Saturday, May 09, 2009
Scotty's Notes on Daniel
Daniel 4: The King's Decree
Daniel chapter four is an interesting one. The entire chapter is a letter from Nebuchadnezzar to the rest of the world telling all about a dream he had that Daniel interpreted and came to pass. Now Nebuchadezzar seems to be glorifying God before all people in this decree. It's so bizarre because there is no explanation given as to why this happened, how, or when. It's just there in the book as chapter four.
So what do I get from this story, this decree? What is here for us today?
"At the end of that time, I Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my sanity was restored." Daniel 4:34
In his dream, the king was told that his kingdom would be taken from him and for a time he would go crazy and be in the woods with the animals. Then he would raise his eyes toward heaven and acknowledge that God was in control, mighty, and the one true and most holy God.
Until that time, Nebuchadnezzar was full of himself. He did not think he needed God, he believed that he was God. God showed him otherwise, and then restored him.
The word for us, then, is that we do not need to fear when we are lost or feel far from the Lord. If we have heard from him, if we are his child, he has restoration planned for us. He does not wish to abandon us, to astrange us forever. In fact, he longs for us to simply look up to him - at anytime, and he will be there, because he never left.
Daniel 4: The King's Decree
Daniel chapter four is an interesting one. The entire chapter is a letter from Nebuchadnezzar to the rest of the world telling all about a dream he had that Daniel interpreted and came to pass. Now Nebuchadezzar seems to be glorifying God before all people in this decree. It's so bizarre because there is no explanation given as to why this happened, how, or when. It's just there in the book as chapter four.
So what do I get from this story, this decree? What is here for us today?
"At the end of that time, I Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my sanity was restored." Daniel 4:34
In his dream, the king was told that his kingdom would be taken from him and for a time he would go crazy and be in the woods with the animals. Then he would raise his eyes toward heaven and acknowledge that God was in control, mighty, and the one true and most holy God.
Until that time, Nebuchadnezzar was full of himself. He did not think he needed God, he believed that he was God. God showed him otherwise, and then restored him.
The word for us, then, is that we do not need to fear when we are lost or feel far from the Lord. If we have heard from him, if we are his child, he has restoration planned for us. He does not wish to abandon us, to astrange us forever. In fact, he longs for us to simply look up to him - at anytime, and he will be there, because he never left.
Scotty's notes from Daniel
Sometimes It's all you...
Continuing in Daniel 3
I'm always flabergasted at the short memories of people in these old Biblical stories. I mean COME ON!! Pillars of smoke and fire and Moses parting the Red Sea, and the Israelites STILL build a golden calf. And here in Daniel, he interpreted the king's dream and just a short time later, what does the king do... he's out building an image of a different God to worship.
Sometimes I wonder if things like this were more of a King's play with power than really an act of worship to some deity. He has a lot of royal time on his hands and does things like this simply because he can. Sometimes we see this happen in business - a leader or owner gets an idea or has something happens and suddenly the owner makes everyone do soemthing - not because it's good for the company or employees, but because the authority can do it.
But I digress...
Here Nebuchadnezzar issues this decree and it seems that everyone except the Jews do what the king asks - or commands. But the Jews don't. So the astrologers go and snich on them. Now the king does not bring them all out ... he just brings Daniel's buddies, Shadrach, Meshack, and Abendego for punishment.
One major question comes up here: Where is Daniel? Was Daniel out of town during this moment or was he corrupted and bowing down to the image? We learn at the end of chapter two that Daniel was separated from the guys and stayed in residence at the Royal Palace. A quite logical inferrance is that this whole incident took place away from the palace and he didn't know anything about it until after it had happened. That, obviously would explain why he did not come to the defence of his friends. All supposition I know, but since we don't have facts, we can only surmise. I believe that some of this is irrelevant for us today. The most important thing for us, is what does God want us to learn from this story. Nitty gritty details are fine... but what message, what lesson is here for us now?
