Month: November 2024

The Son of Man and the Ancient of Days

OLD TESTAMENT: Daniel 7

POETRY: Psalm 136

NEW TESTAMENT: John 10:1-21

If you have never read Daniel before, or you don’t remember it if you have, then we are now getting away from the stuff that we usually remember. Chapters 1-6 are mainly narrative, stories of Daniel and the boys and the people they encounter and the God who is with them every step of the way. Chapters 7-12 leave the comfort of narrative behind, and we move into the murky and deep waters of visions and interpretations. Let’s start with a caveat: we don’t know everything that will happen in the future. If and when Daniel speaks about the end of days and the beginning of a new world, then we should and must take his prophecies seriously. But there are a lot of different opinions on the interpretation of the book of Daniel. I am hoping to give you mine. First, we’ll do a rundown, and then we will see what it means to us now. 

First, Daniel’s four beasts who come up out of the sea are connected with the four kingdoms in the vision of Daniel from chapter 2. If you were curious then, here is what we begin to see. It is clear that the head of gold is Babylon, and the fact that the beast was a lion with wings and had the mind (found in the head) of a man connects these two. If we skip down to the fourth kingdom, notice the ten toes vs. the 10 horns; also, the legs are of iron and the feet of iron and clay, and the fourth terrible beast has ten horns where one uproots three. If it is clear that the first beast and the fourth beast are the same as the head and the legs of Daniel 2 respectively, then we can allow Daniel 2 to help shape our understanding of this passage. Still, we are not yet given the identity of the other kingdoms, so all we are working with, so far, is Babylon. We will fill in the blanks as we go forward. 

Second, we are treated to a picture of the throne rooms of God. God in the passage is called the “Ancient of Days,” basically saying God is the one who has existed from the beginning. He is not a tame, fatherly, or grandfatherly God, with a jolly face and an upturned nose handing out candy canes to good boys and girls. God isn’t Santa. He sits upon fire, and the wheels of the throne are fire, and he is served by legions of angels, and there is judgment held before this one who brings terror. And the fourth beast and the horn are destroyed, and their authority is taken away. 

Third, one “like a son of man” comes into the presence of the ancient of Days, and is given dominion and glory and a kingdom and all will serve him. To be clear, this is explained in Daniel by an angel in the vision. The beasts are kings, but “the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.” Again, later in verse 27 we read “the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High.”

What does it mean for us now? 

  1. Simply, no matter how bad the world gets, God is going to win. If you are feeling like giving into gloom and despair as the world gets darker, literally in the Northern Hemisphere and metaphorically *everywhere*, remember, God is not worried about the end of the age, and we shouldn’t be either.
  2. The reason to not fear is that there is a kingdom coming. Back in chapter 2, this kingdom was described as a stone that crushed the feet mixed of iron and clay. Today it is the judgement of God upon the fourth kingdom of this world. We are going to have an interesting discussion about the fourth beast soon, and what kingdom it represents. But more importantly, the victory of God over the kingdoms of this world is not in doubt. The reason this is different from point one is that something better is coming. It’s not just that God is powerful over the fourth beast; its that something better is going to be put in its place, a kingdom for and of his priests, with life as the center (see Daniel 12). Look for and be ready for the kingdom. 
  3. We do that by being found in Jesus. Jesus calls himself “the son of Man” extremely often, seemingly in reference to Daniel. Daniel, however,  interprets the son of Man as the saints of God. What gives? Jesus is the personification and leader of the saints of God. Every promise for God’s people is given to and fulfilled in Jesus. As Christians, when we trust in Jesus, the Bible says we are “clothed in Jesus”. Jesus moves into our hearts and we dwell in his power. The reason we receive the Kingdom of God is only because Jesus shares it with us as the perfect saint of the Most High. The reason we have life is because he has life. If you want to be able to face the darkness of this world knowing it will be destroyed, and that you will be given’s God’s blessings rather than undergoing his wrath, you must trust in Jesus for this salvation, rely on him for his spiritual power, and live the way he commanded in response to the salvation he offers. 

And that is “the end of the matter “ (Dan. 7:28)

-Jake Ballard

Questions:

  1. Does it matter to you personally to know the identity of the Kingdoms in Daniel? Why or why not? Even if we might acknowledge that our knowledge is faulty, are you comfortable saying “I don’t know” to any question? Most questions? Every question? If we say “I don’t know” more often than giving an answer, are we truly loving God with all our mind?
  2. I don’t want to harp on yesterday’s theme, but notice the mispicturing of God: like a grandfather giving sweets, or Santa bringing presents to good kids. What is the picture of God in Daniel? How does this compare to the beginning of Ezekiel or Isaiah?
  3. Check in with your heart: are you worried about the world being too dark? Are you giving up hope in a brighter future of the kingdom of God? Don’t give in to despair. God desires for you to hope; it is a cardinal virtue. “These three remain, faith hope and love, but the greatest of these is love.”
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Children’s Church and the Lions’ Den

OLD TESTAMENT: Daniel 6

POETRY: Psalm 136

NEW TESTAMENT: John 9

I am not going to try and convince you that working in the nursery is comparable to being thrown into a den of vicious, destructive predators. Children’s church is much, much worse than that. 

