Scripture:
Daniel 3:1, 4-7; 4:1-3
Fri, 28 April 2023

God Fulfilling His Missional Purpose

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about Nebuchadnezzar’s
actions toward the nations and the peoples under his rule on the two
different occasions?

Deeper Reflection
We must learn to read the Old Testament with a certain theological perspective. The terms “nations” and “peoples” are frequently mentioned in the Old Testament. When we come across these two terms and their equivalents, we must think of the Abrahamic Covenant: That through Abraham and his descendants, Israel – and the Church, the New Covenant Israel (Gal 3:7-9) – “all the families of the earth will be blessed” (Gen 12:3; Gal 3:14). In other words, think of missions.Nebuchadnezzar demanded “the nations and peoples of every language” to worship his golden statue, or they would be burned in the furnace (vv.1, 4-6). Sometime later, Nebuchadnezzar declared “to the nations and peoples of every language, who live in all the earth38 the “signs and wonders” that God had done for him (Dan 4:1-2). We can see the radical change in Nebuchadnezzar from Daniel 3 to Daniel 4. Certainly the nations and the peoples under his rule noticed this change. And through his personal testimony in Daniel 4, Nebuchadnezzar pointed to the nations and the peoples that it was God who changed his life. Now, think of the Abrahamic Covenant and what God was doing here. God was fulfilling His missional purpose through Nebuchadnezzar.Instead of being a blessing to the nations, Israel was now under God’s covenant curse of exile in Babylon for their covenant unfaithfulness. But it was right in Israel’s failure that God was fulfilling His missional purpose in the Abrahamic Covenant through Nebuchadnezzar, whom God used to execute His curse on Israel. God’s sovereignty in an irony! God’s purposes can never be thwarted.
38 all the earth” refers to the Babylonian Empire
Application:

What are the recent changes in my life that indicate my spiritual growth?

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 be transformed through daily spiritual renewal
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self
 

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 6:1-10
Wed, 7 June 2023

Consistent Daily Devotion to God

Observation:

What does verse 10 tell us about Daniel?

Deeper Reflection
For Daniel’s distinguishing competency and character, and commitment to ensuring that the king suffered no loss in his empire, Darius “planned to appoint” him “over the entire kingdom” (v.3). But out of jealousy, Daniel’s fellow-commissioners and the satraps attempted to accuse him of “negligence or corruption” in “government affairs” (v.4a). They could find nothing, because Daniel was “faithful” (v.4b). So, they planned to make accusation against him “with regard to the law of his God” (v.5). And they maliciously instigated Darius to establish a law that “anyone who makes a petition to any god or man” besides the king “for thirty days, shall be cast into the lion’s den” (vv.6-9).Then, “when Daniel knew that the document was signed…he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously” (v.10). This was Daniel’s spiritual discipline with a structure of regular “three times a day”. He kept it daily. We can say that Daniel never missed his quiet time. The most important words in the verse may be “when Daniel knew that the document was signed”. They indicate the context of Daniel’s spiritual discipline: A discipleship challenge where his life was at stake. Daniel’s spiritual discipline was no mere religious ritual and routine. He could have skipped his quiet time “for thirty days” and be safe. He didn’t. Daniel’s spiritual discipline manifested his consistent daily devotion to “his God”: “he continued…three times a day…as he had been doing previously.” At the heart of this spiritual discipline was Daniel’s relationship and fellowship with “his God”.
Application:

How can I cultivate a consistent daily devotion to God?

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 leaders
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for the Generations: That young people will seek to be devoted to God consistently
  • Pray for self
 

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