Beginning from chapter 8, Daniel begins to prophesy about the future of God’s nation, Israel, which is referred to as “the Glorious Land” (8:9; 11:16, 41). We read of wars between kingdoms, such as Persia versus Greece (11:2-4) and the Northern versus the Southern kingdoms of the Greek empire (11:5-35). We also read of a vicious king who will exalt himself against God and oppress Israel (8:9-11; 11:31-33, 36-39). In history, this king was Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-164 BCE) who was notoriously known for his depraved acts, like placing idols in God’s temple and offering pigs as burnt sacrifices to blaspheme God. While these prophecies have been fulfilled in history, they are also awaiting fulfilment in the end times. The book of Revelation, which parallels the book of Daniel, also speaks of a figure who will blaspheme against God and wage war with the saints in the end times (Rev 13:5-7). Here then lies a point of critical self-reflection: Consider Daniel 11:35 which describes the fate of the Israelites who held onto their faith despite sword, flame, captivity and plundering by the king at that time: “And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time.” This verse is also somewhat repeated in 12:10 with the words “refined”, “purified” and “made white”. This highlights the importance of holding onto our faith amidst Anti-Christs so that eventually we will be counted worthy to reunite with Jesus in heaven (Rev 3:4-5). Therefore, let us also ponder: May we be able to sing this song of welcome for our Lord when we see Him again, as we’re dressed in the radiant fine linen of our righteous acts (Rev 19:6-8): “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” Amen!

Do we realise that there are spiritual battles going on around us?

V4,7,9 show us the goodness of God V11 the juxtaposition of ‘all Israel’ and ‘Your law’ shows that literally no one obeyed God. V12 a great disaster was brought upon the people because they rebelled. V13-14 God is merciful. Even though God knows the future, He has ‘kept the disaster in mind, and brought it upon [them]’. This means that God held the disaster back, and gave the people a chance even after they had rebelled against God, but the people ‘had not made their prayer’ (they were not going to) before God, ‘that [they] might turn from [their] iniquities and understand [God’s] truth’. Since ‘the Lord our God is righteous in all the works which He does, though [they had] not obeyed His voice’, God brought the disaster upon them because He is righteous. V20-21 repetition of ‘while i was speaking’ V23 ‘At the beginning of your supplications the command went out’. This reminds me of a sermon I heard, where the preacher was saying that if we have the need, we should ask those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart (2 Timothy 2:22) to pray for us. "Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." 2 Timothy 2:22 NKJV The sermon speaker also mentioned that we may not be praying at the same time. Still, it is quite marvellous because someone has asked us to pray for them, and in those moments God has helped them open up a way. God is pleased with us asking (a group of) people to pray for us. The preacher said that he could also see that happening (God helping them open up a way) when people asked him to pray for them, even if he may not always remember to pray for them.

Persecutions will come. But will we stand?

The everlasting King will help us win our spiritual battle against this sinful world.