Today, I want to talk about the “mis-picturing” that can happen if we have grown up in the church. Quick: what image do you see when you think about Noah’s flood? For me, it was, for most of my childhood, an impossibly small ark floating on top of bright blue waters with impossibly large creatures sticking their heads out of the top of the ark with a rainbow above. Now: what is actually said about the flood and Noah? All life, besides those who got brought aboard the ark, were judged in rain from the sky and flood from the ground. It is darkness, judgement, sin, and death. When we teach this story to our youngest kids in nursery, there is a reason that we leave out these obviously darker parts of the story. 

In our reading today, we have another story that gets mispictured: Daniel, a young lad, is thrown into a den of lions because he believes in God, but the lions are more like kitty cats, and then he gets pulled out the next day and everyone forgives everyone and we move on. 

But, the story in scripture is much more important: Daniel, an old man who has been faithful, knows about a command from the King to stop praying, and in direct violation of this imperial edict with life and death hanging in the balance, he prays just the same, trusting in the God who got him this far to protect him from the lions, but even he doesn’t… Yet the lions, the ravenous king of beasts, the symbol of power of rulership, are shut up by the God who is above all. And when Daniel is rescued those who set him up are themselves thrown into the den and torn to shreds before they reach the ground. 

Notice, faith is not a practice that finds fulfillment because of a “great event” that happens once in youth, but is the choice of decades, of the daily decision to follow God in the most boring business of daily life. It is only in following in the mundane, that we are prepared to follow in the momentous, it is by praying daily in our normal life that we are ready to pray daily when the King says “stop or you die.” Daniel, knowing the King will be bound to kill him, fearlessly bucks the system of power, knowing God is bigger. But even if there is no rescue, Daniel trusts in the God of his fathers. Instead of the lions devouring Daniel, judgement is given to those who thought they would harm God’s man.

But why say more important? Shouldn’t we teach kids at age appropriate levels? Of course we should; the problem happens when we think we know, or, when I think I know the Bible and I don’t take seriously the call of this passage or others on our life. The story of the flood of Noah is about the seriousness of sin and about the totality of the judgment of God; if we think it’s about cute animals, rainbows, and God’s love, we miss the depth of the story. The story of Daniel and the Den of Lions is about the developed faith of a man who had been faithful and successful because of his trust in God and who would allow nothing, not even the threat of death, to come between him and his worship. It’s about overcoming the Imperial powers of this world not by swords and warfare but by turning our face to God and trusting in him. 

Starting today, I would encourage you to focus on picturing correctly the stories you read in scripture. God inspired them in the way he did so that we would learn from his actual words, rather than the interpretation of his words from our pastor, our teacher, or even our parents. Some people have given us better or worse interpretations, but nothing compares to reading God’s words ourselves, and understanding how God is speaking through the Bible to us today. 

-Jake Ballard

Questions:

  1. Is mis-picturing a problem for you? If you grew up in church, how much did your Sunday School help or hinder you from seeing the Bible as it really is? If you are new to faith or don’t yet believe, do you have any preconceived pictures of the Bible stories, or are they all fresh to you?
  2. Are there other stories that you can think of when mis-picturing might lead us to miss the important points of the story? 
  3. “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.” If you read the opening chapters of Matthew and Luke, try and see if there are any mis-picturing in our understanding of Jesus at his nativity. Is Mary a scared unwed mother? Is Joseph a clueless, hapless husband? Is Jesus surrounded by wisemen and shepherds and camels and sheep and laying in the straw without making a sound? Think about the reality of stories, rather than our built up theological and social pictures around Jesus. 
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Thanksgiving and Giving Thanks

OLD TESTAMENT: Daniel 5

Poetry: Psalm 136

NEW TESTAMENT: John 8:48-59

Can I tell you a secret? I *loathe* the nickname “Turkey Day” for Thanksgiving. 

Sure, the big bird is special to the day and to the success of the first colonist. Sure, Ben Franklin thought the bird was “a Bird of Courage.” But there is much more to Thanksgiving than the protein. 

