Daniel 6

Daniel given a high position in government verse 1- 3

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes

which should be over the whole kingdom

AND over these three presidents – of whom Daniel was first

that the princes might give accounts unto them

AND the king should have no damage

THEN this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes

BECAUSE an excellent spirit was in him

and the king thought to set him over the whole realm

Other government workers looked for faults in Daniel verse 4- 5

THEN the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel

concerning the kingdom

BUT they could find none occasion nor fault

FORASMUCH as he was faithful

neither was there any error or fault found in him

THEN said these men

We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel

except we find it against him

concerning the law of his God

Plot to kill Daniel verse 6- 9

THEN these presidents and princes assembled together to the king

and said thus unto him – King Darius – live for ever

All the presidents of the kingdom – the governors- the princes

counselors – captains

have consulted together to establish a royal statute

and to make a firm decree

that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God

or man for thirty days – save of you

O king – he shall be cast into the den of lions

NOW – O king – establish the decree and sign the writing

that it be not changed – according to the law of the Medes

and Persians – which alters not

WHEREFORE King Darius signed the writing and the decree

Daniel continued to pray three times a day verse 10- 13

NOW when Daniel knew that the writing was signed

he went into his house and his windows

being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem

he kneeled upon his knees three times a day

and prayed and gave thanks

before his God

as he did aforetime

THEN these men assembled

and found Daniel praying and making supplication

before his God

THEN they came near – and spoke before the king

concerning the king’s decree

Have you not signed a decree

that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man

within thirty days – save of you – O king

shall be cast into the den of lions?

The king answered and said – The thing is true

according to the law of the Medes and Persians

which alters not

THEN answered they and said before the king – That Daniel

which is of the children of the captivity of Judah

regarding not you – O king

nor the decree that you have signed

but makes his petition

three times a day

King looked for ways to save Daniel verse 14

THEN the king – when he heard these words

WAS SORE DISPLEASED WITH HIMSELF

and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him

and he labored till the going down of the sun

to deliver him

Other government workers reminded king of law verse 15

THEN these men assembled unto the king – and said unto the king

Know – O king – that the law of the Medes and Persian is

That no decree nor statute which the king establishes

may be changed

King ordered Daniel into lion’s den verse 16

THEN the king commanded – and they brought Daniel

and cast him into the den of lions

Now the king spoke and said unto Daniel

Your God WHOM you serves continually

HE will deliver you

Daniel sealed in lion’s den verse 17

AND a stone was brought – and laid upon the mouth of the den

AND the king sealed it with his own signet

and with the signet of his lords that the purpose

might not be changed concerning Daniel

King fasted for Daniel verse 18

THEN the king went to his palace – and passed the night fasting

neither were instruments of music brought before him

and his sleep went from him

King checked on Daniel in the morning verse 19- 20

THEN the king arose very early in the morning

and went in haste unto the den of lions

and when he came to the den

he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel

and the king spoke and said to Daniel

O Daniel – servant of the living God

Is your God whom you serve continually able

to deliver you from the lions?

Daniel told of an angel coming verse 21- 23

THEN said Daniel unto the king – O king – live for ever

My God has sent his angel – and has shut the lions’ mouths

that they have not hurt me

forasmuch as before HIM

innocency was found in me

And also before you – O king – have I done no hurt

THEN was the king exceedingly glad for him

and commanded that they should take Daniel

up out of the den

SO Daniel was taken up out of the den

and no manner of hurt was found upon him

BECAUSE he believed in his God

King orders other government workers into lion’s den verse 24

AND the king commanded

and they brought those men which had accused Daniel

and they cast them into the den of lions

them – their children – their wives

and the lions had the mastery of them

and brake all their bones in pieces

or ever they came at the bottom of the den

King sends a decree around the land glorifying God verse 25- 27

THEN King Darius wrote unto all the people – nations – languages

that dwell in all the earth

Peace be multiplied unto you

I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men

tremble and fear before the God of Daniel

FOR HE is the living God – and steadfast for ever

and HIS kingdom that which shall not be destroyed

and HIS dominion shall be even unto the end

HE delivers and rescues

and HE works signs and wonders

in heaven and in earth

WHO has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions

Daniel continued to prosper verse 28

SO this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius

and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian

COMMENTARY:

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers

:4Then the president and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. (540 “faithful” [‘aman] means to be reliable or trustworthy, worthy of trust or belief, to bring faith to, depend on, or sure)

DEVOTION: Once we become a believer in Jesus Christ and state it to others they are going to watch us to see if they can find anything that we do wrong. Some do it to help you grow but others do it to find fault and make fun of you.

