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Daniel 5-7
Lions and Leopards
and Bears
Psalm 103:6-22 Fearing and Obeying the God of Hesed
6.Yahweh executes righteous acts, and justice for all who are oppressed.7.He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the children of Israel.8.Yahweh is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in hesed/loyal covenantal love.9.He will not always accuse; neither will he stay angry forever.10.He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor repaid us for our iniquities.11.For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his hesed/loyal covenantal love toward those who fear him.12.As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.13.Like a father has compassion on his children, so Yahweh has compassion on those who fear him.14.For he knows how we are made. He remembers that we are dust.15.As for man, his days are like grass. As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.16.For the wind passes over it, and it is gone. Its place remembers it no more.17.But Yahweh’s hesed/loyal covenantal love is from everlasting to everlasting with those who fear him, his righteousness to children’s children;18.to those who keep his covenant, to those who remember to obey his precepts.19.Yahweh has established his throne in the heavens. His kingdom rules over all.20.Praise Yahweh, you angels of his, who are mighty in strength, who fulfill his word, obeying the voice of his word.21.Praise Yahweh, all you armies of his, you servants of his, who do his pleasure.22.Praise Yahweh, all you works of his, in all places of his dominion. Praise Yahweh, my soul!"
Observation
103:6-22.The God who satisfies us is also the God to be feared, because He always keeps His sovereign promises, which is to bless those who are loyal to Him, and curse those who aren't. His hesed or loyal covenantal love requires Him to act as He's agreed to act. God is merciful and gracious to forgive our sin as He made known His ways to Moses in Exodus 34:6-7. However, His glory, as revealed to Moses in Exodus also consists in punishing sin (deliberate omission on the part of the psalmist). God removes sin from those who fear and obey Him (they no longer do it), and He doesn't hold it against them anymore, and reestablishes His relationship and covenant of blessing with them (Ex 20:6). Note that this is in no way a license to sin, but an incentive to obey. The glory of those who live for this world is transient, the glory of those who live for the next, endures throughout His eternal kingdom. This is cause for the recipients of His blessings to praise God.
Application
Fear God and keep His commandments, it's not only the whole duty of man (Ecc 12:13), but it's also the path to blessing.
Prayer
God, thanks that in Your mercy You saved me so I could live forever with You; may I fear You and keep Your commandments, which I know are for my benefit. Amen.
Proverbs 24:1-4 Secret to Treasures
1.“Don't be envious of evil men; neither desire to be with them:2.for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about mischief.3.Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;4.by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.Observations
24:1-2.The evil seek profit through the short-cut of doing evil.
24:3-4. Remember Pr 22:4? Humble dependence upon and fear of God gets the goodies.“Any enterprise is built by wise planning, becomes stronger through common sense and profits wonderfully by keeping abreast of facts” Proverbs 24: 3-4 (Living Bible)
Application
If you want real blessings, don't do what the bad guys do.
Prayer
God, I thank You that You not only created blessings, but You clearly tell us how to get them. Amen.