In a world of many gods, like Babylon, feasting and reveling for the glory of a deity was common. Sometimes, in the ancient world, the Kings would claim to be gods, or children of the gods, and would show their superiority over “other” gods and people by belittling the symbols of those gods. Belshazzar, the final king of Babylon, showed his contempt for Almighty God and God’s people by allowing his guests at his drunken feasts to eat and drink out of the Temple treasures that were in Babylon. In Daniel 5:4, we read “They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.” 

However, God does not take kindly when the glory due him is given to another. Therefore, because they are using God’s Temple’s treasures while worshipping other gods, God decides to give Belshazzar and his kingdom and his treasures to others, the Medes and the Persians. Daniel tells Belshazzar, “the Most High God rules over the kingdom of mankind, and sets over it whom he will.” 

Thanksgiving was instituted by George Washington on October 3rd, 1789. Read this declaration to see why he instituted it : “Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being [i.e., Almighty God], who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be—That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks—for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation—for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war—for the great degree of tranquillity, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed—for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted—for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us. 

and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions—to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually—to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed—to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord—To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us—and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.”

President Washington desired for his Nation to thank the true God, not the gods of this world, but the “glorious Being,” the subject of “true religion and virtue”. Thanksgiving was instituted, not just to feel grateful but to give thanks to the only God, the God who is there, the God who is present in the affairs of this world and in the life of this nation and in the prosperity and peace of humankind. Today is and should be a day of feasting and merriment for all our many blessings. In the midst of all the joy of this holiday, be sure to give thanks, sincerely and humbly, to the Almighty, the Most High God. 

Happy *Thanksgiving*!

Growing deeper:

Are you thankful for your blessings? If we aren’t conscious, we could miss them. Today, don’t answer questions but make a list and try to think of every blessing in your life. Number them and see how high you can make your list. Don’t forget the blessings that might be too small to consider (aren’t eyelashes amazing?) and the blessings that might be too big to see (you are able to read this, so you have life, a computer or phone, and access to the internet, plus electricity…). The list grows quickly.

-Jake Ballard

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Yours Truly…Nebuchadnezzar?

OLD TESTAMENT: Daniel 4

POETRY: Psalm 136

NEW TESTAMENT: John 8:31-47

Daniel is a strange book. It contains narratives like we have been reading over the last couple days. It contains visions that we will read in a few days. Today, however, we are treated to a very different kind of tale. It seems that the author of Daniel decided to insert someone else’s writing into his book. 

In chapter four, King Nebuchadnezzar himself writes about his encounter with the Almighty God. He extols God’s power, God’s virtue, his work through the interpretation of Daniel/Belteshazzar, his giving Nebuchadnezzar madness, and him undoing the madness after Nebuchadnezzar had learned his lesson. 

Now, if you are a regular reader of the Bible, you might think this makes perfect sense. God shows up and changes the lives of people, and it happens to King Nebuchadnezzar. If you are a new reader, you may think, “this is crazy nonsense who can believe it?” I am about to make both camps a little uncomfortable with some history and archaeology: In ancient Babylon, there is a prayer written by a king that reads this way : I “was afflicted [with an evil ulcer] for seven years, and far from [men] I [was driven, until I prayed to the most high God.] And an exorcist pardoned my sins. He was a Jew from [among the children of the exile of Judah, and said:] “Recount this in writing to glorify and exalt the name of [the most high God.”Then I wrote this:] “When I was afflicted for seven years [by the most high God] with an evil ulcer during my stay at Tayma, I prayed [to] the gods of silver and gold, [bronze and iron,] wood, stone and lime, because [I thought and considered] them gods […]”

That last ellipses (the “…”) shows that the rest of the prayer is lost. So nice and easy, case closed right? That sounds very similar to Nebuchadnezzar’s experience, so we have confirmation of the biblical story. It might be, if we hadn’t left off the first few lines. “Words of the prayer, said by Nabonidus, king of Babylonia, [the great] king, [when afflicted] with an ulcer on command of the most high God in Tayma: [“I, Nabonidus,] was afflicted…”

The similarities are striking, of course: afflicted for seven years/times, driven far from people, a Jew from the children of Judah, an exorcist, pardoned his sins and told him to praise the Most High God. But the differences are also clearly apparent: Nabonidus vs. Nebuchadnezzar, an ulcer vs. mental illness, warned of judgement as opposed healed to give glory, and the words of Nabonidus about the types of God are connected to Daniel 5, so bringing in Belshazzar and more questions. 