Daniel was in a position of power in a heathen government. The people he worked with didn’t like him. They wanted his position and so they looked to find him doing something wrong.

The problem was that he lived a consistent Christian life. He did his homework each night. He did all his work while on the job or in school. It was hard for them to find something he was doing wrong.

However, they knew one of his habits was to pray three times a day to the LORD. So they went to the king and told them that he should make a decree that no one could consult anyone except the king. The king liked the idea without even thinking about Daniel. He passed the decree, and in his government when he said something there was nothing he could do or anyone else could do to change it.

Daniel went home and prayed like he always did and they told the king. Daniel knew he was breaking the law of the king but he knew his relationship with God was more important than obeying a manmade rule.

We have to be faithful to the LORD every day no matter what people might say. Even if the government tells you to stop doing what God tells you to do, you must do it. God is more important than manmade rules.

CHALLENGE: Prayer is a very important part of growing up as a believer. Talk to God often. Dare to be a Daniel!!

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers

: 10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God , as he did aforetime. (6739 “prayed” [ts@la’ (Aramaic)] means entreat, to address a deity, or make intercession)

DEVOTION: Civil disobedience is recorded here regarding Daniel. The king had issued a decree to all in the land that they were not to petition anyone God or man for thirty days. This was an act by men who were jealous of Daniel and wanted him dead. The penalty for disobedience was to be thrown into a den of lions.

Daniel knew about the decree of the king. He still went home and opened a window for all to see and entreated the LORD. He prayed three times a day on a regular basis and would not change this Biblical discipline no matter what.

His procedure was to fall on his knees toward Jerusalem and pray for the LORD to work in his life. He always gave thanks. He always gave supplications for his people. We have been taught to pray in an ACTS way to the LORD in many churches. That is Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication.

Now Daniel is in trouble with the local authorities. All the other leaders didn’t like him because he is faithful and they are not. He did his work right. He was worthy of his position.

They were jealous. They have a solution: get rid of Daniel. They plot on how to get rid of him. They succeeded in their plot to have him placed in a position where if he makes intercession to the LORD, he will be put in a lion’s den.

How did they succeed? They lied to the king. They told him that ALL the presidents agreed to the decree but Daniel was one of the presidents and he didn’t agree. It was a bold face lie and they fooled the king into believing it.

Daniel knew that the decree is signed and that it can’t be changed. He knew that he will go into the lion’s den if he makes intercession. He makes intercession anyway. He is faithful to the LORD on a daily basis. The enemy accuses him and wins. He is put in the lion’s den. The LORD delivers him.

Does this always happen? NO!!! Some people who are faithful die but not all. We are commanded to be faithful stewards of the LORD. HE has given us a responsibility to fulfill while we are on this earth. HE has gifted us. HE has given us open doors. HE is with us.

We have the challenge to be faithful and go through the doors HE opens for us. Do we always know what will happen? NO. Should we trust the LORD and remain faithful? YES! Should we pray daily? YES! To obey God rather than man is always best!!!

CHALLENGE: Praying three times a day is a good habit. Pray for your family in the morning. Pray for those on your email list according to the letter of the day at noon. Pray for your relationship to the LORD each night, so that, when you face the next day you have HIS power at your disposal.

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep went from him. (2908 “fasting” [tavath] means hungrily, not having taken food, to abstain from food, or without eating. One of the disciplines of the faith is to fast on occasions.)

DEVOTION: The children of Israel were to all fast one time a year on the Day of Atonement. No one was to eat any food on that day. It was the time when the High Priest went into the Holy of Holies with a special sacrifice for himself and for the people. He wore bells on the bottom of his garment with a rope tied around his leg. If he didn’t confess his sins he would die. If he offered the wrong sacrifice he would die. If he did anything wrong in the Holy of Holies he would die.

