Tag Archives: Old Testament Lessons

REVELATION: SOLOMON’S WISDOM

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SOLOMON-UNFAILING WISDOM

When we think about wisdom, much of the time we think about academia-either high school or college. These are places where students go to be prepared for life. Some students temporarily are able to store a lot of knowledge in their heads, but after an exam, they quickly forget what they have studied. So, they don’t know how to apply it in life. More knowledge is available at the click of a mouse today than has ever been available in the history of the world. We may even feel overwhelmed with all the knowledge available to us. However, what many people lack is understanding of the best way to use that knowledge, and that calls for wisdom. This session focuses on King Solomon and the Wisdom God gave him when he asked for it. Solomon knew he needed more than knowledge to lead Israel; he needed wisdom. Likewise, we need God’s wisdom, not simply knowledge, to live the life God has called us to live. Christ-centered living seeks wisdom from God, not merely knowledge.

Read 1 Kings 3:3-9

1 Kings 1-2 records the account of King David’s death and his son Solomon’s accession to Israel’s throne. The whole city celebrated as David’s leaders carried out the order and crowned Solomon king (1:40). The account sifted to David’s last moments on earth. Before he died, Israel’s great king issued Solomon his son a sober warning. Solomon must be careful to walk in the ways of the Lord all his days, so that God would fulfill the promise He had made to David to establish David’s throne forever (2:1-4; 2 Sam. 7). 1 Kings 2:13-46 records Solomon’s further establishment of himself as king by getting rid of key enemies. At the end of 1 Kings 2, the kingdom of Israel lay firmly in Solomon’s hands. Yet, the king knew he lacked what he needed to lead Israel as he should. The king knew he needed God’s help to lead the people effectively. Which he did effectively unless he married 700 women and the pagan influence from these women lead to his downfall. He also seemed to have lost much of his wisdom when he also had 700 mother’s-in-law.

In verse 3, it states that “Solomon loved the Lord” which affirmed his commitment to God. Solomon demonstrated his commitment to the Lord “by walking in the statues of his father David”. The Hebrew word translated “statutes” comes from a verb that means “to inscribe”. The law of Moses originally was inscribed on tablets of stone (Ex. 32:15-16). God had inscribed His statues for His people for their good and for their blessing. The text’s statement that Solomon “also sacrificed and burned incense on the high places” highlights one of the king’s shortcomings. Deuteronomy had forbidden such practices; rather, it pointed the people to the place God would designate (Deut. 12:2-5). During the period after Solomon, the people continued to worship God on high places throughout Israel instead of at the temple in Jerusalem (2 Kings 12:3; 14:4). Gibeon was “the most famous high place” and Solomon had planned to sacrifice there. 2 Chronicles 1:3 mentions that the tabernacle was also there at that time and it became the focus of worship until Solomon built the temple later. Solomon “offered a thousand burnt offerings at Gibeon as a sign of dedication to the Lord.

It was at Gibeon that “the Lord appeared to Solomon”. He would appear “in a dream at night”. In the dream, the Lord asked Solomon an important question: “What should I you?”. Solomon replied in a way that encompassed his past, his present, and his future. He affirmed that God had “shown great and faithful love to his father David”. Solomon said his father’s life had been characterized by three important attributes: 1) David lived a life with faithfulness; 2) David’s life displayed righteousness; and 3) David’s life displayed integrity “uprightness of heart”. David’s walk with God demonstrated itself not merely in words, but also in action. Today as well, people of character typically demonstrate that character by how they live their lives. So, this is a symbol from the past that we are to follow.

Solomon affirmed that God had “continued this great and faithful love for David by giving him a son to sit on his throne”. In other words, Solomon’s reign was a continuation of the love that God has shown to David through a special covenant. The words “Lord my God” describe Solomon’s personal relationship with God. The words “you have now made your servant king” stress God’s active involvement in the process of Solomon’s being crowned king. Verse 9 records how Solomon asked God for a “receptive heart” (literally “a listening heart”). 2 Chronicles 1:10 provides more of the conversation, including wisdom and knowledge in Solomon’s request. The king wanted to listen carefully to God, and he wanted to listen carefully to the citizens who came before him for a decision. He wanted to judge fairly the people God had given him, to render decisions and verdicts that were based on the truth of the cases at hand. Solomon’s question “who is able to judge this great people of yours?” was rhetorical in nature. Solomon was not looking for an answer; rather he was affirming his own understanding that he did not have in himself what if took to be a great king over Israel. He would need God’s gracious assistance every step of the way. Solomon’s prayer for wisdom and discernment provides a model for leaders today. So, this is a second symbol from the past (in this lesson) that we are to follow. God’s grace, however, is sufficient to enable us to accomplish His purpose.

Read 1 Kings 3:10-14

God indicates that the king’s request for discernment pleased Him. Solomon had requested this because his heart was in the right place. Kingship would certainly bring him many benefits and blessings, but his desire to be a good king prompted him to ask what he did. Verse 11 focuses on all the things Solomon might have requested but did not in view of the greater good of possessing a wise heart. Long life could have been a blessing to both the king and his people. According to Deuteronomy 17:17, kings were not to multiply riches for themselves. Too much wealth could steer their heart away from God and lead them to trust in themselves. Sadly, Solomon’s great wealth and power did contribute to his straying from God later in life (1 King 11:3). Rather he knew that discernment would prove much more valuable in the long run. He also wanted to administer justice (literally “to hear justice”. “Justice” could also mean “judge” as indicated in verse 9. Solomon wanted to listen to the facts of each case carefully so that he could discern the proper verdict to render in each situation.