The Bible, the history of the Bible, and the relationship between the Bible and history are not *simple* questions. There are those who would deny the Bible’s truth based on the prayer of Nabonidus, but there is also reason to believe that the prayer of Nabonidus was written to explain the connection between Daniel 4 and Daniel 5, or maybe both are true accounts with God judging multiple kings of Babylon with seven years/times of judgement. The same kind of questions come up when we think about the anointing of Jesus with oil. Everyone agrees it was an extravagant act of love with costly oil. But was it in Bethany or not? Was it Mary, or a sinful woman? Was the woman being shown love by being forgiven, or was she anointing the body for burial? Did it only happen once, or were there two anointings of Jesus? (It would be weird for it to happen twice.)

This is the part of the devotion where you may expect me to clear up the confusion and say “here is the answer to all your questions.” I am not going to do that. I am going to instead give you four helpful ways to think about the Bible. The Bible is inspired, authoritative, true, and livable. 

  1. The Bible is inspired: Daniel 4 and the anointing(s) of Jesus and everything from Genesis to Revelation is inspired by God for the education, edification, encouragement, and empowerment of his people. The Bible is not just the nice thoughts of noble men and women, but God’s thoughts for God’s people. 
  2. The Bible is authoritative: Because the Bible is God’s word to humans, when the Bible tells God’s people how to live, then that is how we must live. If we are called to pick up our cross daily, if we are called to feed the hungry and clothe the naked, if we are called to live like Jesus (and we are!), then that is what we must do!
  3. The Bible is true: Because the Bible is God’s word to humans, then the Bible is not intending to deceive. Everything in the Bible is intending to lead us to the God of truth. Not everything will be literal (trees don’t have hands, a multiheaded monster won’t come out of the Atlantic) but everything will be true (nature will praise God, there are evil forces that work against God’s goodness). When we understand genre of books and individual stories, we will be able to know whether a story is literally true or figuratively true. 
  4. The Bible is understandable in order to be livable: The Bible TAKES time to understand, and it is deep. Yet, in the essential elements, the Bible is simple. The Bible is like a holiday at sea; children can begin by playing in the shallows, but experienced swimmers can go to depth where their feet do not touch the ground. You can be a new Christian and gain insight, knowledge, and joy from scripture. And when you are ready to go deeper into the Bible, into faith, there is always greater depth to be discovered. 

The author of Daniel 4 was inspired to write about the dream of Nebuchadnezzar and the judgment he faced as the King. It could be true even if the name “Nebuchadnezzar” is used in place of Nabonidus; but I think it makes more sense to see the Prayer of Nabonidus as responding to the book of  Daniel rather than vice versa. BUT, the bigger point than these minor historical notes is that we are called to be humble and praise God for his just and righteous ways. There is no need for us to get archeological degrees and engage in fancy philosophy to recognize that God is bigger than we are, and that we are called to praise and worship him. 

May we all do that together today. 

Questions:

  1. Would you describe the Bible as inspired, authoritative, true, and livable? Do you disagree with any or would you add in any? For example, you might say “the Bible is literally true”, but what do you do with the psalms? You might say “the Bible is simple”, but then what do we do about Revelation and Daniel?
  2. Do you find yourself drawn to disregard the Bible as superstition when archeology or science sounds like they disagree with the Bible? Or do you disregard archeology and science when it sounds like they disagree with the Bible? How can we see that God is the God of all truth, and that truth has nothing to fear?
  3. If you find yourself having a hard time trusting the Bible, or explaining why you trust it, I would encourage you to check out *The Disciple Collective* at https://www.disciplecollective.com/home. This online Christian learning platform offers high-quality self-paced courses for motivated students, and the first course, which is available now, is “Can I trust the Bible?” If you feel like you are leaving today’s devotion with some serious questions, that course may give you some serious, robust answers.

-Jake Ballard

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No Other God Can Rescue

OLD TESTAMENT: Daniel 3

POETRY: Psalm 136

NEW TESTAMENT: John 8:1-30

It’s not easy going against the flow. 

If the teacher or professor accidentally leaks the answers for the upcoming final, and EVERYONE (it seems) is going to ace would you look too? Isn’t that cheating?

If EVERYONE at your job takes home free items, like drinks, or food, or sauces, and just call them “perks”, would you also do it? Isn’t that stealing?

If EVERYONE is going to the party, and it would tank your social standing to miss it, but you know there are going to be… less than savory activities, would you go? Is that really wise?

It’s that much harder when these things are encouraged by leadership. If your manager also takes stuff from the store, even encourages it… how wrong can it be?

In today’s story in Daniel 3, King Nebuchadnezzar sets up a statue, and every powerful person is going to participate in worshipping it. Not only that, but all these leaders will lead all peoples, all nations, all languages, to bow down and worship at the command of the King and the music he calls for. And so everyone does. In a world where there are easily too many gods to keep track of (seriously, two- to three-*thousand* gods), what’s the difference if you bow to one more? 

