Scripture:
Isaiah 51:12-16; Daniel 3:12-14
Fri, 24 March 2023

The Fury of the Oppressor

Observation:

How did God want Israel to look at the “fury of the oppressor”?

Deeper Reflection
King Nebuchadnezzar was filled with “rage and anger” when Shadrach, Mishael and Abednego refused to worship his golden statue (Dan 3:12-13). This can be a very frightening and dangerous situation.God’s people in exile faced “the fury of the oppressor” day in and day out, that they “fear continually all day long” (v.13). We do face difficult people in our lives that are like the Babylonian superpower, “an ever-present, ever-intimidating and ever-visible threat” 31 . And we feel troubled, anxious, overwhelmed and helpless because of them. We can be so overcome by fear that, like Israel, we “forget” God (v.13). To “forget” God is “to live without consciously holding in mind and memory who God is, what He has done and what He promises”32 . It is “to live in defeat” 33 (cf. Psa 78:9-11).God’s response to His fearful people is: “Who are you that you are afraid…?” (v.12). Who are we? We are God’s people (“My people”, v.16), and God is our God (“your God”, v.15). Present with us in the midst of “the fury of the oppressor” is the God of absolute sovereignty over “the heavens” and “the earth” (v.13), and “the sea and its waves”, whose “name” is “Almighty LORD” (v.15). Present with us is the God of covenant commitment to His people: “I, even I, am He who comforts you” (v.12), because He is “the LORD your Maker” (v.13) and “I am the LORD your God” (v.15a). With this God present with us, we can say with Him: “Where is the fury of the oppressor?” (v.13).
31 Walter Brueggemann, Isaiah 40-66, (Westminster John Knox Press, 1998), 131 32 J. Alec Motyer, Isaiah, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Volume 20 (IVP, 1999), 367 33 J. Alec Motyer, Isaiah, 367
Application:

How do I respond to the anger of people in authority?

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 relate with difficult people in authority with wisdom and grace
  • 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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