Those who grew up in church would have heard or read the story of Daniel in the lions’ den countless times.  Even those who are new to the faith would likely be no stranger to the simple story that is only one chapter long. For those of us who are well acquainted with the story, do we glance through the passages swiftly or even side-stepping this part of the Bible altogether, due to our familiarity.  Or do we continue to savour and be captivated by this incident (and the teachings encapsulated therein), just like how we relish and enamoured with timeless classics and story that we never tire of, like beauty and the beast and Aladdin. Are we still inspired by the remarkable example that Daniel provided to us.  That despite his busy life as a governor (one of three) who oversee the satraps who manages the mighty Persian empire, which stretches from Egypt to the West and borders of India to the East, he continues steadfastly to find time to pray three times a day.  Bearing in mind that in those days, when unlike us today, they do not have inventions that automate and simplify many processes.  Remember how Moses was severely bogged down when he took upon himself to hear and judge the cases of the Israelite nation, which forms only a small part of the Persian empire.  Daniel knows his priority in life, that prayer is the immovable rock in his life that he dearly adheres to.  All other matters play second fiddle, not matter how important or urgent.  What is even more praiseworthy is that he did not back down despite hearing the royal command.   It was not just a mere threat that confronted Daniel, that the king might punish the offender but rather a certain death if found out.  Daniel has been serving in the king’s courts are the years, and he is definitely in the best position to know how the laws of Persia and Medes work, that once a decree is established and signed, even the king does not have the power to change or to alter.  Daniel’s faith and trust in God, as well as God’s care and protection, serves as a great confidence booster to the rest of us.    As we read this story, we may be wondering where Daniel’s three friends at this time are.  Have they kept the faith?  Do they shrink and fall back in their faith, having succumbed to the pressure of towing the line in keeping the decree, playing it safe but outwardly showing that they compile by hiding their prayer life behind closed doors.  As no details are shared, let us not speculate and make unnecessary inferences.  The main point of the story is Daniel’s submission to God rather than to men, even at the cost of his life.  Let us also take note that at the time when Daniel’s three friends were thrown in the fiery furnace, Daniel was also not there at that time.  Does his absence mean that Daniel compromised his faith and bowed down to the image?  Obviously not.  We can only assume that Daniel was not present at that time, for he could have been sent to another part of the empire, for we know that Daniel would have stood his ground at that time, just like how he did so here.   May we always be stirred up in our faith through constant reminders of this story.  

We see James 4:6 coming to pass in this chapter, through the end of Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans and Daniel being made the third ruler in the kingdom. "But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”" V4 they did the wrong thing V7 they brought in ‘the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers’. They either did not know or did not care that they should not be turning to these men to find answers. As many secular beliefs become more prevalent through the media in this day and age, we must guard our heart against these beliefs as they may corrupt our faith. In our lives today, we also should not turn to such men to find answers in our lives. "Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life." V11 & 13 the fact that they still sought counsel from Daniel, someone guided by God, is interesting, because it seemed unexpected for them, given that they turned to ‘the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers’. Let us rely on God through prayer and reading the Bible to find God’s will for our lives. It can also be through people God has placed in our lives, to remind us and nudge us in a certain direction. V17 Daniel did not accept the gifts. He still interpreted the writing, and was not in it for the benefits, but did so with genuineness and a humble heart, for the glory of God, and not for his own praise or glory. V29 by relying on God to interpret the inscription, he was made third ruler in the kingdom. V19 Nebuchadnezzar also took advantage of the power he was given and ‘Whomever he wished, he executed; whomever he wished, he kept alive; whomever he wished, he set up; and whomever he wished, he put down’. V20-21 God resists the proud and Nebuchadnezzar faced a downfall ‘till he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses.’ "But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”" We must humble our hearts, especially since we know God and His Word. V23 they praised the gods but did not glorify God Is it the same with us today? That we know God is the One ‘who holds our breath in His hand and owns all [our] ways’ yet we have not glorified Him? Do we give praise to other things (e.g. hard work) and people in the face of success? They used what belongs to God to praise the gods of silver and gold. Do we also use what God has given us to praise other things and people? We must remember to give glory to God because God has given and provided us with these. Even what may seem like ours (e.g. our hard work) only exists because God gives us the strength and the days to achieve these things. We merely live on borrowed time, and we are but dust. "For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place remembers it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children," Every day we are given to live is a blessing. We should also not misuse our roles to oppress others. V25 the meaning of the inscription came to pass V27 ‘weighed in the balances, and found wanting’ could mean that Belshazzar’s life was wanted and would be taken away soon. We see that his soul was required of him that night. "But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”" God’s Word will come to pass. We see that V28 also came true in V31. V28 the kingdom was given to Medes and Persians V31 Darius the Mede received the kingdom. It indeed came true. God’s Word coming to pass can be something we are fearful or hopeful about. It depends how prepared we are. Since God’s Word will come to pass, let us prepare ourselves so that we will remain hopeful for what is to come with faith and not fear.