God assured Solomon “I will therefore do what you have asked”. The Hebrew verb actually occurs in the past tense; the wording suggests God had already placed the wisdom and (NASB). “Wise” can be translated “wisdom” and “understanding” can be rendered “discernment”. God also told Solomon He would provide him both riches and honor- items Solomon did not ask for. Solomon’s influence would extend mightily, so that no king would prove Solomon’s equal during his entire life. 1 Kings 6-10 describes the great kingdom Solomon ruled.

God expected something in return from His new king. He expected

Solomon to walk according to the ways He had laid down in the Law of Moses (Deut. 17:14-20). The word “keep” in verse 14 also means “guard” or “watch over”. God decrees were timeless, spanning all generations, and as Solomon’s “father David” had walked in them, so God expected the same of David’s son. Long life would be a further blessing for Solomon. This is then the third symbol in this lesson: if we walk in God’s way, we will experience God’s blessing. This is not necessarily long life- but His blessing.

Read 1 Kings 4:29-34

God gave Solomon wisdom, insight, and understanding in very amount- “as vast as the sand on the seashore”.  This is a phrase used several times in the Bible. It conveys the sense of Solomon’s brilliance. Solomon’s God-given discernment enabled him to choose not only between right and wrong, but between a good plan and a better plan. At the same time, the text emphasizes how Solomon’s gifts came from God. Verses 30-31 compare Solomon’s wisdom to his contemporaries Solomon’s reputation (“name”) “extended to all surrounding nations”, especially to Egypt. The Queen of the South had to come to see for herself.

Solomon spoke 3,000 proverbs, but only 915 were recorded in the Book of Proverbs. The others may have been in put into other writings that probably have been lost. His songs numbered 1,005, but only two have been preserved for sure- Psalms 72 and 127. Some anonymous psalms may have come from Solomon. It is said that Solomon’s wisdom extended not merely to the arts and literature, but also to science and nature. Whether the king “spoke about trees or spoke about animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, his knowledge and insights were nothing short of amazing. In today’s world, it is rare to find someone who is an expert in so many areas.

Solomon was an educated man, but his wisdom and insights ultimately came from God. People (“Emissaries”) “came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom”. These people had been “sent by every king on earth who had heard of his wisdom”. Learning from a great leader might make them better leaders. Perhaps these who came from faraway land went back wiser and were able to lead their people with greater effectiveness. While some of these leaders may have had less than honorable intentions, it is clear that most were far better off for knowing and learning from Solomon. We strengthen relationships when we walk alongside others and help them make wise decisions. The final symbol from this lesson is that other people may be drawn to God as they see God’s gifts in us.

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REVELATION: STAND FOR RIGHT

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BE READY TO STAND

How often do we seek opportunities in life for our own benefit? We look for jobs, pastime events, and responsibilities that we feel we would enjoy or for which we are prepared. While there is probably nothing wrong with that, but we need to realize that God has placed us in a specific situation- working a certain job, living in a particular location, or surrounded by different people- for a greater purpose: to point to Him and further His kingdom. There are so many people who believe that they don’t have to include God in everything or they just don’t think about God in many situations. However, when we become Christians we are to include God in everything- no matter what the event. This will put us in the right place at the right time so God can lead us to His purpose.

Read Esther 2:5-7

The events in Esther occurred during the reign of King Ahasuerus (from KJV), also known as Xerxes. He ruled the Persian Empire from 486-465 BC. In the third year of his reign, this king convened a royal banquet at Susa, his winter capital located in modern Iran. We all know this story and it happened because Queen Vashti refused to go to this banquet. So, the king dethroned her and started a search for a new Queen. This is where God entered the situation. God is always at work behind the scenes.

The story of Esther is one of the most exciting and inspiring in all the Word of God. 0″Esther” (a Persian word meaning Star) is the more familiar name of a Jewish girl named Hadassah (which is Hebrew for Myrtle). The events of the book of Esther occurred between 483 and 473 BC. They actually fit historically between Chapters 6 and 7 of the book of Ezra. If the Book of Esther was chronological placed between these two chapters, what would that do to the understanding of Ezra? By that time Babylon had been taken over by the Persians. The Jews had been given permission to return to their homeland to rebuild, and thousands did so, led by a man named Zerubbabel. However, during the 70 years of captivity many others had settled down in Babylon and preferred to stay there. The book of Esther concerns those Jews who remained in Babylon (or Persia). One of these was young Esther, an orphan whose cousin, Mordecai [MOR-da-kai], raised her as his own daughter and treated her as his own.  Esther thought of  Mordecai as her father.

There is a most unusual fact about the book of Esther–one which might not be noticed with a casual reading of it. God is not mentioned once in the entire book. No one is ever specifically said to be praising Him, or praying to Him. On the surface it seems like a totally secular story. This is not because the writer did not believe in God. (Quite the contrary!) He has done it by design, as a kind of literary device, suggesting a God who was hidden but at work. When the Jews went into captivity, it was because they had turned their backs on God, and had departed from His ways. They were out of fellowship with Him. God was absent from their lives. But although this was so, the Lord had not ceased to love His people. In Esther, we see the Lord working behind the scenes to rescue them. Though His presence is not obvious, the Lord acts in a wonderful way to deliver the nation from harm.

Verses 2-4 reveal an ironic twist to the situation. The king’s servants had found an added way in which the rebuffed king could avenge himself and prove his authority. Queen Vashti had refused to parade before him and his friends. Therefore, instead of having only one woman parade before him, he would have all the beautiful young virgins in his kingdom at his beck and call. The Persian historic custom was that the king would marry only Persian, but the story seems to be saying the king called in women of non-Persian background (this may have played into the story later).

