Daniel 7 - 8

During Belshazzar's reign, Daniel has a vision of four beasts that does not seem to make any sense to him.  God allows him to understand the meaning of his dream.  Daniel has dreamed about 4 great kings that would rule the earth.  Their kingdoms and ruling habits are described so that Daniel can see that God will continue to preserve His people throughout time.  Daniel later sees another vision that corresponds to this first one.  Again, God reveals that throughout time He will control nations and preserve His people.

Daniel 5 - 6

Another king, Belshazzar (Nebuchadnezzar's descendant), decides to throw a feast in order to boast of his own accomplishments.  To accentuate the party, he brings the items taken from the temple in Jerusalem to be used as common vessels of dining.  A mysterious hand appears and writes on the wall of the banquet hall.  Daniel is consulted, and a translation provided:  God has found Babylon lacking and has given her over to the Medes and Persians.  That same night Belshazzar died and was replaced by Darius the Mede.
Life under the Medes and Persians was different.  Their laws were not easily changed and never broken.  One law was enacted, requiring all subjects to pray only to the king for 30 days.  This law was established so that those in leadership could oust Daniel from his higher position - the only 'flaw' they could find was his devotion in worship.  Daniel refused to change his prayer habits, was thrown into a den of lions (at the age of 80+!) and miraculously preserved by God.  King Darius, learning of the plot, threw the plotters into the den after retrieving Daniel and found that the plotters did not enjoy the same level of divine protection. 

Daniel 3 - 4

King Nebuchadnezzar is not satisfied to have his kingdom described as a "head of gold" and the rest of the statue (seen in his dream) being comprised of inferior metals and components.  He has a statue of himself constructed that is made entirely of gold - signifying his belief that Babylon will always rule the world stage.  Instructions are given for the entire population to gather for the unveiling of the statue and to reverence it at the appropriate time.  All comply, except for Daniel's three friends who are thrown into a furnace designed to destroy them.  God miraculously saves these three Hebrew children and shows the king once again that He is more powerful than any ruler on earth.  The king has another dream that Daniel interprets for him.  The king needed to beware of pride, as it would cripple him.  The king ignored this warning, boasted of his accomplishments and lost his sanity and understanding until such time as he would acknowledge God's supreme and sovereign rule over nations.

Daniel 1 - 2

The nation of Israel is raided by the Babylonians during the reign of Jehoiakim.  Many of the noble families in the nation had their children taken from them and relocated into Babylon.  Among these expatriates was a young man named Daniel.  Despite the efforts of the Babylonians to replace Jewish culture with their own, Daniel and his three friends refused.  By following God's instructions and humbly requesting the privilege to do so, they prove to be wiser and in better condition than their counterparts.  When the king has a dream that none can interpret, it is Daniel who gives God glory for interpreting the dream.  The king has dreamed about the future governments of the world; this accomplishment promotes Daniel and his three friends even higher in the ranks of government.

Esther 7 - 10

During the second banquet, the king asks queen Esther to make a request as she obviously wishes to do.  Esther humbly and graciously asks that her life be spared since her people have been given up to be annihilated.  The king demands to know who has planned such an atrocity against the queen and his identification is quickly revealed:  Haman.  As the king ponders what to do, Haman pleads for his life - so dramatically that when the king returns and finds Haman clinging to Esther, he interprets it as an assault on the queen herself.  The gallows Haman had constructed upon which to execute Mordecai are pressed into service and the man who commissioned them is put to death upon them.  Esther receives the house of Haman as an inheritance; Mordecai is promoted within the palace; and the Jews are legally enabled to defend themselves against the coming assault on them that Haman had plotted.  In the ensuing battle, the sons of Haman are eliminated, the Jews slaughter those who rise against them, and a feast is established (Purim) to commemorate all that has transpired in the preservation of God's people.  Mordecai continues to advance in the kingdom and is second only to the king throughout the empire.

Esther 4 - 6

Mordecai, learning of the plot against his people, went into a period of mourning, then approached his niece, the queen Esther, and begged her to take this matter before the king - since an attempt on Jewish lives would affect the new queen as well.  Esther invites the king and Haman to a private dinner, and during the dinner invites them to another feast the following day.  Haman can hardly believe the honor he is receiving; but it is spoiled when he sees Mordecai still serving in the palace.  During the night between banquets, the king cannot sleep and is reminded of the assassination plot uncovered by Mordecai.  Learning that nothing has been done to formally honor him, the king tasks Haman with parading Mordecai through the streets announcing the great favor of the king upon Mordecai.  At the depth of Haman's humiliation, he is whisked away to the second of Esther's banquets.

Esther 1 - 3

King Ahasuerus of the Persian empire was a proud and successful man.  While giving a feast to laud his accomplishments, he desired his queen, Vashti, to dance for the attendees.  She refused; and the king was forced into divorcing her and selecting a new queen.  A beauty contest of sorts was held throughout the land to choose this new queen.  Among the participants was a Jewish girl named Hadassah (she was also called Esther) whose uncle Mordecai worked at the royal palace.  Esther was made queen, Mordecai uncovered a plot to assassinate the king, and a man named Haman began to resent the preferential treatment he perceived Mordecai to be receiving.  Haman began to plot against the Jewish people as an effort to eliminate Mordecai.

Ecclesiastes 9 - 12

Solomon proclaims death to be the great equalizer and common denominator of life.  Rich, poor, mighty, weak, good and evil men all face death.  His advice is to live life joyfully while you are able to do so.  Wisdom will prove to be more valuable than strength; foolishness will be seen to be pointless and futile.  Life should be diligently used to bring profit to others; the best profit Solomon can find is knowing God from an early age - before the cares of life waste away one's time.  He summarizes the entire scope and goal of life as fearing God and keeping His commands.