But not so with Hannaniah, Azariah, and Mishael. They have one God and no more; that’s all the God they need and all the worship they give. It makes Nebuchadnezzar hopping mad, with him declaring “Who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?” He throws them in a super-heated furnace and they are delivered and saved by their faith. 

There are a few things that stand out to me:

1. The King told “the boys” what they must worship. The world and the devil continue to tell people what they must worship. The gods of Babylon and Egypt and Rome all had different names and different stories, but in their core, these gods are really the same. Whether it was Enlil, or Ra, or Jupiter, *power* and *strength* have always been worshipped, and the power of the military or the force of personality of leaders is still worshipped in our day. Beauty is worshipped, and her sister, Lust. Money. Fame. Wealth. All these gods are simply humans worshipping the things we most desire for ourselves. Satan wants you to worship these same gods, and even better if you don’t believe in the supernatural while you do it! How much better to be a person worshipping science, knowledge, and the arrogance they can produce while thinking that gods and angels and demons are all old fables for weak minds; or, a person who worships celebrities and the fame they embody while not thinking at all! And as soon as you tell the devil exactly what you think of his puny fake “gods” that gets *him* and his minions mad. 

2. The King said “what god can deliver you from my hand?” Satan whispers that question into the ear of believers as well, “what god can save you from the consequences of turning your back on…” and then fill in the blank. But what Nebuchadnezzar and Beelzebub mean for intimidation, for those who know their God, it becomes a rather simple question. YHWH, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God who can do all things, he can. 

3. “BUT EVEN IF HE DOESN’T.” The most amazing thing about this entire encounter, for me, is not necessarily the walking around in the fire and not being singed (though that is really cool) and not the Babylon stamp of approval on God (though that did help out with Daniel and the boys). It is that Rack, Shack, and Benny say, in essence, “God can save us, we trust he will, but even if not, we will not serve other gods.” (3:16-18) This is belief in the power of God, it is trust in the compassion of God, and it is loyalty to the worth of God. They recognize that it would be better for them *to die* than to betray their commitment to the worship of YHWH. THAT is a faith that changes the heart of Kings and can overcome Empires. Which, coincidentally, is exactly what happens. 

4. God sends an angel (3:28) to protect and deliver his people. Not only does God protect them from the harm of the fire, he protects them from even the smell of the smoke, even the smallest amount. God protects his people, even in the midst of chaos, he can and still does, deliver them. 

Praise God for his protection, for his worth and his empowering so we can remain committed and faithful, and for the beautiful truth that he is a saving and powerful God, greater than anyone or anything else that we could worship. 

Questions:

  1. While we live in a world with a growing number of those who do not believe in a god or the supernatural, we are not less worshipful. What are the golden idols of our world today? Who is telling us to “bow down and worship” these different idols? How many are roped into worship, even if they might not see their dedication as worship?
  2. If you are not a believer or are a new believer, does the faith of the boys intimidate you? Could you see yourself ever saying “even if he doesn’t, we will still not bow”?
  3. If you are a long time believer, does the faith of the boys intimidate you? Or does it inspire you? Pray that you won’t have to say something similar, but also pray that in the face of whatever fire you might be thrown into, you will remain faithful
  4. While God sent an angel to help Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, God has now sent truly the “son of God”, Jesus, to help God’s people know him, and has sent his spirit into our hearts. Do you believe God will protect his people and send help in the form of angels and the Holy Spirit in this age, in the name of Jesus? How can Jesus help us in those moments when we are called to remain true to God?

-Jake Ballard

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More Than You Can Handle

OLD TESTAMENT: Daniel 2

POETRY: Psalm 136 (all week)

NEW TESTAMENT: John 7:25-53

The next time someone asks you to “go above and beyond” at work, or to “give 110%” in a game, just be thankful your boss or coach isn’t Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon in Daniel 2, had a dream and wanted to know the meaning of the dream. But instead of telling his dream to his wise men, he expected, even demanded, that *they* tell *him* the dream. Notice what the wise guys say to the King. “There is not a man on earth who can meet the king’s demand.” (2:10)  My friends, that’s *exactly* the point. Only “the gods” or more accurately, only God, can make know the contents of the dreams of the King. But the wise men of Babylon don’t know the God who knows all things, they don’t worship the God who sees everything, even into the hearts of people. 

The King even asks Daniel “Are you able to make know to me the dream?” Daniel replies “No… no one can.” But “there is God in heaven who reveals mysteries… This mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king.” Over the next few days we will try to understand what is going on with the Kingdoms of the world in Daniel and try to understand this vision better, but today I want to make this very practical. 