In verses 5-11, the writer (officially unknown but possibly Ezra or Nehemiah) paused his narrative to some background information about two persons. Then specifically in these three verses (just read), the writer spoke briefly about Mordecai, a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin, who left Jerusalem in the deportation of 597 BC. This may be the same Mordecai mentioned in Ezra 2:2 and Nehemiah 7:7. Mordecai probably held some type of minor position in the government. As indicated in Ezra, the Babylonians deported the best

of Judah’s leadership and used these leaders to good advantage during the exile (does that remind us of Daniel?). Mordecai followed the Jewish tradition of relatives taking care of their own kinfolk, especially in the case of orphans and widows. The relationship between Mordecai and Esther had a significant bearing on what the author was about to tell. The story also reveals the unexpected way God worked in behalf of His chosen people.

Read Esther 2:8-10

Verse 8 picks up the main thread of the story again. The king’s officers brought many beautiful maidens to the palace, as ordered. Esther quickly gained the favor of Hegai (the one in charge of the women). She received the best place in the harem, as well as ointments, food, and seven maids from the king’s house to attend her during her twelve-month beauty program (verse 12). Verses 8-9 clearly imply that Hegai considered Esther the most likely choice to fill Queen Vashti’s place. Mordecai had instructed Esther not to reveal her Jewish identity or her relationship to him. The writer did not explain why. Presumably it related to prejudice between Jews and Persians. The narrative gives no reason to believe that Esther refused non-kosher food or followed other Jewish regulations during that time. In the meantime, Mordecai checked on her daily to see how she fared (v.11).

With virtually no rights and little access to the king, it was better for Esther not to reveal her identity. While boldness in stating our identity as God’s people is our responsibility, at times a good strategy is to keep quiet until we have won the right to be heard. This is especially true when dealing with those in authority over us. But we can always let them see the difference God makes in our lives.

In Esther 2:11-14, the writer informed us of Mordecai’s faithfulness to his cousin after her entrance into the king’s harem. Esther demonstrated loyalty to his instructions, and Mordecai’s actions reflected his fidelity to her. Daily he walked by the harem’s courtyard to check on Esther in her new surroundings. After the woman appeared before the king the first time, we learn that woman would never entered the king’s presence again unless he specifically summoned her. However, Esther was not the queen yet, as we learn more in the next verses.

Read Esther 2:15-17

Here we find out the name of Esther’s father-Abihail, which means “my father is powerful”. Also, Esther gained favor in the eyes of everyone who saw her. Esther used good strategy in winning the king’s approval. She followed Hegai’s advice and asked for nothing except what Hegai told her to request. She found favor in the sight of all, but especially the king. He finally made her queen in the seventh year of his reign.

Verse 16 says Esther was taken to the king in the tenth month which was known as Tebeth, in a seventh year of the king’s reign. The tenth month in the Hebrew calendar overlaps our months of December and January, and it was a rainy month. This is yet another indication that the Hebrew time is different than ours as I wrote in my article on the Sabbath. Esther 1:10-22 and 2:1-4 gives us indication that after Queen Vashti refused to appear at the banquet the position may have been vacant for 4 years. During that time King Ahasuerus had fought unsuccessfully against Greece- one of Daniel’s five “future” kingdoms. This factor helps to explain the lengthy lapse of time before his selection of a new queen. Esther had been waiting to see if she was the choice of the new queen.

Verse 17 reveals that Esther’s wait and preparation had not been in vain. The king loved Esther more than all the other women. Esther had won the favor and approval of the king and he placed the crown on Esther’s head. God placed Esther on the throne even before the Jews faced the possibility of complete destruction (3:5), so that when trouble came, a person would already be in the position to help. No human effort could thwart God’s plan to send the Messiah to earth as a Jew. So just as God placed Esther in her position to help her people, as described later in the Book of Esther, God also places us in situations where we can help others. This is another case where it shows that God is in control. God may be placing us in a position where He wants us when the need arises. Vashti’s name does not appear again in the Book of Esther. Esther was ready to stand and play a major role in God’s deliverance of His people.

LEARN TO BE A MORE POSITIVE PERSON AND HAVE MORE JOY

REVELATION: What are Christians Affirmations? They are a method to reprogram your mind to gain spiritual confidence in agreement with God's word. It is a marvelous way to gain an amazing insight into God's loving character. Affirmations that lift your life.

CHRISTIANS AFFIRMATIONS WILL GIVE A BETTER OUTLOOK ON LIFE

 

REVELATION: PERSON OTHERS NEED

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BECOMING A PERSON OTHERS NEED

The book of Proverbs gives us insight into character traits that benefit both us and those around us, especially those we care about. I can remember going to a Christian church with my mother and grandmother two blocks from where we lived in my hometown.  We also went to another Christian, small rural, church for a short time in another town, about 6 miles from my hometown, for about a year or so. My grandmother, as I remember, was always going to church and my mother and I would go with her. She was a God-fearing woman and helped me and my mother over many rough times, due to my mother’s divorce. After losing my grandmother to cancer, her influence remained with my mother and me.

In the first 24 chapters of Proverbs, Solomon weaved together basic lessons that served as an instruction manual for fathers to pass down to their children, particularly their sons.  He developed the instructions in Proverbs 6 around the theme of character development with regards to practicing financial prudence, developing a strong work ethic, dealing with people, and remaining sexually pure.

