July 6, 2024

Daniel tells Nebuchadnezzar his dream.

This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. Daniel 2:32-33

Then a stone was cut from the mountain and with no one holding it, it crushed the statue to bits. Daniel went on the explain the different sections of the statue, starting with gold, and becoming less valuable as the ages passed. 

What we know about the dream today:

Head of God: Babylon with Nebuchadnezzar as king. 

Breast and arms of silver: two kingdoms together represented by Darius the Mede and Cyrus the Persian.

Belly and thighs of brass: monarchy of the Grecians, founded by Alexander. 

Legs of iron: the Roman Empire 

Feet with its ten toes: the Roman Empire divided into ten different kingdoms.

This is one statue representing the different kingdoms that had influence over the nation of Israel. We are living in the age of the feet and toes; some nations are strong as iron and others are as weak as clay and they don’t stick together because iron and clay don’t mix. The final kingdom is that of King Jesus that will stand forever! Jesus represents the stone that was cut out of the mountain and he crushed the statue to bits to become the one nation will never fail. 

After Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar his dream and its meaning, he fell at his feet to worship him then Daniel was promoted in his kingdom. 

July 5, 2024

Nebuchadnezzar had a dream he couldn’t remember. He commanded that the magicians and astrologers reveal it and interpret it for him. However, they were unable to do it, so he told the captain of the guard to kill all of them, including Daniel and his companions, who weren’t even given the chance to interpret the dream. When the guard came to kill Daniel, he asked if he could have some time, and then he would show the king his dream and its meaning. Daniel then asked his companions to help him pray for God to reveal the dream. God showed him the dream, and the captain of the guard hurried him before the king to tell him what none of the magicians could do because it was God who gave the details of the dream to Daniel. Daniel and his friends were so grateful that they blessed God for his wisdom and might, giving Him credit for the revelation. Part of his worship showed that God is the one who places kings and removes them. We can also see that God protects those who trust in Him. Daniel had ultimate faith that God would show him the truth. We should all have faith like Daniel. 

He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. Daniel 2:22

But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart. Daniel 2:30

July 4, 2024

After much contemplation, I decided to cover the Book of Daniel. Please feel free to post your insights from your past studies as I cover a chapter a day for the next twelve days or more, depending on the depth of each chapter. 

Daniel 1

When the Israelites were taken captive to Babylon, Daniel, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias were princes from the family of Zedekiah, in the line of Judah. Daniel lived from being taken into captivity for seventy years to the first year of Cyrus and saw Israel’s release. The king treated the boys well because they were pliable in learning and quite wise, outshining the children of the Chaldeans. It makes me sick that they were castrated. They were fed the king’s food; however, they didn’t want to eat the meat because they didn’t want to defile themselves with unclean animals and food offered to other gods. They asked the keeper of the eunuchs if they could be given herbs, fruits, and beans as their diet. He worried they would look sickly but agreed to a ten-day trial. At the end of the ten days, they looked healthier and fatter than the other captive eunuchs. Side note: Vegetables do not make you skinny, and that’s why we love them so much! I can attest that abstaining from or fasting from certain foods will make you wiser and draw you closer to God. If you ask God for wisdom, He might make you change your diet. Try cutting out sugar or fast a few meals daily and watch your wisdom increase and your waistline decrease. 

And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat. Daniel 1:15

July 3, 2024

The day came that the people of Persia were turned loose to exact revenge by the king’s edict to destroy Israel; it was not against the law since Haman had recommended their destruction, and the king’s seal had confirmed it. However, there was another proclamation that allowed the people of Israel to defend themselves, and they did! It is said that the Amalekites were the ones fighting against them; what’s interesting is they are the ones God told them not to mix with. Israel joined together and destroyed anyone who took up arms against them. However, they did not take the lives of the women and children, nor did they take the bounty for themselves. Moreover, because of his commendable position in the king’s court, Mordecai was highly esteemed by Israel; they were not jealous of his position but also favored him just as the king did. The king asked Esther if there was anything else he could do for her people, and she answered by requesting that Haman’s sons be hung on the gallows; he honored her request, and they were hung together at the same time and placed on display for all to see. To this day, Israel celebrates what’s known as Purim as a thanksgiving for God’s preservation of them. 