Today we are commanded to fast and pray when we have major decisions to make as an individual or couple. Fasting and prayer go together when we want to seek advice from the LORD.

Here we find a heathen king fasting for a servant of the LORD. Daniel was in the lion’s den for a night. The king wasn’t sure that Daniel would be delivered. He wanted to do all he could to help Daniel. He knew he was tricked by his other workers into doing this to Daniel because of their jealousy.

The LORD answered the prayers of Daniel and the fasting of the king. The king sent out a decree stating his belief in the God of Daniel.

At the beginning of the Methodist movement the Wesley’s required all their pastors to fast twice a week. It is not happening today but they knew the power of fasting and prayer. Their work moved across America.

CHALLENGE: Individuals, couples and churches each need to have times of fasting and prayer today. Our world needs the work of the LORD to go forward and it can only happen with fasting and prayer

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: 26 I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, and steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall endure to the end. (7011 “steadfast” [qayam] means sure, secure, enduring, long lasting, enduring, abiding, or determined.)

DEVOTION: Here we have a heathen king who made a commitment to the God of Daniel. Remember that he witnessed Daniel being spared from the lions. It made an impression on him to the end that he declared that Daniel served a LIVING GOD.

When we are consistent with our testimony for the LORD people notice and want to know more about your God. This happened to me in high school a hundred years ago. I was on the wrestling team at our school. We had a coach that took wresters to the state championships almost every year. It was a hard group of teens. No one in the school bothered a wrestler because they would have to face the whole team if they did. I had an experience with someone trying to give me a hard time and the other wrestlers warned him to stay away and it worked. They were a team.

Also, they knew I was a Christian and were looking for anything that would affect my testimony. I stayed consistent and it got to the point that some would come to me with their prayer requests. God honored my faithfulness.

He will honor your faithfulness as well. Are we always going to do what is right? No but we can try to be consistent, so that, people know who we are on a regular basis. They will accept some down times.

CHALLENGE: Keep a consistent testimony and people will either love you or hate you. The LORD will be one who continues to love you.

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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:

BODY

Chastity (Purity in living)

Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)

King Darius fasted for Daniel verse 18

Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)

Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)

Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)

SOUL

Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)

Frugality (wise use of resources)

Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)

Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)

Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)

SPIRIT

Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)

Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)

Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)

Daniel prayed three times a day verse 10, 11, 13

Daniel gave thanks in his prayers verse 10

Daniel made supplications in his prayers verse 11

Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)

Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)

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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

Law verse 5

God the Father (First person of the Godhead)

God – elahh (Aramaic) verse 5, 7, 10- 12, 16, 20, 22, 23, 26

Law of his God verse 5

Living God verse 20, 26

God of Daniel verse 26

God who delivers and rescues verse 27

God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)

God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)

Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)

Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)

God sent an angel to shut lions mouth verse 22

Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)

Darius verse 1- 28

Signed into law a decree against consulting any god for thirty day or go to lion’s den

Sore displeased with himself regarding his decree

Set his heart on Daniel to deliver him

He labored until the going down of the sun

Ordered Daniel into the den of lions

Spoke to Daniel: Your God whom you

continually, HE will deliver you

Sealed the den with his own signet

with the signet of his lords

Went to his palace and passed the night

fasting, neither were instruments

of music brought before him and

his sleep went from him

Arose very early in the morning and went

in hast to the den of lions

Cried with lamentable voice to Daniel

O Daniel, servant of the living God

Is your God, whom you serve continually

able to deliver you from the lions?

