Scripture:
2 Kings 23:36-24:4; Daniel 1:1-2
Wed, 8 February 2023

Living Life with Theological Perspectives

Observation:

How is the Babylonian invasion of Judah viewed from the perspectives of
these two passages?

Deeper Reflection
Perspective – how we look at things – is important. How we look at life determines how we live life – consciously or unconsciously. But the looking should consciously precede the living. Perspective gives things their meaning and significance. But more importantly, our perspective must be theological perspectives: Seeing God in life.Daniel and the narrator of Kings are looking at a similar event – Nebuchadnezzar’s invasion of Judah under Jehoiakim’s reign in 605 B.C. (2 Kin 24:1; Dan 1:1), but with different perspectives and for different purposes. Their perspectives are theological perspectives. Kings was written for the people of God who were in exile in Babylon, whereas the audience of Daniel were post-exilic Jews. Both writers give their theological interpretation of the same historical event. For Kings, the Babylonian invasion was the judgment of God on His people: “He sent them against Judah to destroy it” and “to remove” Judah “from His sight” (2 Kin 24:2-3). And its purpose is to convict God’s people of their unfaithfulness to God and that they are to return to Him. Daniel points his readers to the sovereignty of God over the Babylonian invasion: “The Lord gave” (Dan 1:2). And its purpose is to comfort God’s people living under hostile Gentile superpowers and that they are to rest in God’s sovereignty.To get theological perspectives, we ask these questions: Where is God in this? What is God doing? What is God saying? But we must answer these questions through the Scriptures, where God has revealed Himself. Hence, knowing the Scriptures is vital. And theological perspectives come from, as well as lead to, knowing God.
Application:

How important is perspective for me in living life?

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 Singapore: That pre-believers’ eyes be opened to see God’s reign over Singapore
  • Pray for self
 

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 7:13-18, 25-27; 11:29-36
Sat, 2 December 2023

The Triumph

Observation:

What characterises the triumph of God’s people in tribulations under tyrants?

Deeper Reflection
God’s people living under tyrants and suffering tribulations under them can triumph – whether we are delivered from or destroyed in tribulation. The triumph rests on a threefold confidence.We know the conclusion of evil. It is repeated in manifold ways in Daniel that evil that comes through inhuman kings – no matter how great and how long – will definitely come to an end: “he will be broken” (Dan 8:25), “he will be found no more” (Dan 11:19), “yet he will come to his end” (Dan 11:45) and “all these events will be completed” (Dan 12:7).We know God’s calling for us: To be a suffering people – to be captured, plundered, burned or killed (Dan 11:33). But in our suffering, we can be strong as “people who know their God” (Dan 11:32), knowing that God is purging and purifying us to become a sanctified (Dan 11:35; 12:10) and shining people who “shine brightly” with heavenly brightness in the hostile world (Dan 12:3). And we will be a steadfast people who “keep waiting and attain to the 1,335 days” (Dan 12:12) – until we become a sovereign people who “receive and possess the kingdom forever” from “the Ancient of Days” (vv.13-14, 18, 27).We know who is in control. The tribulations under the tyrants in Daniel 7 to 12 are all subject to and subsumed under “that which is decreed will be done” (Dan 11:36; 9:26, 27) “at the appointed time” (Dan 11:27, 29, 35).We conclude Daniel with this theological-discipleship summary statement: We can triumph in tribulations under tyrants when we trust with tenacity in the One who is on the throne.
Application:

How can I triumph in tribulations?

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 grow in the faith and perseverance of overcomers in Christ
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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