KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Chapters: Daniel 1-3
Message: Free To Worship God
Hello My Friend,
The Book of Daniel contains twelve chapters. The author of the book is Daniel and it was first written to the Jews that were held captive in Babylon, about 434BC. The purpose of the book was to show how God rules the affairs of all men and nations. What we are to learn from the book is that God is the only God and gives honor and protection to those who worship only Him. “Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.” – Daniel 3:28.
If you were to study world history you would discover that every country has their own religion and everyone residing in the country were required to follow that religion. America was founded because there were faithful Christians who wanted to worship God His way that risked their lives in order to do so. As a Christian and a teacher of God’s Word it is my duty to learn and teach His Word as His way, not to tickle ears or be so rude that I push people away, but in a way that teaches truth and draws others to Him. The first few chapters of Daniel talk about Daniel, and his three friends, just as they were brought into Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar conveniently sought out Jews who were young and smart, when he discovered Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
“And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes; Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego. But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” – Daniel 1:3-8.
“and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue” Did you ever wonder why the government is so eager to get your children in the public school system as soon as they are basically potty trained? Toddlers start to learn a great deal from their environment, in fact, this is the time they start to form their characters, what better time for the corrupted system teach them lies. This is how people get dragged into occult’s and false religions, they so eagerly provide for them, and when someone desperate enough gets these amazing things they want more. We are to never trust a corrupted system to take care of our needs, God will take care of us and find a way to provide for us. Too many Christians struggle for one reason, they are too proud to ask God for help. “Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” – Matthew 7:9-11.
Since the world has no idea who God is they will come up with their own version of what they believe Him to be, the sad thing is, they are making Him into a false god, thinking they are worshiping the one true God. Some even go to the extreme of creating their own god or even making themselves a god. Now named Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had all sorts of opposition, but never stopped worshiping God, they could change their names, but not their faith. Now, Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that he wanted interpreted, the catch, he wanted someone to tell him what he dreamed of first. He got sorcerers, astrologers, and even magicians to try to reveal the dream, but none of them could, that was when he ordered their execution.
“The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king; But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;” – Daniel 2:10,12,20-22,27-28.
“There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter:” Do not let the “psychics” fool you, even they know they have no way to interpret dreams or tell the future, they use information that people tell them to make them think they are real. Now, do not get me wrong, there are evil spirits controlled by the devil out there and they can possess a body, but no honest people can admit that they see the future, that can only come from God. Once Daniel found out why the king wanted them executed he asked to speak to the king, and God gave Daniel the interpretation of the dream.
“And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.” – Daniel 2:40-45.
“the God of heaven set up a kingdom,” This image represented the kingdoms of the earth that would rule the nations, and influence the affairs of the Jewish church. The head of gold represented the Chaldean empire. The breast and arms of silver, the empire of the Medes and Persians, the belly and thighs of brass, the Grecian empire, founded by Alexander the Great. The legs and feet of iron represented the Roman empire, which branched out into ten kingdoms, represented by the toes of the feet. The stone cut out without hands, represented the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, which would consume all the other kingdoms, and stand forever. The Stone which the builders refused, because it was not cut out by their hands will become the head stone of the corner. The Lord shall reign, not only to the end of time, but when time and days shall be no more. As far as these events have gone, the fulfilling of this prophetic vision so far has been exact and undeniable, future ages shall witness this Stone destroying the image of the devil, and filling the whole earth. “And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?” – Mark 12:10-11.
Nebuchadnezzar might have been impressed with God, but was not willing to give up his own or to worship only Him, in fact, he has a golden statue made up of himself that all were to worship it. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s faith was about to be put to the test when they did not worship this statue at the call to do so.
“There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” – Daniel 3:12-14,16-18.
“But if not, be it known unto thee,” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, refused to bow down and worship this idol, stating that they would die before they would bow down to any god other than God Himself. As Christian’s, we are going to be faced with lots of opposition, even more so because we choose to live our lives by following Jesus Christ. Take a person that believes in God and one can be accepted, but say that you believe in Christ and that acceptance can utterly turn into hate. We need to stand true to God even in the face of death, when we do nothing Is Impossible! We can overcome every obstacle with God. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” – Philippians 4:13.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” – Daniel 3:25.
Today’s Prayer: God, As much as we think and even know that all things are possible with You, when difficulties and pressure comes our way it can be hard to remember that. Lord, give us Your power, wisdom, and guidance, help us to look beyond our difficulties and remain faithful to You, trusting that all things are possible with You. Give us the strength to stand by Your Son, and not buckle under pressure to those who want to see us fall. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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