King was glad Daniel was not hurt by lions

and commanded that he be taken out of den of lions

Wrote to all people, nations and languages that

dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied

to you – I make a decree, that in every

dominion of my kingdom men tremble and

fear before the God of Daniel: for HE is the

living God, and steadfast for ever and HIS

kingdom that which shall not be destroyed

and HIS dominion shall be even unto the end

HE delivered and rescued and he works signs

and wonders in heaven and in earth, who has

delivered Daniel from the power of the lions

Presidents and Princes verse 3- 15, 24

Three presidents

Twenty princes

Wanted to find occasion against Daniel

Looked for fault in Daniel regarding

the law of his God

Met with king against Daniel

Assembled against Daniel after he

continued to pray to God

Found Daniel praying and making

Supplication before his God

Confronted the king about Daniel

praying

Those that accused Daniel were cast into

den of lions – they, their children,

and their wives – lion had mastery

over them and broke all their bones

in pieces or ever they came at the

bottom of the den

Governors verse 7, 15

Counsellors verse 7, 15

Captains verse 7, 15

Wanted anyone who asks petition of

any God or man for thirty days – save only

the king shall be cast into den of lions verse 7

Reminded king that no decree nor statue

which the king established may be

changed verse 15

Law of the Medes and Persians – which alters

not verse 8, 12, 15

Den of lions verse 12, 16, 19, 20- 24, 27

Lords verse 17

Cyrus the Persian verse 28

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)

Find occasion against believer verse 4, 5, 7, 11

Lie verse 7

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)

Excellent spirit verse 3

Faithful verse 4

No error or fault found verse 4

Prayer warrior: on knees three times a day verse 10

Thanksgiving verse 10

Habit of daily prayer verse 10

Deliverance verse 16, 20, 27

Servant verse 16, 20

Innocency verse 22

No hurt verse 22

Faith verse 23

Prospers verse 28

Israel (Old Testament people of God)

Daniel verse 2- 28

First president in kingdom

Over all the others in kingdom

Excellent spirit was in him

Others could not find occasion or

fault against him

He was faithful

Neither was there any fault

or error found

Knew of writing against him but

still kneeled toward Jerusalem

three times a day to God

Knew God could deliver him from lions

Prayed and gave thanks to God

Part of the children of the captivity

of Judah

Told king that “My God sent his angel

and has shut the lions mouths

that they have not hurt me

Spared because of his belief in his God

He prospered in the reign of Darius

and in the reign of Cyrus the

Persian

Jerusalem verse 10

Children of the captivity of Judah verse 13

God of Daniel verse 26

Church (New Testament people of God)

Last Things (Future Events)

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QUOTES regarding passage

6:26 [27] Next he decreed that people throughout his kingdom should “fear” (zûaʿ, “tremble”; cf. 5:19) and “reverence” (dĕḥal) the God of Daniel. Reasons for such respect are named in vv. 26–27. Yahweh is the “living,” eternal (“endures forever”) God whose sovereignty will never end.

6:27 [28] Darius proclaimed that Yahweh is great because he protects (“rescues” and “saves”) his followers from harm and is able to perform great miracles. Both “signs” (ʾātîn) and “wonders” (timhîn) refer specifically to miracles. Concerning the miracles “in the heavens,” it is not clear if particular miracles or merely the wonders of the universe in general are in view. The miracle the Lord had performed on earth was the rescue of Daniel “from the power [lit., “hand”] of the lions.” Any god who is able to work this kind of marvel certainly should be feared.

The purpose of miracles is set forth in this passage. Miracles are not wrought by God to “show off” but to demonstrate to a lost world that he is the true God and should be honored. Neither was Daniel delivered primarily for his own benefit but so that the Lord could manifest to a lost king and a lost world his reality and power (cf. Exod 20:18–20; Deut 2:25; Josh 2:9). (Miller, S. R. (1994). Daniel (Vol. 18, p. 189). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)

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25–27 As Nebuchadnezzar had done, Darius made a public proclamation giving glory to the God of the Hebrews, commanding all citizens of the realm to honor and respect him (v.25). The sense of vv.26–27 is like the last clause of 3:29 (“no other god can save in this way”—i.e., the way the three were saved from the fiery furnace) and like 4:34 (“His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation”—words Nebuchadnezzar spoke on recovering from his madness).

Three emphases stand out in this passage: (1) Daniel’s God is alive and shows that he lives by the way he acts in history, responding, like a real person, to the requirements of justice and the needs of his people; (2) God’s rule is eternal and will never pass away (as do empires built by human power), even though the Hebrew monarchy did not survive its apostasy; (3) God miraculously delivers his true worshipers performing wonders both in heaven and on earth. He has furnished objective proof of his eternal power and godhead, in contrast with all other deities, whose existence is at best conjectural and traditional.

