Scripture:
Daniel 1:8-16
Fri, 17 February 2023

Caught in a Complicated Situation (2)

Observation:

Daniel 1:8-16

Deeper Reflection
This story is not about Daniel choosing a diet of vegetables and water instead of meat and wine (v.12). It is not about a biblical basis for healthy eating, nor is it about the so-called “Daniel Fast”. Clearly, Daniel was not fasting.The whole episode of Daniel and eating “the king’s choice food” (vv.8-16) is subsumed under “God gave Daniel favor and compassion” (v.9). So, we can theologically assume that Daniel’s proposal of the ten days test with a vegetarian diet came from God. We can assume that Daniel being Daniel, he would have sought God in prayer concerning the matter (cf. Dan 2:17-18; 6:10). But Daniel’s proposal includes this clause, “and deal with your servants according to what you see” after the ten days of testing. It reflects practical wisdom. And it is Daniel’s humble submission to the Babylonian authority.We can’t be sure if Daniel foreknew the outcome of the test. Perhaps God had told him or maybe not. The text does not tell us. But it is more likely that Daniel was like Abraham, who “by faith…obeyed…not knowing where he was going” (Heb 11:8). But it turned out that after ten days, Daniel’s appearance “seemed better” and “fatter” than those who ate “the king’s choice food”, and he could continue with his vegetarian diet (vv.14-15). This story is about trusting in the sovereignty of God and walking by wisdom from God. Faith and wisdom go hand-in-hand together. In Daniel, “the people who know their God” are “those who have insight” and “give understanding to the many” (Dan 11:32-33).
Application:

How do I respond to life situations that are complicated?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for SGI leaders: To have the wisdom to live in complicated life situations
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self
 

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 10: 4-19
Sat, 30 September 2023

Strengthened by the Divine Touch

Observation:

What is the significance of the repetition of the terms “strength” and
“strengthen” in Daniel’s encounter with God (vv.8, 16, 17, 18, 19)?

Deeper Reflection
When God sent His Word to Daniel in a vision, it was he “alone saw” the “great vision” (vv.7-8). It was a special privilege of divine sovereign grace. The vision was also a vision of God’s holiness and glory manifested in the awesome appearance of a heavenly being (vv.5-6). Daniel was so utterly overwhelmed by the divine vision, that “no strength was left in me” (v.8). The description, “no strength”, is emphatically repeated four times in Daniel’s encounter with God (vv.8, 16, 17). We may not experience such an utterly overwhelming encounter with God like Daniel’s, but we do experience “no strength was left in me” in utterly overwhelming adversities like being “afflicted in every way” (2 Cor 1:8; 4:8-9).When we have “no strength”, we need the divine touch. God responded to Daniel’s fourfold “no strength” with a threefold divine touch (vv.10, 16, 18): He “touched me again and strengthened me”. When we are so greatly afflicted, that we feel no strength is left in us, and yet we persevere in faithfulness, it is because we are being “strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of great endurance and patience” (Col 1:11). Note the intensity and immensity of this divine power at work in us! This is the divine touch of “the surpassing greatness of power” from God (2 Cor 4:7-9). But we feel the physical and emotional pains more than the Spiritual power. The greater is our suffering, the greater will be the strength from God in us, and the greater will be our steadfastness in God.
Application:

What is my experience of the Word of God and spiritual warfare like in my
discipleship journey?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for Church Board: To know God’s power that is perfected in weaknesses
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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