Scripture:
Daniel 3:19-27; 6:16-23
Tue, 31 January 2023

Overt Sovereign Presence of God

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about God from these texts?

Deeper Reflection
Daniel “exhibits more than one literary pattern”32 . The book is commonly divided into two parts: chapters 1 to 6, which consist of stories, and chapters 7 to 12, consisting of visions. Another way to outline Daniel is chapters 1 to 7 and 8 to 12 which show certain theological perspectives of the book.The sovereignty of God is central in Daniel. But Daniel presents two dimensions of the sovereign presence of God: God’s overt sovereign presence in Daniel 1 to 6, and God’s covert sovereign presence in Daniel 7 to 12. In both text and narrative, God is more prominent and thus more present in Daniel 1 to 6 than in Daniel 7 to 12.Found in Daniel are eight divine titles that underscore the supremacy and sovereignty of God. They occur a total of 24 times, of which 18 times are found in Daniel 1 to 6, and six times in Daniel 7 to 12.The divine titles, “the God of heaven” (five times)33 , “the Most High God” (eight times)34 , “the great God” (2:45), “God of gods and Lord of kings” (2:47), “Heaven that rules” (4:26), “the King of heaven” (4:37) and “the Lord of heaven” (5:23), are found in the first half of Daniel. The divine titles mentioned in Daniel 7 to 12 are: “the Most High God” (7:25), “the Highest One” (four times)35 , and “God of gods” (11:36). And very distinctive in Daniel 1 to 6 is God’s miraculous deliverance of His people who face opposition: from the fiery furnace (3:24-27) and the lions’ mouths (6:19-23).But the prominent presence of God and His miraculous deliverance in Daniel 1 to 6 tell only half of the theological story of Daniel. It is incomplete.
32 Joyce G. Baldwin, 499 33 Daniel 2:18, 19, 28, 37, 44 34 Danie l3:26; 4:2, 17, 24, 25, 34; 5:18, 21; 35 Daniel 7:18, 22, 25, 27
Application:

What does it mean for me to trust in God as I live in this world?

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 pastors and staff: To wait and trust in God for His intervention in challenging situations
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • 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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