The truth of scripture inspired Daniel to confession, lament, and to requests for forgiveness and restoration. Daniel’s bold requests were based on biblical knowledge of God’s holiness, mercy, and power.

Let scripture drive your prayers. Immersing yourself in scripture informs you about God’s purposes and connects you to God’s heart. Pray with a boldness that is empowered and driven by God’s purposes and love.

Daniel prayed in moments of crisis. When the king’s dream could not be interpreted, he ordered all the “wise men,” including Daniel and his friends, killed. Daniel and his friends prayed urgently for a miraculous revelation of the dream. (Daniel 2.17-19)

Pray in and out of crises. Surveys tell us that even atheists pray in crisis. We don’t need to wait until crises occur to pray about them. Jesus told us we would have trouble in this world. Believe him. Pray about trouble before, during, and after it comes.

Daniel prayed scheduled prayers as a public practice. Daniel prayed three times daily at a window facing Jerusalem. These prayers were publicly observable but not performative and did not place demands on others. This regular spiritual practice marked Daniel as a follower of Yahweh, distinguishing him from the culture, yet remained a private expression of his faith that was observed by others, not enforced upon them.

Be public, but not performative, about your prayer, worship attendance, and other markers of faith. Don’t be in people’s face to intimidate or pressure them, but let your practices be observable, peaceful, and open.

Daniel prayed with prophetic, disruptive purpose. Praying towards Jerusalem implied prayers for the restoration of Israel and the Temple, and the prayer in today’s passage is an example of their content. (Daniel 9.15-18) Praying this way was a subversive, prophetic act. It became more subversive when Daniel continued this practice in defiance of the edict for all prayers to be directed toward the king. (Daniel 6.7-12)

Pray disruptive, unsatisfied prayers for change. Pray prophetically, pleading with God for wickedness to fall and righteousness to rise. Confess the sins of yourself, your leaders, and your country. This might make powerful people uncomfortable or wicked people wary. Don’t be intimidated into silence by leaders or their lions.

Build your spiritual life, like Daniel’s, on scripture and prayer and watch God answer.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Morning Psalm

The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry.
The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to root out the remembrance of them from the earth.
The righteous cry and the Lord hears them and delivers them from all their troubles.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and will save those whose spirits are crushed.
Many are the troubles of the righteous, but the Lord will deliver him out of them all.
He will keep safe all his bones; not one of them shall be broken. — Psalm 34.15-20

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more about To Assimilate or Not

We have both stories of bold resistance and quiet acceptance to reveal the complexity of life. There are rarely simple answers to our situations.

https://theparkforum.org/843-acres/to-assimilate-or-not

Read more about Resisting in Faith

Daniel lived undefiled, resisted an evil government, and influenced an empire through simple faith and regular practice of spiritual disciplines.

https://theparkforum.org/843-acres/resisting-in-faith-2

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Daniel 5 Listen: (5:47)
Read: Hebrews 3 Listen: (2:25)

Links for this weekend’s readings:

Read: Daniel 6 Listen: (5:18), Read: Hebrews 4 Listen: (2:43)
Read: Daniel 7 Listen: (5:21), Read: Hebrews 5 Listen: (1:57)

Scripture Focus: Daniel 5.17, 25-28

17 Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.

25 “This is the inscription that was written:
MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN
26 “Here is what these words mean:
Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.
27 Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.
28 Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”

Reflection: Weighed and Found Wanting

By John Tillman

The terms written on Belshazzar’s wall come from counting and weighing money made of precious metals and are filled with double meanings. Mene means “mina” and sounds like the word for “measured.” Tekel means shekels, a unit of weight measurement, and was also a play on the word numbered. Parsin means half-shekels, implying a kingdom divided, and sounded like Persian, which is who would take over the kingdom.

“Writing on the wall,” has become a worldwide idiom that shows up in countless cultural references. Many don’t know that it comes from the Bible. But there is more to the meaning of the phrase than an ominous warning. The writing on the wall is all about pride and gold.

The gold items Belshazzar was drinking from had an interesting history.

After humbling Egypt, God caused Egyptians to look favorably on the slaves as they left. God told the Israelites to ask for items of gold and jewelry, “so they plundered the Egyptians.” (Exodus 11.1-3; 12.31-36)

Later, the people gave of this gold to make implements of worship designed by God. (Exodus 35.20-29) A generation prior to the exile, Hezekiah showed off these golden items in the temple to visiting Babylonian officials, which seems to have sparked Babylon’s interest in conquering the land. (2 Kings 20.12-18)

So, Belshazzar held in his hand golden cups designed by God, made from gold taken by God by humbling Egypt at the height of its power. Belshazzar stood atop the empire of his father, called the “king of kings,” who at the height of his power suffered humiliation and exile because of his pride.

Belshazzar held God’s cup but did not honor the God who held his own life in his hands. (Daniel 5.23) Belshazzar “knew all this” but still chose to defy the God of Israel. Belshazzar did not measure up. He was found wanting.

Belshazzar should have known better and so should we. We also hold in our hands wealth and power that we think we gained for ourselves but which came from God. We, like Belshazzar, “know all this,” but do we learn from the sins of our fathers before us? Do we continue in them or deny them?