The lesson we can learn from this is that when we work together as The Church, we can stand against the wiles of the enemy. Stand firm in your commitment, mighty warriors of God, and together we will bring the peace of Jesus to all who are chosen.

And that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed. Esther 9:28

For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed. Esther 10:3

July 2, 2024

Esther finally told King Artaxerxes that Mordecai was her cousin/uncle, who had raised her, and she looked upon him as a father. Artaxerxes gave Esther all of the house of Haman, which was quite a lot, being he was over much of the kingdom. Esther set Mordecai over Haman’s estate, and the king gave him the ring that he had given Haman. All of this seemed good; however, there was a decree that had gone out to end the lives of all the Israelites that couldn’t be amended per the law. So Esther went before the king again, only this time she fell at his feet begging for the lives of her kin, not worried about him not offering her the golden scepter. King Artaxerxes then had his scribes draw up a new decree that no one should cause harm to the Israelites, and if they tried, he gave them permission to fight back and take the estates of those who lifted a hand towards them. They sent this decree throughout every province of the kingdom. Mordecai, dressed in royal garments and a crown, went out of the presence of the king. All the Israelites were full of light, gladness, joy, and honor. Because the people saw the good fortune of the Israelites, many became believers and rejected their fake idols and gods. 

Here in the United States, we have recently seen a law being overturned that gave the right of unelected officials to interpret the law as they saw fit and make rules to put hardships on the people; that right was revoked and may bring an end to some of the three-letter agencies; we’ll have to wait and see how that pans out. Unlike Persia, we have a system in place that allows the revocation of harmful or unnecessary laws. We may regain many freedoms we once had that were taken away by evil, unelected bureaucrats. One way or another, God will free His people like he did the captives in Babylon. Wait for it; it will surely come.  

Make sure you live your faith in Jesus out loud. Others may come to know Jesus from seeing your good fortune.

And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad. Esther 8:15

July 1, 2024

King Artaxerxes and Haman came to the banquet of Esther. The king was anxious to know what was on Esther's mind, so he asked her again what her request was. She answered him by explaining that someone had sold her and her people out and was going to have them slain. He immediately wanted to know who, and she outed Haman as the culprit of such a dastardly deed. The king flew into a rage and went into the garden to think. Upon his return, he found Haman begging for his life on the bed where Esther was sitting and accused him of trying to ravish her before having her slayed. Word got out, and they covered Haman's head!

And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon. So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified. Esther 7:9-10

Evil was destroyed in the same manner that was intended for God's people. They got to see the vengeance of God come to fruition. If you are dealing with an unfair situation, take heart. If you love and honor God with all your heart, you can count on Him coming to your rescue. You too will see the recompense of the wicked just as Esther, Mordecai, and the people of Israel witnessed. Wait for it; it will surely come!

June 30, 2024

King Artaxerxes was restless the night before Esther's banquet and had the book of records brought to him to be read. When his servant read about Mordecai warning him of the eunuch's plan to kill him, he asked if the reward was given to him for saving the king. Nothing had been done. It was still early in the morning, so he had them go to see who was in the court. Haman was there because he was coming to petition the king to allow him to hang Mordecai on the gallows he had built. The king had Haman come into his chambers and ask him what would be the best way to honor someone. Haman, thinking it was him that the king wanted to honor, told him that he should dress him in his royal garments, put him on a horse, and have someone walk him through the streets proclaiming his esteem. The king agreed and had Haman do that for Mordecai. It must have been humiliating for Haman, who had let it be known even to the point of building gallows for him. Mordecai thought he was mocking him and said, "O thou wretch, the vilest of all mankind, dost thou thus laugh at our calamities?" However, he realized that it had come from the king and accepted the honor. It was humbling for both men. Haman's wife and friends told him that he would not prevail against him. They knew his downfall was coming. 

When God wants to honor someone, no evil plan will claim victory. Because Mordecai bucked the system and put God before Haman by not bowing to him, who was just a man, God showed Mordecai his appreciation, even though it came through a request from King Artaxerxes. Stand firm in your convictions, put God first, and He will show you his love through others. We can see from this story that God works His plan with precision; you can be sure that He is also working out the details of His plan for you. Don't you love it? God is so good.

Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken. Esther 6:10