August 4, 2024 - Daniel 1-6

Things are not looking good in the Middle East.  Though agreements, treaties, and significant assistance from the US, Israel is despised by the surrounding nations.  Things haven’t changed much, have they?  Daniel and his companions, though received well enough and, certainly, blessed by God in Babylon, were constantly on the defensive:  they had to go by new Babylonian names, they had to fight for their right to eat according to their consciences, plus there was the command to bow before the statue and the fiery furnace and the lions' den.

They seemed under constant threat, but Daniel and his companions also were under the constant protection and provision of God.  When no wise men could interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, Daniel confessed that even he could not tell the dream and then interpret it, but, he said, “There is a God” who can do it (2:27,28).  Shadrack, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace, God delivered them, and Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged:  “There is no other God who is able to rescue in this way” (3:29).

Recovered from his humiliation, Nebuchadnezzar testified about God, that his kingdom and dominion are over all and eternal and that he does whatsoever he pleases (4:34,35).  Threatened with punishment for failing to worship the king, Daniel immediately “got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God” (6:10).  Thrown into the lions’ den, “God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths” (6:22).

In good times, and maybe especially in difficult times, we find ourselves looking to God for all we need.  We rely on his power and protection.  We flourish because of his abundant provisions.  He is faithful!

‘Tis the grandest theme thro’ the ages rung;

‘Tis the grandest theme for a mortal tongue;

‘Tis the grandest theme that the world e'er sung:

Our God is able to deliver thee.

He is able to deliver thee,

He is able to deliver thee;

Tho’ by sin opprest, Go to Him for rest;

Our God is able to deliver thee.   -- W. A. Ogden (1887)