Read Proverbs 6:6-11 Work Diligently

Notice the down-to-earth quality of the advice in verses 6-11. In this day the so-called “work ethic” is often ridiculed and blamed for many of the ills of society. Those “hung up” on working hard and trying to achieve are regarded by many as the enemies of society where it is quite acceptable to be a consumer rather than a producer, a user instead of a creator. Here the busy little ant is cited as proper example for the lazy person. Watch her as she appears to scurry tirelessly to and fro, ceaselessly doing her work. The ant possessed a God-given wisdom on work diligently and effectively. She is laying in her stores for the rainy days ahead. Verses 9-11 are a wonderful observation about life. Here is the perfect proverb. It expresses a commonly-accepted truth and puts it in graphic, rememberable words. This particular gem of truth is that one does not have to set out deliberately to be trifling and no-account. All one has to do is fold one’s hands and let it happen. Life is a lot like gardening. You don’t have to plant weeds; all you have to do about them is nothing. They will take over. Inertia is a powerful negative force against which one must struggle.

Solomon took off the gloves with the accusing question, “How long?” This question implied something bad had been going on for too long, unless the “slacker” took decisive action immediately, judgment would fall. The slacker was challenged to learn from the ant. Solomon mimicked the lazy man by asking for a little sleep. The lazy man would rather escape reality and enjoy a little more slumber than face the world. Those last few moments of sleep are delicious; we savor them as we resist beginning another workday. But Proverbs warns against giving in to the temptation of laziness, of sleeping instead of working. Of course, this does not mean we never rest. God gave the Jews the Sabbath; a weekly day of rest and restoration. (So it is okay to take a Sunday afternoon nap.) Solomon is saying we should not rest when we should be working- especially for the Lord. The ant is used as an example because it utilizes its energy and resources economically. Solomon warned that laziness results in poverty. To what degree did this type of person bring benefit to those they cared about and others? (Probably zero!  In fact, they may have even caused harm to others.)

Read Proverbs 6:16-19 Demonstrate Integrity

Solomon’s instructions stated the demands of integrity in the negative. He is certainly indicating that integrity must be built continually. Few people decide to outright lie or cheat; instead, they find themselves taking shortcuts. These shortcuts lead to eroding our standards. Solomon provided a catalogue of negative actions and character traits that the Lord hates. Each of them targeted its victim for ruin, but they can return upon the troublemaker as well. Solomon was describing a concise and vivid description of the troublemaker. Notice the physical imagery of these vices. Five of them are associated with parts of the body: eyes, tongue, hands, heart and feet. The body itself is not evil, no part of it. The use one makes of it, however, is the critical issue. The body is a temple of the Holy Spirit if we make it so, or it is a vile instrument if we choose to make it so. The last two of these “detestable” things describe those who break the bonds of confidence and loyalty by offering false testimony and stirring up trouble among brothers.

Arrogant eyes head Solomon’s list. These are eyes turned upward in arrogance rather than downward in humility. A lying tongue signifies a person who has no regard for the truth and displays aggressive deceit intended to harm others. The hands that shed innocent blood show a violent tendency of the troublemaker and display a lack of control over anger. (Note the use of “innocent”. A lot of blood was shed in the Old Testament due to war.) The heart resides at the center of the human anatomy and gives rise to all of a person’s physical, mental, and spiritual life. A heart that plots wicked schemes would drive the evil action of the person. Solomon puts together three words, “plots wicked schemes”, to heighten the nature of the heart’s propensity toward evil and indicates this person will bend the rules for personal gain at another’s expense. Then Solomon says a troublemaker will use their feet to run to evil, emphasizing this person’s zeal and enthusiasm to follow his inner compulsion as soon as possible.

Because a believer’s heart seeks to glorify Christ, their good works follow them. God has called us to demonstrate integrity as we live for Him. When we avoid these seven actions and traits, people will take note that we live as people of integrity. (There are times when I feel our quarterly leaves out some verses that are important for understanding the full contexts of a section. In searching several commentaries, I feel a need to read verses 6:20-22 before moving into our last section.)

Read Proverbs 6:23-27 Exhibit Purity

Verse 20 begins with a familiar address “My son”. This is followed by the usual admonition to follow the guidance of parents, giving a general promise of benefits of following such guidance. It is natural and good for children, as they grow toward adulthood, to become increasingly independent of their parents. Young adults, however, should take care not to turn a deaf ear to their parents- to neglect their advice just when it is needed most. Their years of experience may have given them the wisdom the young adult seeks. Solomon’s wisdom and advice that follows in verses 23-27 is also appropriate for us. Maybe Solomon in his wisdom sets this up to say that if a person falls into the problems described in verses 23-27, they are still like the young adult who needs to go to some older, wiser counsel also. They, too, need the command and teaching that the parental “light” provides for walking in wisdom. Solomon seems to be trumpeting the biblically based counsel of parents as sharing the function of God’s Word- who is the ultimate Father.

Look at the imagery of wisdom’s companionship: she will walk with you in the day, watch over you in the night when you sleep, and talk with you as a companion when you are awake. The specific warning of this passage is introduced at verse 24. Wisdom will be a shield for you against “the smooth tongue of the adventuress,” literally, the “strange woman”. One reading Proverbs will be impressed with the extensive treatment of the sin of sexual immorality, especially with another man’s wife. Remember that these teachings are directed to male youths. There the warnings are to young men as indicated in verses 20-22, rather than to both sexes, and are designed to caution the inexperienced young man against the wiles of an older married woman who is looking for sexual adventure with a young man. The emphatic teaching is that such sin may not be excused on the ground of temptation to give in to a physical need, but that the sin is folly, a folly that has dire consequences. Thus, “do not let her capture you with her eyelashes” is a graphic metaphor to describe the elaborately made-up temptress who has not only unveiled her face but made more alluring by the use of cosmetics (v. 25). The lustful looks of such a woman are most enticing to the inexperienced male, and this can be true for all men at times.