Sometimes people tell us ideas that are not entirely Biblical because they are trying to be nice. One such idea is that “God will never give you more than you can handle.” It sounds good; we will never be overwhelmed and we will always succeed. However, as soon as our lives meet the real world, we find out that God consistently “gives us” situations that are overwhelming; try balancing getting good grades, doing extracurriculars, volunteering to pad our college applications, and then getting into and maintaining relationships, not to mention work! It’s overwhelming to write; how much more to live. But beyond the normal chaos of life, there are times when people we love are sick, when we need surgeries, when we have huge doubts about what is happening next. Just like the King demanding that the wise guys explain his dream, the world very often gives us far more than we can handle… *on our own*. 

What God has promised is that we are never on our own. No one can handle this world with joy, hope, peace, and love *by themselves*. But there is a God in heaven who gives the joy, hope, peace and love we are looking for. There is a God in heaven who gives his spirit to his people, not because we are wise or smart, or pretty, or popular, or good. God gives because we trust him, and all of our faults doesn’t stop him from loving us, and he does not leave us on our own. The world often gives us more than we can handle; the world can NEVER give us something God can’t handle. 

-Jake Ballard

Reflection Questions

  1. What differences do you see between Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar? Are you ever more like Nebuchadnezzar than Daniel?
  2. What characteristics of Daniel’s do you admire? Which would you like to work on growing in your own life? How would one go about that?
  3. When has the world given you more than you could handle? In what ways did God provide what you needed? Thank Him!
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Of Daniel, Diets, and Defilement

OLD TESTAMENT:Daniel 1

POETRY: Psalm 136

NEW TESTAMENT: John 7:1-24

Over the next two weeks, we are going to spend some time in the book of Daniel. Daniel is a book that has generated a lot of discussion: it has been the subject of at least TWO retellings by our favorite cast of talking vegetables and at least one cookbook based on mostly eating those vegetables. However, we might miss the mighty story of this man of the Almighty when we get too hung up on cucumbers, mushrooms, and other morsels. Is the story of the fiery furnace really about chocolate bunnies? (See “note” below.) Are the health benefits of a  “Daniel-Diet” the point of the refusal to eat the King’s food? But, if not, then what is the point of Daniel?

To be clear, this book is one of the most discussed in scholarship from the Old Testament canon. Any statement made about date, authorship and the rest of the book has been discussed ad nauseum by Jewish rabbis and Christian thinkers since the pen was put to paper. The author, Daniel for our devotions, wrote in Hebrew but also in Aramaic; not common for the Old Testament. Moreover, the genre of the book is more similar in style to Revelation than anything else in the Biblical canon. These two books are full of big, bombastic images, metaphors, poetry, talk of beasts, monsters, dreams, the clash of Empires and the Kingdom of God. But, if we are ready to work, to interpret Daniel on his own terms, and to clearly see what he was writing about and what he was prophesying, we will get much more out of Daniel than we have before. 

For example, in chapter one, Daniel, and his buddies Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (rather than Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego), who we will call “the boys” today, decide to not eat the king’s food. The boys decide that they are going to eat vegetables and water. They look better after ten days and they prove that this is the diet everyone should eat and life is good… right? Not quite. First, what are the boys giving up? “Meat and wine and choice foods”. In the ancient world, those who worked with the King were expected to be plump (“fat”) because of the wealth and excess of the King. The steward over the boys was *concerned* that they would lose weight, not hoping for it! At the end of ten days, by a miracle of God, though the boys ate only vegetables and water, they look good and FAT. Not a divine diet, not wisdom-based weight loss; it was a miracle of God to keep them healthy and plump! 

But again, the weight and food was never the real point in the first place. Look back at verse 8, “Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or with the wine that he drank.” Daniel, as a good Jewish boy, knew that the King’s meat was probably slaughtered in the honor of a god of Babylon (much like the meat in the marketplaces in Greece, see 1 Cor. 10:27) and the wine was probably prepared in much the same way. Daniel’s choice to avoid this food was to honor God. YHWH, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, would be the only God that Daniel would follow; his law the only commands Daniel would obey, food laws as well as moral laws. Daniel’s obedience is blessed by God. The boys were able to understand the administration of state and Daniel was able to understand dreams and visions from God. 

Chapter one is not a weird story about the diet of Jewish kids in a strange land. It is the story of God’s people, God’s Kingdom, clashing against the Kingdom of this world. Daniel and his buddies had a choice to make, to follow the ways of this world’s Empire, to eat the way everyone else ate, to drink what everyone else drank, to *worship* what everyone else worshipped. The choice they made was to follow God even at personal cost and they realized that resulted in blessing they could not have expected. 