Daniel 5-7 Lions and Leopards and Bears
As a counterpoint to Nebuchadnezzar's beastly esperience of being humbled in chapter 4, Daniel recounts the “writing on the wall” judgment of king Belshazzar, who didn't fare as well. Then we have Daniel's deliverance from the lions' den corresponding to the fiery furnace, and another vision related to future world empires (given during Balshazzar's reign). The material is not arranged chronologically, but chiastically (see structure below), to emphasize the central point, that God judges pride, particular in those who don't learn from his works, and glorify Him. Unfortunately, many people spend more time on figuring out what ruler matches up with a particular point or horn on a beast, than they do figuring out how to humbly serve and glorify God, the point of them being on earth. Don't make the same mistake. (See TOYL - How to Glorify God for help.)Ch 2 A Prophecy of four world empires (God's superior wisdom)
Ch 3 B God's superior power delivers His servants (fiery furnace)
Ch 4 C God's judgment on a proud ruler accepted (Nebuchadnezzar)
Ch 5 c' God's judgment on a proud ruler rejected (Belshazzar)
Ch 6 b' God's superior power delivers His servant (lion's den)
Ch 7 a' Prophecy of four world empires
Daniel 5 The Writing on the Wall
1.Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.2.Belshazzar, while he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, might drink from them.3.Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, drank from them.4.They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.5.In the same hour came forth the fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.6.Then the king’s face was changed in him, and his thoughts troubled him; and the joints of his thighs were loosened, and his knees struck one against another.7.The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spoke and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whoever shall read this writing, and show me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.8.Then came in all the king’s wise men; but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation.9.Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his face was changed in him, and his lords were perplexed.10.Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house: the queen spoke and said, O king, live forever; don’t let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your face be changed.11.There is a man in your kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of your father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and the king Nebuchadnezzar your father, the king, I say, your father, made him master of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;12.because an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and showing of dark sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.13.Then was Daniel brought in before the king. The king spoke and said to Daniel, Are you that Daniel, who are of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Judah?14.I have heard of you, that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.15.Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known to me its interpretation; but they could not show the interpretation of the thing.16.But I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations, and dissolve doubts; now if you can read the writing, and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.17.Then Daniel answered before the king, Let your gifts be to yourself, and give your rewards to another; nevertheless I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation.18.You, king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father the kingdom, and greatness, and glory, and majesty:19.and because of the greatness that he gave him, all the peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him: whom he would he killed, and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he raised up, and whom he would he put down.20.But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:21.and he was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made like the animals ’, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys; he was fed with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of the sky; until he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and that he sets up over it whomever he will.22.You, his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this,23.but have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and 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, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which don’t see, nor hear, nor know; and the God in whose hand your breath is, and whose are all your ways, you have not glorified.24.Then was the part of the hand sent from before him, and this writing was inscribed.25.This is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.26.This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God has numbered your kingdom, and brought it to an end;27.TEKEL; you are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting.28.PERES; your kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.29.Then Belshazzar commanded, and they clothed Daniel with purple, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.30.In that night Belshazzar the Chaldean King was slain.31.Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.Observations
5:1-21.Clichés can contain wisdom: Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Like father, like son (sorta); Read the writing on the wall; Don't praise false gods while drinking wine out of vessels from the temple of the Most High God. Well, maybe the last one isn't a cliché, but Nebuchadnezzar's son, Belshazzar, failed to learn from his father's example and proclamation in the previous chapter. He had lots of evidence that the God of Israel was superior to anything Babylon had, yet he honored the false gods above the Most High God of the Hebrews, and failed to glorify the God who gives him breath and oversees his ways (5:23). As mentioned in the introduction, many spend more time figuring out a point of prophecy than they do figuring out the point of life, and doing it.
5:22-30.
The writing on the wall was a message of coming judgment: Measured, Weighed, Wanting, Whacked. “Upharsain” is Aramaic for “intentionally break in two” and as a noun means “half-shekel.” “Peres” is the singular participial form meaning “divided.” Daniel didn't express the regret over the vision as he had with Nebuchadnezzar, which is a hint about how he felt towards Belshazzar, which wouldn't have been very positive. Belshazzar failed to serve God as had Nebuchadnezzar, but instead disrespected Him, using his position only for his passions and pleasure. There was no Davidic Covenant in place to protect him, so God removed him from life and the kingdom from him. It was given to the Medes and Persians, and Darius the Mede ruled in Babylon.
Application
Humbly serve and glorify God, who has revealed Himself in His words and ways, or drink the cup of His wrath.
Prayer
Holy God, grant that I will always be mindful of Your holiness, and never take You or Your gifts for granted, nor fail to use them for Your purposes. Amen.
