Scripture:
Daniel 2:17-18
Tue, 7 March 2023

Trusting in the Lord Alone

Observation:

What can you learn about undergoing severe trials?

Deeper Reflection
Trusting in God alone – when all human means of support have been knocked out, when no mere human wisdom can deliver us from our predicament, when there is complete absence of earthly signs of God’s favour – is never a comfortable situation to be in. Daniel and his friends were in such a situation, where their only recourse is prayer – dependence on God. Perhaps, the most difficult part in this kind of situation is, “What if God does not answer our prayer?” Daniel and his friends sought God “concerning the mystery”, which only God and God alone, is able to reveal (v.18). And if God does not reveal the mystery to them, they would be “destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon” (v.18). How then are we to trust in God? Trusting in God is trusting in God who Himself is our trust (Jer 17:7).Daniel’s friends are mentioned by their Hebrew names (v.17) rather than the more familiar Babylonian names in Daniel 3. In their present distress, they were to remember and trust in God’s grace (Hananiah – “Yahweh is gracious”), God’s uniqueness (Mishael – “Who is what God is?”) and God’s willingness to help them (“Azariah – “Whom Yahweh helps”).11 They requested God’s “compassion” (v.18). Why particularly God’s “compassion”? God in the Babylonian exile is a God whose “compassions never fail…they are new every morning” and such is the exiles’ “hope” (Lam 3:21-23). In Job’s severe trials, “the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful” (Jas 5:11). God answers our “pleas for mercy” “in Your faithfulness, in Your righteousness” (Psa 143:1).
11 Iain M. Duguid, 23
Application:

What does it mean for me when I have to trust in God alone and nothing else?

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 know God as their trust
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self
  • Pray for missions
 

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 10:11-12, 14-19
Tue, 26 September 2023

A Man of High Esteem

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about Daniel being called “man of high esteem” (vv.11, 19)?

Deeper Reflection
One of the heavenly beings called Daniel “man of high esteem” (v.11). This honour was bestowed on Daniel emphatically, in that it was repeated twice (v.19). This “high esteem” did not come from man, but from God Himself. God gave this honour to Daniel toward the end of his life when God called him to “enter into rest” (Dan 12:13). As a youth, Daniel “made up his mind not to defile himself with the king’s choice food” (Dan 1:8), and as an old man, he was faithful to God in spending time with Him in his “three times a day” devotion, even if it means to be thrown into the lions’ den (Dan 6:10). Daniel was finishing well in his life with “humbling yourself before your God” (v.12). When we think of finishing well in terms of successful accomplishments, we must be careful that we are not exalting ourselves.It is not for us to see ourselves in any way as a person of high esteem before God. It is for God to say that to us (2 Cor 10:17-18). Daniel never saw himself as a “man of high esteem”. A key emphasis in Daniel 10 is Daniel being greatly overwhelmed by the holiness and glory of God represented by the heavenly being with an awesome appearance (Dan 10:5-10, 15-18). And it was in this encounter with God when he was called “man of high esteem” that Daniel said, “How can such a servant of my Lord talk with such as my Lord?”50 (v.17). The man highly esteemed by God saw his unworthiness before God.
50 I have theologically translated “my lord” to “my Lord”, since the heavenly being is a representation of God.
Application:

What does being highly esteemed by God mean to me?

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 be able to see oneself as God sees
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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