That is a story worth working to understand. 

It’s the story Bob and Larry were trying to tell us all along.

Reflection Questions

  1. I’ve been a little harsh on “The Daniel Diet,” but it’s not just one diet or fast or book that makes this mistake. In fact, many have tried to take parts of Daniel to make a diet, or used Ezekiel 4:9 as a recipe for bread, without reading down to Ezekiel 4:12. Are you ready to use the Bible as it was intended? To work to interpret God’s word in a way that impacts you, not a small change but to lead a life of difference?
  2. In light of the first question, are you willing to make the choices that might cost you personally, if it means you remain faithful to God? Are you willing to look different, act different, eat different, vote different, shop different, wear different, **be different** if it means you can be more like Jesus? What strikes you as the first change you can make today that may cost you sounding or appearing cool, just like everyone else, but will make you more like Jesus?
  3. Are there other sections of scripture (beyond Daniel 1 and Ezekiel 4) where you think we may have missed the point? Talk to your mom, dad, grandparent, pastor, youth pastor, or Sunday School teacher about those ideas. What do they think about those harder sections that seem to be about more than surface level ideas?

Note: The author LOVES VeggieTales. In no way should his words be perceived as mocking or belittling the greatest show about talking vegetables ever made. 

-Jake Ballard

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YHWH Sammah

OLD TESTAMENT: Ezekiel 46-48

POETRY: Psalm 135

NEW TESTAMENT: John 6:25-71

Today’s reading finishes up our time in the prophetic book of Ezekiel. A book that I’ve enjoyed studying a bit more- even if some days I’ve found myself with more questions than answers. Ultimately, it is nice to close in hope, and Ezekiel’s last chapters end with hope and a climax with God’s glory being restored to the temple. His words of prophecy were full of hope to those in exile even before the promised Messiah had surfaced. For us who have received the gift of the Messiah, and a personal relationship with God, the hope for a future restoration in the kingdom of God is something we still cling to in our days of exile.

The book of Ezekiel starts with a little less good news, and some warnings of destruction which certainly came to Jerusalem, but it ends with this detailed, beautiful prophetic description of a new temple yet to come.  Historically, there has not yet been a temple meeting this description to fulfill this prophecy.  And while some argue that this prophecy was solely fulfilled figuratively (in Jesus, in the church, etc.), others assert it is a future literal temple yet to come in the Millennium where believers reign with Christ. While I am certainly motivated to study it more after stumbling across the various ideas out there, because I am confident from scripture that there will be a literal return of Christ to earth, it appears to me these prophecies work well alongside that in describing a literal temple.

 I appreciate the taste of restoration and return of God’s glory that Ezekiel gives us.  In the United States, we have just finished another tiresome election cycle, and it seems like in these times we hear it all….. over and over again…..the self-proclaimed prophets, empty promises, whining and blaming, “pride, patriotism, and prejudice”…..the whole shebang.  My hope and faith is not in America being great. Nor is it in world peace we know scripturally will not truly happen in this age- no matter who is president.  My true identification or affiliation is not found in my national citizenship or any other political, demographic, or who-knows-what-now-label. My only sustaining hope is based in the promises given to Abraham and shared with me thousands of years later. I look forward to the world being great again, and pray Jesus will return soon, so that the meek will inherit it.

Ezekiel closes his prophecy telling us the name of the city he had described in such detail. It is called “The LORD is there”. In Hebrew, “YHWH sammah”.  Two words that brought the most resonating image to my mind in all of the chapters in this book that I read. There will be a day when God and His son Jesus will dwell with us. Literally.

-Jennifer Hall

Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on how the prophecies from these chapters are/will be fulfilled?
  2.  What gives you hope in today’s reading?
  3. How does the LORD “being there” impact a place? We know we’re invited!
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Bless the Lord

OLD TESTAMENT: Ezekiel 43-45

POETRY: Psalm 134

NEW TESTAMENT: John 6:1-24

Our psalm for today, Psalm 134,  is one of the fifteen psalms labeled as “Psalm of Ascents” which in the Hebrew Bible are Psalms 120-134, so today’s reading finishes up this section of psalms.  The author of this one is not known, but it is believed that these psalms were written during the 70 years of Judah being exiled in Babylon (same period from Ezekiel’s prophecies we are also reading right now).

