Scripture:
Daniel 2:24-30
Mon, 13 March 2023

Knowing the Things of God

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about knowing the things of God?

Deeper Reflection
The Aramaic verb, yeda – to know, to make known – is a key word in Daniel 2. The word is repeated 11 times in referring to knowing and making known Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and its interpretation.14 But Nebuchadnezzar’s dream consists of “mysteries” (vv.27, 28, 29, 30) – “the profound and hidden things” of God (Dan 2:22). And no one can know these things of God unless the God “who reveals mysteries” reveals and makes them known (vv.27-29).There are “the secret things” that “belong to” the infinite God that will remain concealed, but there are “the things revealed” by God to us in “the words of His law” that “belong to us” for us to live by (Deut 29:29). But what God has revealed in the Scriptures requires us to know and understand them. And just like Daniel, we cannot know and understand what God has revealed in His Word by “any wisdom residing” in us (v.30). We may, consciously or unconsciously, attempt to know and understand God and the things of God with human and worldly wisdom. When we do so, we will not only be unable to know and understand, but understand wrongly or falsely. We need the Lord to “open the Scriptures to us” and “open” our “minds to understand the Scriptures” (Lk 24:27, 32, 45). When the Lord does that “our hearts [will be] burning within us” (Lk 24:32). Is your reading of the Scriptures “burning” or boring? We need God to give us “the Spirit of wisdom and revelation” to enlighten us to know God and the things of God (Eph 1:17-18).
13 1 Corinthians 2:16; Ephesians 1:17-18; Colossians 3:1-2 14 Daniel 2:5, 9 [two times], 22, 23 [two times], 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 45
Application:

How can I know the things of God?

Prayer:
Grant me, O God, to know and grasp the mind of Christ, that I may grow to think like Christ and look at and live in reality like Christ. Fill me with the Spirit of wisdom and revelation that I may know You better. Enlighten the eyes of my heart to behold the things of God, as I set my mind on the things above, and not the things on earth.13
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for leaders:
  • 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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