Job 24 - 28

Job complains about the wickedness in the world.  The world is full of people who do evil and are able to prosper in spite of it.  God seems to have overlooked them; but in the end, He demonstrates His own magnificent power by destroying them.  Bildad asks how a person can then be considered righteous, to which Job responds with a discussion on man's inability to accomplish anything without God's mighty power behind him.  Job again commits himself to living a God-pleasing life that is centered around the wisdom found only in God.

Job 21 - 23

Job complains that his trouble is not with man, it is with God.  God seems to act arbitrarily from what Job has become accustomed to seeing.  It frustrates him and makes him question why his situation has occurred.  Eliphaz accuses Job of some hidden character flaw that God is bringing out into the open through these circumstances, and pleads with Job to stop hiding his sin and make things right.  Job responds that God knows all about Job's character; nothing has been hidden, all is plain to God and Job has not sinned.

Job 17 - 20

Job pleads for relief, yet does not seem able to acquire it.  Even death does not seem to hold out any promise for ease of suffering in his opinion.  Bildad asks when Job will stop insulting them and start listening to them.  He states that the foolish and wicked person are always pursued by evil and often ensnared by it.  Job's actions, in Bildad's opinion, are those of one who does not know God.  Job again states his belief in God, even though the circumstances he faces seem to fly in the face of that belief.  His trust will not be shaken.  Zophar delivers a speech about how God treats the wicked, as a warning to Job.

Job 14 - 16

Job states that no existence is preferable to one in which God does not make sense to him.  Eliphaz, one of the friends, accuses Job of acting foolishly.  He has made some bold statements and must not assume that he fully knows God.  Job finally confronts his friends with the truth:  they are lousy counselors!  He is finding no comfort in any of the words exchanged - either from he himself or from his friends.  Nothing brings relief from his suffering.

Job 10 - 13

Job is sure that if he had the opportunity to discuss his case with God that God would agree with Job's assessment of the situation.  Zophar, another of the friends, also urges Job to repent of whatever sin he is trying to hide from the companions.  Job is adamant, no matter what his friends may claim, he is not hiding nothing from his friends or from God.  He is innocent!  He asks that God either let him alone or explain why he is suffering.

Job 6 - 9

Job is convinced that his innocence is secure and his circumstances are not justified.  His life is a short and swift journey; and he complains that in his suffering there is no comfort or relief.


Bildad, another of Job's friends, suggests that Job's sons sinned and brought judgment upon themselves.  God does not hold anyone innocent who is deserving of punishment.  Job agrees, yet still maintains that he is innocent of any guilt or actions that may have brought punishment upon himself or his family.

Job 1 - 5

Job, a man of integrity, has his character tested to demonstrate the genuineness of his faith in God.  All his possession are removed in seemingly tragic manners; his flocks, herds, wealth, possessions and children are all destroyed in a single day.  His health deteriorates soon afterward, yet Job still clings to his faith in God as good.  Job claims that perhaps not having been born might have been better, but he does not accuse God of doing wrong in the matter.  Job's friends attempt to comfort this man who has been such a source of wisdom for others.  Eliphaz gently hints that perhaps Job has done wrong and is being punished.  If that is the case (and Job's situation certainly appears to be divine punishment) Job would be best served by confessing and throwing himself on God's merciful forgiveness.

Turning 28 today ...

No, I am not in denial about my age!  I am well aware of the fact that my chronological age adds another decade to the above total; yet today is what my friends have termed my "rebirth-day."  Twenty-eight years ago tonight, while attending summer camp in central Pennsylvania, a 10 year-old camper with a crew-cut admitted that God's provision of salvation was exactly what was needed to appropriate Christ's righteousness in place of my wretched sinfulness.  A student from Liberty College (now Liberty University) named John Michael Stover was present and instrumental in helping me understand not only the seriousness of my sin but the goodness and greatness of a holy God who offered Himself in my place.


There won't be any candles or cake to mark this day ... probably just this post.  But that day marked the beginning of a drastic change in my life - one that is continuing to this day and beyond.  Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul!  John, wherever you are, thank you for sharing the love of Christ with a bratty camp kid nicknamed "Fuzzy" - God is doing some interesting things with that boy.

Proverb 30 - 31

Agur contributes some pieces of wisdom, pointing out that without a knowledge of God relegates themselves to the classification of "fool."  It is God who gives wisdom and makes wisdom sensible.  Those who refuse to acknowledge God and His presence relinquish their ability to be called "wise."  God, in His wisdom, places things that are seemingly insignificant and small as those items which convey great truths about Himself.  King Lemuel adds that wisdom is found in one of God's greatest gifts - that of a virtuous and wise wife.  This industriously gracious lady is a contributing factor to her husband's welfare and wisdom.  She is deserving of honor for her wise actions.

Proverbs 27 - 29

Life is uncertain.  The wise person prepares for life based on principles that do not change.  A fool changes his mind and his decisions based on emotions that are never permanent.  The fool ignores warning signs to his own detriment.  The wise seeks to learn from every situation, even if not personally involved in the situation.  Life makes no sense to the fool, as they have no anchoring point for their world view.

Proverbs 24 - 26

The practices of the wise and foolish are again contrasted.  Again and again, the value and precious nature of wisdom are highlighted - in expectation that the student will embrace wisdom above all.  It is this wisdom that leads one to an understanding of God and His ways.  The wise one will not distort judgment or change the truth to favor a personal angle.  Wisdom is a resource sought out by kings and beggars alike; its value is high and its rarity makes it even more precious.  The wise man learns from his errors; the fool never does.