Verse 26 suggests that the adulteress is a woman more greatly to be feared than a prostitute whose motive is money. The prostitute does it for a loaf of bread, but the stakes are the life of the gullible youth who is ensnared by the sex-hungry adulteress. Retribution is inevitable, says the Proverbs. One does not carry fire in his arms without burning his clothes. Nobody escapes immorality’s consequences. The law of cause-and effect works rigorously here as does the law of sowing and reaping. Solomon offers us great instructions from his own failings.

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BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS

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STAND COURAGEOUSmoses
One of the first things I think of when I hear the word “courageous” is Joshua. As Moses was preparing to turn leadership of the IsraelitIIes to Joshua, he told Joshua to “be strong and courageous”- twice (Deut. 31:6 and 7). Then in Deuteronomy 31:23, the Lord commissioned Joshua with the same words “Be strong and courageous”. Then in the Gook of Joshua the words “be strong and courageous” are used in each of three verses; 6, 7, and 9. What Joshua was being told was that courage is not the absence of fear but doing what he must do in spite of fear. This tells us that we need to be ready and willing to stand for God, apart from the crowd. In the Book of Daniel, three men faced a decision to face death instead of disobeying God. Their willingness to die rather than disobey God is a model for how we can stand courageously.
Read Daniel 3:13-15
These verses began with Nebuchadnezzar in one of his furious rages. Nebuchadnezzar had commissioned the making of a huge golden statue, some 90 feet tall. As Daniel and his three friends were serious students of the scriptures, they had to be thinking of the golden calf of Moses’ day. Also, remember Daniels’ interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s initial dream! The statue in his dream had a golden head which represented Nebuchadnezzar’s empire. For the dedication of this 90 foot statue, all of various government officials were required to attend. At the dedication, the king commanded all to worship the statue. Disobedience was punishable by death- a very specific death. However, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow and worship the king’s false god. This was the cause of Nebuchadnezzar’s rage.
The focus of the Book of Daniel is upon Daniel himself, but in chapter 3 he is not mentioned at all. The chapter records a single experience of his three friends that merits their inclusion among the “heroes of faith” of the Bible. The writer of the Book of Hebrews may have had them in mind when he referred to those who “quenched raging fire” (Heb. 11:34). The story ranks among the most familiar narratives of the Old Testament.
The rapid rise of Daniel and his friends to power must have provoked intense jealousy and hatred in court circles. It is quite possible that the enemies of Daniel and his friends, knowing that the Jews would not comply, influenced the king to make the edict (as they did in 6:1-9). These enemies included Chaldeans who should have been grateful that Daniels’ ability to interpret the king’s dream had saved their lives. We are not made aware of other Jews who may have refused to worship the statue, but these three were singled out due to their position of power in the court.
Whether they were responsible for the edict concerning the statue or not, the enemies did not have to wait long for its violation by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Some of the Chaldeans immediately rushed to the king to inform him that the three Jewish friends had refused to bow before the golden statue. The Hebrew for “maliciously accused” (v. 8) is literally “ate the pieces”. Nebuchadnezzar was not accustomed to being defied and reacted with predictable rage. He ordered that the three Jews be brought before him so he could hear from their own lips whether they had refused to worship the statue. He reminded them of the penalty for violating his edict v. 15).
As the supreme ruler of Babylon, he expected absolute obedience. But his pride had caused him to go beyond his own authority with the edict. His demands were unjust and his reactions extreme. If we ever find ourselves reacting is a similar manner, it is likely due to our ego being overly involved with the situation. In this case, Nebuchadnezzar at least gave the three friends one more chance. There are at least eight reason that these three friends could have used: 1) We will fall down but not actually worship the idol; 2) We won’t become idol worshippers but will worship it this one time, and ask God for forgiveness; 3) The king has absolute power, and we must obey him, God will understand; 4) The king appointed us- we owe this to him; 5) This is a foreign land, so God will excuse us for following the customs of the land; 6) Our ancestors set up idols in God’s Temple! This isn’t half as bad; 7) We are not hurting anybody!; and 8) If we get ourselves killed and some pagans take our high positions, they won’t help our people in exile. Although some of these excuses may sound reasonable at first, they are dangerous rationalizations. To fall down and worship the image would violate God’s command in Exodus 20:3, “you must not have any other god but me”. It would also erase their testimony for God forever. (And Veggie Tales would have never had a song for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.)