Whether or not this was necessarily the intent of these psalms, they were used later by Jewish people who would sing them as they traveled to Jerusalem for the appointed “Pilgrimage festivals” according to the instructions they had been given in Deuteronomy 16.  Looking back on this group of psalms, I can imagine they would be a wonderful source of encouragement on a long journey (heading uphill to Jerusalem!), and could also facilitate a spirit of giving praise and honor to the LORD.

I read some commentators noting how many phrases from these psalms were used in early/traditional hymns as well as how many continue to surface in contemporary worship songs. In fact, when I read today’s psalm, I had a song pop in my head using these words, and imagine others might have had the same happen but with completely different songs based on the many choices out there.  Personally, I also had a scene surface from the Sound of Music when I read Psalm 121! These psalms are certainly jam-packed with lots of beautiful references, lyrics, and thoughts on which to meditate.

We do not have to make the pilgrimage to Jerusalem anymore, and we do not currently live in Babylonian captivity. But, we live in a world whose messages and words are far different than the ones we read in the Psalms of Ascent. Sometimes the messages are blatant screams, and sometimes they are subtle whispers, but as they bombard us, it is easy to forget who deserves our praise, honor, and obedience. It is also easy to mindlessly sing familiar songs, recite familiar psalms, or get caught up in the razzle dazzle displays of “worship music” sometimes.  But, He deserves better.

“Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord. . .” (Psalm 134)

What does blessing the Lord mean though? Doesn’t He bless me?  Ahh….well, to give us a picture of how we are to be blessing Him here…..this Hebrew word in this context means to “praise and adore”.

This week, I’m guessing many of us could likely amp it up in the praise and adoration of God and Jesus.

-Jennifer Hall

Questions:

  1. How can psalms, hymns, verses, or worship songs encourage you on the difficult life journeys you face?
  2. How did the Psalms of Ascents make you feel as you were reading them?
  3. Consider some reasons God and His son Jesus are worthy of praise and adoration!
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On the Banks of Kebar Creek

OLD TESTAMENT: Ezekiel 40-42

POETRY: Psalm 133

NEW TESTAMENT: John 5:31-47

In today’s Ezekiel reading, we enter into Chapter 40 after a thirteen year gap of time since Ezekiel’s last vision described in the preceding chapters. A lot can happen in thirteen years.  For Ezekiel….well…he was still in exile and oppressed under Babylonian rule. Though he had grown up in a priestly family, before he could even serve as priest, he was hauled out of Jerusalem in the first siege, and mentions being on the shores of the Kebar River when he receives his prophetic visions. In addition to Judah remaining in captivity in the hands of the Babylonians, by now the old temple in Jerusalem (you know, the super fancy and detailed one from Solomon’s era?) has been crumbled as well.

I can imagine how I might feel hearing my church building or house had been destroyed and taken over. But, it is hard for me to even imagine how it would feel to deal with all that Ezekiel and Judah were dealing with at this time….being in captivity in a foreign land, laden with guilt knowing that exile was related to their people’s own sinful choices, surrounded by those not worshiping the same God, and then hearing that their beautiful temple……that really big important place the LORD had told them in precise detail how to build and what to do in it……it was….gone.  Destroyed.

Ezekiel tells us he sat among exiled people along the Kebar River, and Psalm 137 (coming up soon, written by the exiles living in this area) describes how these people felt

“By the rivers in Babylon, we sat and wept, when we remembered Zion.”  (Psalm 137:1)

In those circumstances, I am confident I would long for something to look forward to and believe in, and that is what we are introduced to in these chapters.

Ezekiel’s vision in chapters 40-42 reference (again in amazing detail!) a new, future, restored temple. And while it is easy for a reader in the comforts of the modern western world, not in captivity, whose houses and churches are not physically crumbled, to find some of this reading a bit tedious perhaps. But, in the context of looking forward to something restored….something yet to come…..I find it a beautiful message of hope. Judah wasn’t in captivity forever. The Messiah finally did come. And he will come again. They were promised. We are promised.

The temple described in these chapters has not yet appeared, and there are all sorts of thoughts on this prophetic vision and how it is fulfilled. To me, it sounds like there will be quite a majestic temple when Jesus returns!

Until that day when we will live in true restoration, we will have seasons like those on the banks of the Kebar. Sometimes as a result of our own accord like Judah and Israel experienced. And sometimes just because we live in…. Babylon. But, we have a God who has not left us and will not leave us in exile.

“. . .be content with what you have, for He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  (Hebrews 13:5)

-Jennifer Hall

Questions:

  1. What connections can you make between today’s readings?
  2.  What encouragement does God’s word provide for the days you find yourself feeling like the exiles along the shores of the Kebar?
  3. Imagine your church building or house being completely destroyed. Now imagine it being completely restored, and way better then it was before. Think about what is coming!
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