I think it's clear that Daniel's absence in this story tells us that we cannot always rely on our leaders or our friends to protect us. For whatever reason, Daniel is not here. The guys had to stand up on their own, make their faith strong for themselves, and act. And God honored them, protected them, and used their action for his glory. Sometimes he looks at you and says,
"It's all you... go for it."
Sometimes It's all you...
Continuing in Daniel 3
I'm always flabergasted at the short memories of people in these old Biblical stories. I mean COME ON!! Pillars of smoke and fire and Moses parting the Red Sea, and the Israelites STILL build a golden calf. And here in Daniel, he interpreted the king's dream and just a short time later, what does the king do... he's out building an image of a different God to worship.
Sometimes I wonder if things like this were more of a King's play with power than really an act of worship to some deity. He has a lot of royal time on his hands and does things like this simply because he can. Sometimes we see this happen in business - a leader or owner gets an idea or has something happens and suddenly the owner makes everyone do soemthing - not because it's good for the company or employees, but because the authority can do it.
But I digress...
Here Nebuchadnezzar issues this decree and it seems that everyone except the Jews do what the king asks - or commands. But the Jews don't. So the astrologers go and snich on them. Now the king does not bring them all out ... he just brings Daniel's buddies, Shadrach, Meshack, and Abendego for punishment.
One major question comes up here: Where is Daniel? Was Daniel out of town during this moment or was he corrupted and bowing down to the image? We learn at the end of chapter two that Daniel was separated from the guys and stayed in residence at the Royal Palace. A quite logical inferrance is that this whole incident took place away from the palace and he didn't know anything about it until after it had happened. That, obviously would explain why he did not come to the defence of his friends. All supposition I know, but since we don't have facts, we can only surmise. I believe that some of this is irrelevant for us today. The most important thing for us, is what does God want us to learn from this story. Nitty gritty details are fine... but what message, what lesson is here for us now?
I think it's clear that Daniel's absence in this story tells us that we cannot always rely on our leaders or our friends to protect us. For whatever reason, Daniel is not here. The guys had to stand up on their own, make their faith strong for themselves, and act. And God honored them, protected them, and used their action for his glory. Sometimes he looks at you and says,
"It's all you... go for it."
Labels: Bible Study, Daniel
Scotty's Notes from Daniel
The King's Dream
Daniel 2
The big moment comes for Daniel - he goes before Nebuchadnezzar to inerpret his dream. As we know, he tells him the dream and interprets it and god richly blesses the guys. So what is this dream?
"... the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever." Daniel 2:44
Today we know that the kingdom Daniel is talking about is the kingdom of God. It is not a physical kingdom with boundaries, but a kingdom of the spirit, of people.
In a way, this is the new kingdom, the new way of thinking. Not of Earthly things, but of people, of thought, of idea. In a sense, the king's dream, and what God brought to pass in Christ, gives evidence for the fact that God could care less about our nations, our countries, our governmnet. He cares first and foremost about people. Rend to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.
We set up ourselves, our processes, our rules of living, but our hearts belong to God. I truly believe that God only cares about our government when its purposes and policies bring harm to people - when they cause injustice. Beyond that, God allows us to do as we will in that arena.
The King's Dream
Daniel 2
The big moment comes for Daniel - he goes before Nebuchadnezzar to inerpret his dream. As we know, he tells him the dream and interprets it and god richly blesses the guys. So what is this dream?
"... the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever." Daniel 2:44
Today we know that the kingdom Daniel is talking about is the kingdom of God. It is not a physical kingdom with boundaries, but a kingdom of the spirit, of people.
In a way, this is the new kingdom, the new way of thinking. Not of Earthly things, but of people, of thought, of idea. In a sense, the king's dream, and what God brought to pass in Christ, gives evidence for the fact that God could care less about our nations, our countries, our governmnet. He cares first and foremost about people. Rend to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.
We set up ourselves, our processes, our rules of living, but our hearts belong to God. I truly believe that God only cares about our government when its purposes and policies bring harm to people - when they cause injustice. Beyond that, God allows us to do as we will in that arena.