Once again, during this time of Israel’s helplessness with her survival in doubt, Yahweh of hosts acted redemptively to strengthen his people’s faith in him. On the eve of their return to the Land of Promise under the leadership of Zerubbabel, God reassured them that he was still the same as in the days of Moses and was able to take them back to Canaan, where they could establish a new commonwealth in covenant fellowship with him. (Archer, G. L., Jr. (1986). Daniel. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Daniel and the Minor Prophets (Vol. 7, p. 83). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)

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The Lord was glorified (Dan. 6:25–27). But Darius did more than execute the criminals. He also issued a decree to the whole empire, commanding his subjects to show fear and reverence to the God of Daniel, the God of the Hebrew exiles (vv. 25–27). Darius’ first decree in this chapter declared that he was god (vv. 7–9), but this second decree declared that the God of the Hebrews was the true and living God! In doing this, Darius joined King Nebuchadnezzar by giving public testimony to the power and glory of the true and living God (2:47; 3:28–29; 4:1–3, 34–37). God could have kept Daniel out of the lions’ den, but by rescuing him from the lions, God received greater glory.

The Jews had been humiliated by the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple because their defeat made it look as though the false gods of the Babylonians were stronger than the true God of Israel. The idolatry of the Jewish people, especially their kings and priests, had brought about the ruin of Judah, and the Lord used an idolatrous nation to defeat them. Jehovah hadn’t been honored by His own people, but now He was receiving praise from pagan rulers whose decrees would be published throughout the Gentile world. These decrees were a witness to the Gentiles that there was but one true God, the God of the Jews; but the decrees were also a reminder to the Jews that Jehovah was the true and living God. The Jewish exiles were surrounded by idols and were constantly tempted to worship the gods of the conquerors. What a paradox that the Jews, who were supposed to be witnesses to the Gentiles of the true and living God, were being witnessed to by the Gentiles!

The theology expressed in the decree of Darius is as true as anything written by Moses, David, or Paul. Jehovah is the living and eternal God whose kingdom will never be destroyed (v. 26; see Deut. 5:26; Josh. 3:10; Ps. 42:2; Jer. 10:10; Ps. 145:13; Rev. 11:15). He is the God who saves people and rescues them from danger and death, and who performs signs and wonders (Dan. 6:27; see 3:28–29; 4:3; Deut. 6:22; Neh. 9:10; Pss. 74:9; 105:26–36; 135:9; Jer. 32:20–21). (Wiersbe, W. W. (2000). Be resolute (pp. 82–83). Colorado Springs, CO: Victor.)

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6:25–27 Darius the king wrote. Impacted by Daniel and by the Lord, he expressed himself as if he had come to a point of personal trust in God for his salvation such as Nebuchadnezzar (cf. 4:1–3, 34–37). Daniel illustrated the evangelistic potency of a godly, uncompromising life. Cf. Mt 5:48. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Da 6:25–27). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)

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Ver. 26. I make a decree, that in every dominion of my kingdom, &c.] In every province of his large empire; this explains who are meant by all people, nations, &c. before mentioned; namely, such as were within his dominions; for to no other could his decree reach: this decree is very different from that he had made a few days before, forbidding any man to ask any thing of any god or man for the space of a month; but now his order is, that men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; that they would serve with fear and trembling, and reverence and adore the God that Daniel served and worshipped; and who manifestly appeared to be his God, and to be the true God, by his wonderful deliverance of him: for he is the living God, and steadfast for ever; that has life in himself, and is the author and giver of life to others, and ever remains so, without any variation or shadow of turning; he is everlasting and unchangeable, permanent and immutable in his nature; steady and steadfast in his purposes and promises, in his conduct in the government of the world, and in the course of his providences: and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end; unto the end of time; other kingdoms will be destroyed, but his will not; all other rule, dominion, and authority, will be at an end, but his will continue forever; his kingdom is an everlasting one: this doctrine Darius had learned from Daniel, as Nebuchadnezzar before had done; see ch. 2:44 and 4:3.

Ver. 27. He delivereth and rescueth, &c.] As he did the three companions of Daniel from the fiery furnace, and now Daniel himself from the lions’ den: and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth; which are out of the common course of nature, and not according to the laws of it; such as hindering the natural force of fire from burning, as in the case of the three children; and stopping the mouths of lions from devouring Daniel, as follows: who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions; or, from the hand of them; from their destroying paws, and devouring jaws; which was nothing less than a miracle, and a proof of the divine omnipotence, and of his power of doing wonders. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 6, pp. 317–318). London: Mathews and Leigh.)