Nebuchadnezzar had forgotten that when Daniel interpreted the mysterious dream, he exclaimed to Daniel, “Your God is indeed the God of gods” (2:47). Vanity, pride and arrogance are all poison that affects our relationships with others and especially with God. It certainly did to Nebuchadnezzar. The three men had been put in apposition that found themselves at a fork in their road.
Read Daniel 3:16-18
Courage knows that there is a moment to be quiet and remain silent and a moment to stand up and speak out. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were pressured to deny God, but they chose to be faithful to Him no matter what happened. They trusted God to deliver them, but they were determined to be faithful regardless of the consequences. If God always recused those who were true to Him, Christians would not need faith. Their religion would be a great insurance policy, and there would be lines of selfish people ready to sign up. We should be faithful to serve God whether He intervenes on our behalf or not. Our eternal reward is worth any suffering we may have to endure first.
The friends’ reply is one of the most remarkable affirmations of faith to be found in the Scriptures. Their faith was comparable to that of Abraham, who was willing to sacrifice his own son if God required it (Gen. 22). With scorn for the consequences they informed the king that their God was able to deliver them from the king and from the fiery furnace itself. Such an answer in the presence of the monarch who had absolute authority over the lives of his subjects was extremely courageous and demonstrated their faith, but their next words were an even more profound expression of their faith. They added that even if God did not deliver them from the fire, they would not worship the golden statue (v.18). Their faith was not dependent on favorable circumstances like that of some people who are “fair-weather” believers. They affirm their love for God if things are going well, but if calamity or misfortune strikes these “fair-weather” believers, they may turn and blame God for their distress.
Genuine faith is the “in-spite-of-circumstances” kind expressed in Habakkuk 3:17-18. The three friends had the “in-spite-of” kind of faith that was not dependent on physical deliverance from the king’s wrath. The courage of the three young men was based on a conviction that whatever happened, God would still reign. The three men did not presume upon God by claiming that He would deliver them, only that, if He chose, He could do so. They trusted God fully. No matter what God chose to do, they would not worship the king’s statue.
Read Daniel 3:26-28
Their refusal to yield only angered the king more. He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times the usual temperature and to cast the men bound and clothed into the fire. At this point, the enemies of the three had to be overjoyed. The flames that leaped from the furnace consumed the soldiers who cast the three into the fire (v.22). Nebuchadnezzar was astonished to see a fourth person in the fire and that none of them was harmed by the flames. He said the appearance of the fourth person was like a “son of the gods”, that is some king of supernatural being (v. 25 and 28). He realized that the supernatural being was protecting the Jews from harm. The King James Version translates the expression as “the Son of God,” which would suggest an appearance of Jesus in the furnace; this was an ancient interpretation of the church. How the pagan king could identify Jesus, who had not yet been incarnated, would be difficult to explain except as a unique revelation. Either translation can be justified because the word can properly be translated as a singular Hebrew word, God, or as a plural word, gods. However, the Aramaic equivalent is always plural, unless this is one exception.
God’s deliverance of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego was a great victory of faith for the Jews in captivity. They were protected from harm, they were comforted in trial, God was glorified, and they were rewarded. This should makes us want to be true to God no matter how difficult the pressure or punishment. God’s protection transcends anything we could imagine. These young men had been completely untouched by the fire and heat. Only the rope that bound them had been burned. No human can bind us if God want us to be free. The power available to us is the same that delivered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and raised Christ from the dead (Ephesians 1:18-20). Trust God in every situation. There are eternal reasons for temporary trials, so be thankful that our destiny is in God’s hands, not in human hands.
The king ordered their immediate release. All those present saw that the flames did not harm their bodies or their clothes. The pagan king acknowledged that their God had delivered them and issued a decree, making the worship of their God lawful. He warned that anyone who even spoke a word against the Jews would be torn limb from limb and their house destroyed. As further evidence of his newfound respect for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, the king promoted them to higher positions in the province of Babylon. Their enemies’ plot to see them destroyed had backfired, and now the Jews were in even higher favor with the king.
This story of courageous faith in the face of unjustified persecution has been a source of strength through the centuries for Jews and anyone else who has experienced persecution for their faith. “Be strong and courageous”!!!