Daniel 6 Lion's Den
1.It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred twenty satraps, who should be throughout the whole kingdom;2.and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one; that these satraps might give account to them, and that the king should have no damage.3.Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.4.Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion nor fault, because he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.5.Then these men said, we shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.6.Then these presidents and satraps assembled together to the king, and said thus to him, King Darius, live forever.7.All the presidents of the kingdom, the deputies and the satraps, the counsellors and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a strong decree, that whoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, except of you, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.8.Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which doesn’t alter.9.Therefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.10.When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his room toward Jerusalem ) and he kneeled on his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did before.11.Then these men assembled together, and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God.12.Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king’s decree: Haven’t you signed an decree, that every man who shall make petition to any god or man within thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which doesn’t alter.13.Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, doesn’t respect you, O king, nor the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.14.Then the king, when he heard these words, was very displeased, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored until the going down of the sun to rescue him.15.Then these men assembled together to the king, and said to the king, Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no decree nor statute which the king establishes may be changed.16.Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spoke and said to Daniel, your God whom you serve continually, he will deliver you.17.A stone was brought, and laid on the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.18.Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting; neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep fled from him.19.Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste to the den of lions.20.When he came near to the den to Daniel, he cried with a lamentable voice; the king spoke and said to Daniel, Daniel, servant of the living God, is your God, whom you serve continually, able to deliver you from the lions?21.Then Daniel said to the king, O king, live forever.22.My God has sent his angel, and has shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not hurt me; because as before him innocence was found in me; and also before you, O king, have I done no hurt.23.Then was the king exceeding glad, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.24.The king commanded, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions mauled them, and broke all their bones in pieces, before they came to the bottom of the den.25.Then king Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages, who dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.26.I make a decree, that in all the dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; for he is the living God, and steadfast forever, his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed; and his dominion shall be even to the end.27.He delivers and rescues, and he works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.28.So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.Observations
6:1-24.This is one of the best known stories of the Bible, but despite its popularity, many miss the point. Daniel had purposed in his heart that he would be loyal to God in 1:8, and as a result was blameless toward God and man. He could not be charged with any wrongdoing before either. He depended upon God while running a world empire, humbly seeking Him throughout each day, every day. In that context, one can expect opposition from evil, jealous self-serving co-workers and subordinates. But one can also expect God's grace and protection. God protected Daniel because he trusted in Him, and was innocent, and his trust was obvious to all around him, including his boss, Darius. Daniel's witness at work, as a slave brought captive to a foreign country against his will, resulted in the whole known world knowing that his God, was the living God, who is worthy of all fear and worship. King Darius decreed it. Daniel had a daily testimony before they tried to toss him into the lion's den. The trial just magnified it. God not only rescued and prospered him, but his enemies became cat food.
6:25-28.
Darius' decree reads like a psalm, praising God for His everlasting dominion and kingdom, as a result of the work He did in saving Daniel.
Application
Those who faithfully serve God can expect tests and triumphs that glorify God.
Prayer
God, may I be faithful to serve You regardless of the cost, and may You be glorified by my life, today, and tomorrow, and... Amen.
Daniel 7 The Ancient of Days and Four Beasts
1.In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head on his bed: then he wrote the dream and told the sum of the matters.2.Daniel spoke and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the sky broke forth on the great sea.3.Four great animals came up from the sea, diverse one from another.4.The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I saw until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand on two feet as a man; and a man’s heart was given to it.5.Behold, another animal, a second, like a bear; and it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth: and they said thus to it, Arise, devour much flesh.6.After this I saw, and behold, another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird; the animal had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.7.After this I saw in the night visions, and, behold, a fourth animal, awesome and powerful, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet: and it was diverse from all the animals that were before it; and it had ten horns.8.I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots: and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.9.I watched until the thrones were cast down/placed, and one who was ancient of days sat: his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and its wheels burning fire.10.A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousands of thousands ministered to him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.11.I saw at that time because of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke; I saw even until the animal was slain, and its body destroyed, and it was given to be burned with fire.12.As for the rest of the animals, their dominion was taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.13.I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.14.There was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.15.As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.16.I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.17.These great animals, which are four, are four kings, who shall arise out of the earth.18.But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.19.Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth animal, which was diverse from all of them, exceedingly terrible, whose teeth were of iron, and its nails of brass; which devoured, broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet;20.and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three fell, even that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke great things, whose look was more stout than its fellows.21.I saw, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;22.until the ancient of days came, and judgment was pronounced in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.23.Thus he said, The fourth animal shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.24.As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom shall ten kings arise: and another shall arise after them; and he shall be different from the former, and he shall put down three kings.25.He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall harass the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time.26.But the judgment shall be set, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it to the end.27.The kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole sky, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High: his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.28.Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts much troubled me, and my face was changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.Observations
7:1-8.This chapter precedes chapter 5, to fit the chiastic pattern and correspond to the vision of Nebuchadnezzar in chapter two (see introduction chiasm). Daniel sees four beasts raised up out of the sea, which is prophet-speak for the Gentiles. Dominion was given to them. The fourth beast gets additional description, having greater power, ten horns, and then one “little horn” with eyes and a big boastful mouth.