The story in Daniel Chapter 4 is perhaps not unfamiliar to many of us. King Nebuchadnezzar, ruler of the great Babylonian empire, the king of kings, being turned into a beast, how spectacular is that? It's not until we read through this chapter for ourselves that we realise something even more spectacular: this whole chapter is told by King Nebuchadnezzar himself. Daniel Chapter 4 is King Nebuchadnezzar's own personal testimony! Isn't King Nebuchadnezzar the infamous evil king? How is it that in this chapter he gives praise to the almighty God? Perhaps the first thing that should catch our attention from today's chapter is the repeated phrase in verses 17 and 32. The Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He wills. This phrase can even be said to be the theme of the whole Book of Daniel. This book is mostly set in the time of exile, when there seemingly was no longer any king over the people of God. Yet, in the Book of Daniel we see that though there was no earthly king ruling over Israel, God made it clear to these foreign kings that He is the almighty God. He was still the one who was truly the King. The outcome of this is that the evil king Nebuchadnezzar, probably the greatest and most powerful man during his time, writes this testimony for all peoples, nations, and languages to hear (Daniel 4:1-3). Imagine being a subject in the Babylonian empire, and receiving this declaration from king Nebuchadnezzar praising and glorifying the God of Israel. Though God's people sin against Him and are punished by being taken into exile, the name of God is still magnified. God is not put to shame. Today through baptism we have entered into the Kingdom of God. Yet, it is key for us to consider whether God truly is the King of our lives. It's natural to make many plans for our future, out of a desire to lead our dream lives. But for us Christians, the sovereignty and authority of God is something that we must be well-aware of and fully willing to submit to. If God doesn't let me get that job, are we able to accept it? If God closes the path towards our dreams, are we will to say "Let Thy will be done"? If God takes away all that we have, are we able to be like Job and say "Blessed be the name of the Lord"? If all this is causing us to struggle, remember this: God loves us. He knows what's best for us, He knows what we need. He has already given His life for us, and given us His precious Spirit to dwell within us. Having faith in God's love towards us gives us strength to submit to our King with full assurance that this is the best path for us, this is the way to blessing and to eternal life. Since our God is the highest and rules over the kingdom of man, what then should our response ought to be? Nebuchadnezzar begins and ends his testimony by praising and glorifying God. Giving praises to God is something that we have been often taught but perhaps we have not given enough thought to or taken seriously enough. Yet, throughout the Bible, it's clear that praises are a key part of our worship to God (just read the Book of Psalms). What might we praise God for? Like Nebuchadnezzar, we can praise God for His greatness and His almightiness. Just consider the stars, or the intricacies of the human body. We can praise God for His love and wisdom as seen in His creation as well as in His word. The more we study into the holy scriptures, the more we are filled with awe at how complete, connected, and wonderful these life-giving words are. We can also glorify God for His salvation which He has so freely given to us. Imagine how different our lives might be today if not for His grace and mercy! It's when we decide to finally take the importance of praising God seriously and intentionally set aside some time in our daily prayers to praise God, that we truly experience the blessing that comes along with it. We go through life being filled with joy and gratitude, knowing that we have such a great and powerful Heavenly Father who loves us. In fact, it was when Nebuchadnezzar took the glory for Himself rather than giving all glory to God, that the infamous transformation into a beast took place. This brings us nicely to the final point of reflection for this devotional. Pride - when we take glory for ourselves rather than giving glory to God. Nebuchadnezzar's testimony serves as a stark warning for us. Even just a sentence or thought of pride can greatly displease God. How often have we unknowingly taken credit for ourselves for any achievements we have, or for any divine work that we do? Being puffed up with pride and not keeping to one's proper domain is precisely the sin of satan (1 Tim 3:6, Jude 6-7). If we are filled with pride, what difference is there between us and satan? In fact, while satan exalted himself, God on the contrary lowered Himself, coming in the likeness of man and humbling Himself even to the point of death (Phil 2:5-8). Whose example do we want to follow, that of God or of satan? Let us take warning from the story of Nebuchadnezzar and carefully consider who's example we want to follow. Indeed, God opposes the proud while giving grace to the humble. He blesses the meek, that they might inherit the earth