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DEVELOP CONVICTIONS

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DEVELOP CONVICTION FOR GOD
We have all assimilated (adjusted over time) to some degree to the culture in which we live. Most of us remember seeing or hearing about a time when nearly all men wore hats. If you have ever watched some of the TCM movies of the 40’s and early 50’s, you couldn’t miss the hat wearers when men appeared in public. Today, almost no man wears hats as part of business casual or dressier attire. Today we see a lot of baseball-type hats. Our understanding, customs, and traditions all grow out of our culture. That’s not necessarily bad, but it becomes an issue when those customs and practices conflict with the biblical standards to which God calls us. Today our assimilated culture wants us to accept a culture that runs totally against the convictions of all who have determined to follow Christ. The Book of Daniel shows us a man who had convictions and lived out those convictions in a culture that called for a different standard.
Read Daniel 1:3-5
As the Book of Daniel begins, it indicates that Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon invaded Jerusalem “in the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah” (v.1). The destruction of Jerusalem occurred in three stages. The third and ultimate stage in the fall of Jerusalem occurred in 586 BC, when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Solomon’s temple. He took another large population of Hebrews to Babylon and left the city impoverished and in ruins. This further weakened the entire Southern Kingdom (Judah) although it still existed. Nearly 20 years before, in the first stage, 605 BC, Nebuchadnezzar took some of the best and brightest captive, including Daniel and his friends (Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah- all Hebrew names).
Nebuchadnezzar’s purpose in taking a number of choice young men to Babylon was for training them in the Babylonian language, history and culture for three years. They were chosen for their unexcelled physical appearance and superior intelligence. At the end of their training, the king planned to place them in his service. He promised these talented young leaders a better life in their Babylonian exile than they would have had in the war-ravished homeland. The Israelites were to be from the royal family and from the nobility. They were to be “young men”. The Hebrew term translated “young men” could refer to children or older youth, likely age 14 or 15 (in keeping with the Babylonian customs). So Daniel and his friends were quite young when they were brought to Babylon. They were to be “without any physical defect, good-looking” and to be teachable. As a part of their total immersion in Babylonian life, the king gave them the same rich food he ate and the wine he drank.
Most of the inhabitants of Babylonia over time assimilated to what we know today as Suni’s (now the group called ISIS are Suni’s). It should be noted that the group that helped the Hebrews get back to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple where Persians, headed by Cyrus. They assimilated to what we know today as Shites.
Verse 4 calls language and literature “Chaldean”, which was practically synonymous with the term Babylonian. In some instances, Chaldean referred to a professional category of wise men and seers. The common language of Babylon was Aramaic, while the language of scholarship included the ancient and complicate Babylonia language. The academic program would have included mathematics, astronomy, history, science, and magic. These young men demonstrated not only aptitude but also discipline. This character trait, combined with integrity, served the well in their new culture. The entire learning process required three years. It was designed to completely reshape their thinking and lifestyle and fully persuade the trainees to embrace the Babylonian culture.
Read Daniel 1:8-13
In the previous verse 7, we are told about the name changes of Daniel and his three friends. These young men were four from the tribe of Judah and were given names in Hebrew that meant something special: Daniel (God is my judge), Hananiah (the Lord has been gracious), Mishael (Who is what God is), and Azariah (The Lord has helped). As part of their total “Babylonization”, they were given Babylonian names: Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. This was done not by their choice but for the convenience of the Babylonians and also as a reminder that they were under Babylonian authority. There is some uncertainly about the exact meaning of their Babylonian names, but several of the new names contain references to Babylonian deities.
Daniel resolved not to eat the rich food given to him by Nebuchadnezzar, either because it was forbidden by Jewish law, such as pork (Leviticus 11), or because accepting the king’s food and drink was the first step toward depending on his gifts and favors. Although Daniel was in a culture that did not honor God, he still obeyed God’s law. Daniel “was determined” to be devoted to principle and to be committed to a course of action. When Daniel made up his mind not to defile himself, he was being true to a lifelong determination to do what was right and not to give in to the pressures around him. We, too, are often assaulted by pressures to compromise our standards and live more like the world around us. Merely wanting or preferring God’s will and way is not enough to stand against the onslaught of temptation. Like Daniel, we must resolve to obey God.
It is easier to resist temptation if we have thought through our convictions before the temptation arises. Daniel and his friends mad their decision to be faithful to the laws of God before they were faced with the king’s “delicacies”. So they did not hesitate to stick with their convictions. We will get into trouble if we have not previously decided where to draw the line. Before such situation arise, decide on your commitments and what you will do. Determine that there is a “line that you will not cross”! Then when temptation comes, we will be ready to say no.
Verse 9 tells us that God moved with an unseen hand to change the heart of the Babylonian official. The strong moral conviction of these four young men made an impact. God promises to be with His people in times of trial and temptation (Psalm 106:46; Isaiah 43:2-5; 1 Corinthians 10:13). His active intervention often comes just when we take a stand for Him. Stand for God and trust Him to protect us in ways we may not be able to see. Anything short of complete obedience meant execution of the officials who served Nebuchadnezzar. Even in such a small matter as this, the official feared for his life. But God was in this and all were spared. The Babylonians were trying to change the thinking of all these young men by giving them a Babylonian education, their loyalty by changing their names, and their life-style by changing their diet. Without compromising, Daniel found a way to live by God’s standards in a culture that did not honor God. Wisely choosing to negotiate rather than to rebel, Daniel suggested an experimental 10-day diet of vegetables and water instead of the royal foods and wine the king offered. (Was this the beginning of Vegetarians?). Without compromising, Daniel quickly thought of a practical, creative solution that saved his life and the lives of his companions. As God’s people, we may adjust to our culture as long as we do not compromise God’s laws.
Read Daniel 1:17-19
Daniel and his friends learned all they could about their new culture so they could do their work with excellence. But while they learned, they maintained steadfast allegiance to God and God gave them skill and wisdom. Culture need not be God’s enemy. If it does not violate His commands, it can aid in accomplishing His purpose. We who follow God are free to be competent leaders in our culture, but we are required to pledge our allegiance to God first.
It was written that Nebuchadnezzar was so impressed, “No one was found equal”. At the end of the three years all young men of Judah who had been subjected to the king’s training were brought before him. It was obvious that Daniel and his three friends were superior in every way, so Nebuchadnezzar gave them responsible positions in his court (this is the meaning of “they stood before the king” v.19). The king even discovered to his surprise that the four friends were infinitely superior to his own magicians and enchanters. The chapter closes with at statement that Daniel remained in Babylon until the first year of the reign of Cyrus, the Persian ruler who successfully overthrew the Babylonian empire in 539 BC (v. 21).
We must rest in the knowledge that God is always at work to perfect His purpose even in dark and dangerous times. When it appears that the ruler of our times is named “despair”, we can take comfort that God rules beyond a temporary dimension of time and He can overrule our despair. When we strive to live as Jesus’ ambassadors and stand on our convictions in such a way that we, like Daniel, become known as transformers – not conformers (Romans 12:2).

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REVELATION OF MOSES

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FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN: THE WHISPER OF GOD

Read 1 Kings 19: 9-12

Moses is not the only great Bible figure who met God on Mount Sinai. Hundreds of years later, Elijah met God there too. Although they ministered in different places and during different times in Israel’s history, both Moses and Elijah played prominent roles in shepherding the flock of God’s people. Some of their experiences with God are remarkably similar.

For example: both Moses and Elijah were called prophets who served God passionately as they fulfilled their respective roles in His plan for redeeming the world. Both confronted God’s people for chasing after pagan gods and led his people back to faithfulness. They both went to the same mountain (perhaps even the same cave?) where God showed Himself to these faithful men who loved and lived the biblical text. Both men boldly declared their desires to God, who rewarded them by allowing them to experience Him in extraordinarily intimate ways. There, one-on-one with God on His holy mountain, but mercifully sheltered from full exposure to His mighty presence, they witnessed His awesome power. More importantly, they experienced His gentleness, mercy, and love- and that transformed their lives. Even their death experiences shared a strange, holy quality that is unlike that of any other Bible characters.