7:9-14.
Daniel sees another vision of God in His glory, on His throne, (like Ezekiel did) and calls Him the “Ancient of Days.” Surrounding Him are thousands of angels, ready to do His will. He opens the books (cf Rev 20) and pronounces judgment, deposing and destroying the evil little horn in fire. Then coming in the clouds Daniel sees the “Son of Man” who is given glory, dominion, and an everlasting kingdom.
7:15-28. Daniel is a little perplexed and asks a guiding angel (who turns out to be Gabriel - 8:16; 9:21) to interpret for him. The beasts are kings of various kingdoms, but the saints (holy ones of Israel) will receive the final, everlasting kingdom. Daniel asks about the powerful fourth beast, and the fierce and terrible “little horn.” The interpretation is distressing: the fourth kingdom will devour the whole earth and break it in pieces. Out of this kingdom ten kings (kingdoms/countries) willl arise, and then after them, the “little horn” will destroy three kingdoms, exalt himself against God, change all laws and times/calendar, ruling as an absolute world dictator, and oppress the saints of Israel for three and a half years (Rev 11:3; 12:6, 14; 13:5). Then he will be destroyed (as in the previous section), and the greatness of all kingdoms will be given to the saints of the Most High, forever. This obviously hasn't happened yet, for there has not been a total world dictator fitting the description, who was destroyed, followed by Israel permanently becoming the preeminent nation on earth. When that happens, all nations will serve and obey God (7:27). This hasn't happened yet, has it?
Many have observed the progression of world powers following these prophecies: Babylon, the lion who conquered all the known nations, was conquered by the Medes and the Persians, the bear who also ate up Assyria and Egypt; the Greeks, swift like a leopard, conquered the world under Alexander, and then split into four kingdoms; the Romans, particularly under Caesar Augustus, conquered the greatest territory, incorporating many nations, some weak and some strong, and are the best bet for the final beast with ten kings. The “little horn” cannot be second century BC badman Antiochus Epiphanes, because the exaltation of the everlasting Messianic kingdom didn't follow it. Many commentators identify the ten kings as leaders of a “revived” Roman empire, and the “little horn” as the future Antichrist (cf Isa 27:1; Mt. 24:5, 15; 2Thess 2:3-4; 1Jn 2:18; 4:3; Rev 13; 17; 19).
For those who want more detail on the beasts, study the chart below or consult J. Dwight Pentecost in “Things to Come” or a condensed version of his work in “The Bible Knowledge Commentary,” under “The Book of Daniel.”
Application
The main point of the passage (and chiastic section) is to demonstrate that Yahweh rules over the nations of earth, not just Israel. He will judge them all, and give an everlasting kingdom to Israel, under the Messiah, as promised. Even though things might not look promising, God will always do what He promised, and act in righteousness, justice and hesed. Therefore, His holy ones should not be distressed when it looks like the wicked win, but remain loyal to god.
Prayer
God, regardless of how things look, I know that You are in control, working out Your purposes of judging evil and protecting the righteous; may I seek to live as all will live in the future, serving and obeying You. Amen.
Digging Deeper
God in a nutshell: God rules over the earth, men, and beasts, kings and kingdoms. He has a plan for establishing His holy people (saints) as the preeminent nation on earth, and having all serve and obey Him. He raises and abases world rulers according to His purposes. He protects and exalts His servants, according to His promises. There is never a moment when He is not in control, although He lets it look like that sometimes to judge His people for their rejection of Him.Us in a nutshell: If we are loyal to God we can expect opposition from evil people, and protection from our infinitely good and loyal God. If we seek to understand God's word so we can better serve Him, He will guide us. If we fail to glorify Him, He will find someone else to accomplish His purposes, so be a good steward of all He entrusts to you.