SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 7/20/2013 12:59 PM
My Worship Time Focus: Daniel-Judgment
Described
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Daniel
5:13-17
Message of the
verses: I remember when one of my
favorite Pastors retired from the church I was attending, and he got a card,
actually he got a few of the same kind of retirement cards which said that
Pastors do not retire, but go out to pastor.
Daniel may have been retired from active service for the kingdom of
Babylon, but not for the kingdom of God as he was between 80-84 when he was
summoned by the king.
The king’s offer (Daniel 5:13-17): “13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke and said to Daniel, "Are you that Daniel who is one of the exiles from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah? 14 "Now I have heard about you that a spirit of the gods is in you, and that illumination, insight and extraordinary wisdom have been found in you. 15 "Just now the wise men and the conjurers were brought in before me that they might read this inscription and make its interpretation known to me, but they could not declare the interpretation of the message. 16 “But I personally have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and solve difficult problems. Now if you are able to read the inscription and make its interpretation known to me, you will be clothed with purple and wear a necklace of gold around your neck, and you will have authority as the third ruler in the kingdom." 17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, "Keep your gifts for yourself or give your rewards to someone else; however, I will read the inscription to the king and make the interpretation known to him.’”
Here is how this familiar scenario went for Daniel: “A revelation from God, a fearful and
frustrated ruler, incompetent counselors, and God’s servant to the
rescue.” Paul writes to Timothy that one
of the qualifications of a servant of God is that they are not to be “greedy
for money.” Daniel was not greedy for
money, nor was Moses or Paul or Samuel, these servants of God were not for
sale. Think of Elisha after he told the
officer from Syria how God would heal him, for he turned down the officers
money.
Daniel was respectful to the king, but still told him he
did not want the money or the position.
Daniel probably did not respect the king, but must respect the office
for it was God who put the king there to do His bidding, and fulfill His
plan. I know how Daniel felt.
Belshazzar was a prideful man who did not take the time
to get to know one of the greatest men who ever lived. He was an idol worshiper who also was
blaspheming God by using the articles taken from the temple to drink wine out
of at his party. Belshazzar knew what
had happened to Nebuchadnezzar, how he had to be turned almost into an animal
before he would swallow his pride, and yet he would not speak to Daniel about
all of this. If we don’t know history we
are likely to repeat it, and repeat it in a wrong way like Belshazzar was about
to do. Dr. Wiersbe writes: “Like King Belshazzar and his guests, many
people in our world today are unmindful of the lessons of the past,
unintelligent when it comes to interpreting the present, and totally unprepared
for the consequences that lie in the future.”
We will look at the rest of this section in our next SD.
Spiritual meaning
for my life today: It is good to
know the past, especially things that important people did, and how they lived
their lives before the Lord so that I can learn from them and repeat the good
things that they have done in the past.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Proverbs 3:5-6.
Memory verses for the
week: Psalm 46:1-6
1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in
trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear
though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of
the sea; 3 though it waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its
swelling pride. Selah. 4 There is a river whose streams make glade
the city of God, the holy dwelling place of the most high. 5 God is in the midst of her, she will not be
moved, God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations make and uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He
raised His voice, the earth melted.
Answer to yesterday’s Bible
Question: “When the Lord returns” (1
Corinthians 4:5)
Today’s Bible
question: “What did the blind beggar
call Jesus?”
Answer in tomorrow’s SD.
7/20/2013 1:28 PM
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