The story and testimony of these great men of God did not come to an end, even in death. In a sense they “returned” together- on another mountain, in another place, at another time, to herald a third great prophetic figure of the Bible whose life in some ways echoed their own. In an event known by Christians as the transfiguration, Jesus was mysteriously transformed by divine power in the company of Moses and Elijah, sending a powerful message that Jesus was indeed the Son of God. This central story in the Christian text is deeply rooted in the stories of Moses and Elijah and was anticipated in the Jewish traditions of the time.

The gentleness, mercy, and love that Jesus demonstrated throughout His earthly life reaffirmed the character of God- the same aspects of His character that He revealed to Moses and Elijah on Mount Sinai. As Moses and Elijah- and so many people since ancient times- discovered, God’s awesome power makes an impact, but God’s gentleness, mercy, an love are what transforms people. Jesus, the Son of God., whose life echoed the intimate whisper heard by Moses and Elijah, ultimately set the example we should follow as we step into our role in fulfilling God’s plan for redeeming the world.  So let’s explore the lives of Moses and Elijah as they came to the mountain of God. Through them we will not only recognize the Creator of the universe as He revealed Himself to and through them, but we will better understand Jesus the Messiah and the ways by which He revealed the very nature of God through His own ministry and person.

.What it means to be a servant of God. A life in God’s hands!!!!

The life story of Moses shows God’s purposeful preparation of the man who would be “ as God to Pharaoh” and bring God’s people out of bondage in Egypt. Moses would be God’s partner in shaping God’s people into His “treasured possession”, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Ex. 19:5-6). He would be God’s instrument in providing the Torah, the document of Cod’s covenant with His people. And he would become the paradigm for all godly prophets to follow.

Even during the dark times for the Hebrew people as the days of brutal enslavement by the Egyptians, God was at work in the lives and hearts of His people. Although some of His chosen people turned away from Him to worship Egyptian gods, others remained faithful to the God of their ancestors. Consider, for example, Moses’ parents and grandparents. Moses’ mother was named Jochebed, which in Hebrew means “praise the Lord”. His father was named Amram, which means “exalted nation or people”. What kind of faith would cause slaves to give their children names that expressed such bold optimism and hope? Further, what kind of parents would defy the Pharaoh in order to preserve the life of their newborn son? When hiding baby Moses at home was no longer possible, his mother chose a place where Moses would be found and likely cared for. The Nile River is frequently crocodile infested, and a princess would not bathe in public, so it seems that Jochebed put the basket with Moses inside was hidden in the reeds of a channel close to the palace. It is likely that Moses’ sister was watching over him and expected someone to find him. Miriam, Moses’ sister, asked the princess if she could find a nurse for the child and the nurse turned out to be Moses’ own mother.  Certainly Jochebed took every opportunity to nurture Moses’ mind and character, and teach him the traditions of his ancestors. The princess gave Moses the best education and training that Egypt could offer.

But why did this all fit together? Surely it was part of God’s plan and He worked it out.

Isn’t it amazing to see the powerful way in which God works to raise up partners in His plan to reclaim His world! So this should help us all to understand what it means for a person’s life to be in God’s hands. It tells us everything about God’s commitment to train and prepare His people to be partners in His plan.

Elijah, like Moses, demonstrated great passion for God and expanded great physical and spiritual effort in order to lead God’s people into life of faithful obedience to God. Like Moses, Elijah climbed mountains, confronted kings, and crossed deserts. He saw God work in mighty ways and sought to know God as one would an intimate friend. Elijah remains the picture of an impassioned servant of God- the model of a person who served God wholeheartedly. By studying his life and discovering the depth of his commitments, perhaps we will cultivate a deeper passion for obeying and experiencing God in our lives. One of the qualities that demonstrated Elijah’s fire for the Lord was his bold obedience to do whatever God commanded. When God gave Elijah a message to tell the king what was taking place in Israel, Elijah did not hesitate (1 Kings 16:29-33; 17:1-3). Then the confrontation Elijah arranged between himself (as the prophet of the Lord) and the prophets of Baal was no easy task, and it was done with great personal risk to Elijah.

No one knows exactly where the 1 Kings 18 events occurred on Mount Carmel, but the distance would be at least two miles and more than a thousand-foot climb. Elijah then went to Mount Horeb, which if it is the traditional Mount Sinai, is more than 190 miles away, and it could have been much further. Elijah is utterly exhausted after the events on Mount Carmel and Jezebel’s threat on his life (1 Kings 19:1-4. Even so, he walked nearly two hundred additional miles before reaching Mount Horeb, where God met him (1 Kings 19:9-18). Because Elijah passionately and obediently served Go, God accomplished mush through him. When Elijah’s days on earth were fulfilled, God designated Elisha to succeed him. Remember Elisha asked for a “double portion” of Elijah’s spirit even though Elijah had warned him that he was asking for a difficult thing (2 Kings 2:9-12). But James reminds us that “Elijah was a man just like us” (James 5:17-18). This tells us that God arranges all of this!

Faith Lesson

No figure in the Hebrew Bible is more central than Moses, who is called “the servant of the Lord”.  In the Christian testament, Moses is mentioned more often than any other Hebrew Bible figure, and these references emphasize parallels between the work of Moses and Jesus. Moses prefigured, prophesied, and prepared for the Messiah’s coming. As servants of the Lord, both Moses and Elijah had a deep faith in God. They encountered opposition and wrestled with the burden of God’s will, yet they obediently submitted to Him and asked for God’s mercy when others disobeyed God’s commands.

Closing

Read Joshua 22:5—“Be careful to keep the commandments and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to obey His commands, to hold fast to Him and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul”.

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