We are responsible for what we know and what we do about it. When we, and the rulers we have set over us, are weighed and measured, will God find humility or hubris? Kindness or callousness? Generosity or greed?

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

With my whole heart I seek you; let me not stray from your commandments. — Psalm 119.10

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more about Deceit Hardens Hearts

Whatever sin tempts you, there is a lie about God’s character at its root. The more deeply we believe the lie, the harder our hearts can grow.

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Links for today’s readings:

Read: Daniel 4 Listen: (7:27)
Read: Hebrews 2 Listen: (2:47)

Scripture Focus: Daniel 4.28-32

28 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”

31 Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. 32 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.”

Reflection: Humbling Nebuchadnezzar

By John Tillman

Babylon is more than historical. Babylon is the proto-typical symbol for all empires in rebellion against God.

The tower of Babel previews the idea of Babylon. It is the Edenic rebellion written on a nationwide scale. “We will raise ourselves up to Heaven. We will not be scattered or conquered.” (Genesis 11.4) “We will be like God.” (Genesis 3.4-7)

Throughout the canon, writers reference Babel and Babylon when discussing spiritual or political forces that oppose God. For example, John refers to Rome as Babylon quite clearly, but John is not only writing about Rome in his own time. He uses Babylon as a stand-in so that we will recognize that he is writing about Rome and all future incarnations of power that will take up the mantle of Babylon in opposition to God.

In this same way, Nebuchadnezzar is more than a historical emperor. He is the proto-typical emperor of all kingdoms aligned against the people of God. This is part of the meaning of the dream of the statue which brings Daniel to great prominence. Daniel calls Nebuchadnezzar the “king of kings.” (Daniel 2.37)

When Nebuchadnezzar is humbled it is not just a warning for one king, but a warning to all future kings, emperors, and heads of nations. Humility will save you and your nation. Pride will destroy you and your nation. If only kings had ears to hear.

Despite surrounding themselves with the best and brightest, leaders often have a hard time learning. Nebuchadnezzar has multiple opportunities but the lessons don’t stick. Many leaders, like Nebuchadnezzar, will say the right things, but can’t bring themselves to do the right things.

Nebuchadnezzar commands that all people worship the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and the God of Daniel, but he consistently returns to his prideful, arrogant way of life. This is why he is ultimately humbled.

Scripture and history are unclear on whether or not Nebuchadnezzar truly repented or just gave lip service to God’s greatness until he got the reins of government back in his hands. It is also unclear in our own day if our leaders’ words of faith or repentance can be trusted.

Daniel prayed Nebuchadnezzar would humble himself and avoid humiliating tragedy, yet suffering and humiliation came to the unrepentant emperor.

We pray unrepentant emperors of our day would avoid the humbling discipline of God by humbling themselves before him.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

And yet my people did not hear my voice, and Israel would not obey me. — Psalm 84.11

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more about The Thriving Tree

Many kings, humbled and seeking God’s face, received miraculous deliverance…This was not one of those times. Zedekiah was the opposite of humble.

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Links for today’s readings:

Read: Daniel 3 Listen: (5:56)
Read: Hebrews 1 Listen: (2:15)

Scripture Focus: Daniel 3:12

12 But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up

Reflection: To Assimilate or Not

By Erin Newton

I love the Bible because it speaks to our culture—even when distantly removed in time. The stories in Daniel have been repeatedly used to speak of Christian ethics in a fallen world.

The story is familiar. The three men taken into captivity are asked to assimilate to the foreign culture. They refuse and are sentenced to death in a fiery furnace.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are tokens for standing up to power and choosing truth over popularity. Their determination to continue in honorable living outweighs their fear of death.

To refuse the king meant severe consequences. This time it meant fire.

The story continues with the miraculous salvation of the three men. They are thrown into the furnace and a fourth person appears—an angel or a theophany of Jesus, perhaps. Whoever joined the men in the fire was a divine instrument of salvation.

There are parallels between the stories in Daniel and the book of Esther. Both involve Judeans sent into the court of a foreign king and asked to conform their lives to the whims of those in power. Daniel and his three friends resist conforming. They consistently reject the king’s commands. Twice they are sent to their deaths. Twice they are miraculously saved.

Esther hides her ancestry and partakes in the customs and system of the foreign kingdom. She comes to the king when he calls for her. She performs the beauty and dietary regimen assigned to her. Her actions are quite the opposite of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

How do we reconcile the different accounts? Yes, Esther was later used to save the Jews and risked her life to do so. Daniel and the three men risked only their lives in resistance.

We have both stories of bold resistance and quiet acceptance to reveal the complexity of life. There are rarely simple answers to our situations. Perhaps God had stirred their hearts to boldness in refusing the king and boldness in obeying the king.

Too often are we tempted to judge one another for making these same decisions. I believe Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were right in in refusing and taking the consequence. I believe Esther was right in joining the king’s court. God used both.

The days ahead will be filled with opportunities and we may disagree on how things should be done. Let us pray that God is moving in the midst of us.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

Send our your light and your truth, that they may lead me, and bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling;

That I may go to the altar of God, to the God of my joy and gladness; and on the harp I will give thanks to you, O God my God. — Psalm 43.3-4

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

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