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FROM MY READING:

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 3:13–14

[Paul] cultivated a wise forgetfulness.

And what are some of the things that we ought to forget? We ought to forget our blunders. How many blunders we all make! Learn how to make them bridges over which we will span the chasms and go to better days.

We are to learn how to forget our losses. In human life losses of all kinds come. No one is to whine and mope because losses come. We are to learn to get past them and to forget them.

We are to learn how to forget life’s injuries. Refuse to let them rankle like poisons in the heart and thus vitiate every high thing that the spirit should hold most dear.

We are to learn how to forget our successes. There is danger in success. A person who can bear success can bear anything. Easier far can the human spirit bear adversity than it can bear prosperity, for the human spirit is lifted up. If we do not learn what success is for, the day comes for our undoing and our downfall and our defeat.

We are to learn how to forget our sorrows—and sooner or later these sorrows come to us, each and all. We are to take these sorrows to the great, refining, overruling Master and ask him so to dispose, so to rule and overrule in them and with them that we may come out of them all refined and disciplined, the better educated and more useful. You are to learn how to so have it woven into the warp and woof of your life that you will not be weaker and worse for the sorrow but will be richer and stronger and better because of such sorrow.

We are to learn how to forget our sins. If Paul had not learned how to forget his sins he would have been crippled utterly. Paul consented to the death of Stephen. Paul persecuted the church. Paul was a ringleader in sin. Paul seemed to run the whole gamut of sin. He called himself the chief of sinners, and perhaps he was. When we look at the debit side of our lives do our hearts faint within us? Mine faints within me. But then the Master of life says, “I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”—George W. Truett (Diana Wallis, Take Heart: Daily Devotions with the Church’s Great Preachers (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2001), 37. (Thanks Dave for this quote)

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WHEN YOU’VE BEEN WRONGED by Erwin W. Lutzer

Saul displayed a Manipulative and Divisive Spirit

Spear throwers seek to sow discord, believing that if they divide they will conquer. (p 85)

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We must be careful that we do not try to undermine with “whispers” those with whom we disagree. (p. 85)

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The truly narcissistic, abusive personality is obsessed with only one thing: that his authority (control) be exercised. Control is his lifeblood; it is in the marrow of his bones; it is his one satisfaction, his one opportunity to show to himself (if not to others) that he really is someone after all. His anger at perceived injustices must be appeased. In his perverted thinking, abusing others is hos only way of making this crooked world straight. (p. 86)

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2 Kings 7
Israel is delivered from Aram.
INSIGHT

While we must be careful about “spiritualizing” what we read in the Old Testament and making it say something it doesn’t, there is at least an excellent illustration in the defeat of the Aramean army relating to the message of the Gospel today. The lepers are lost and starving and come upon abundance adequate for their own welfare as well as the welfare of all others. They realize it is wrong to keep it to themselves, and they go out to tell others. The same is true of the Gospel of Christ. Those of us who have had our needs met by Him cannot be satisfied keeping it to ourselves — we must tell others. (Quiet Walk)

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THE PRAYER FOR POWER

Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, show me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.

Exodus 33:13-15

In Moses’ prayer he prayed for power. God said to Moses, “My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.” And Moses said to God, “If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.”

This prayer for power is always in evidence in the history of the church prior to revival. This is the end of which the intercessors always become most conscious, and there are many reasons for this. [Moses’ prayer included] the Israelites’ awareness of the magnitude of the problem confronting them, the strength of the enemy that they were going to meet, the powerful nations in the land of promise—the Amalekites and others—and the tremendous task of occupying a land. Here they were, just a kind of nomadic people traveling along like this, and they were going to settle a land and conquer it and make their homes there. And suddenly they became aware of the immensity of the problem.

I have to emphasize this because to me there is nothing so tragic about our position today as the obvious failure of so many people to realize the magnitude of the problem that confronts us. If we only realized the magnitude of the problem, there would be no need to urge prayer for revival. But our eyes seem to be shut. “Everything is going well,” we say. “Look at the reports. Marvelous. Look at the activities. Is all not well?”

A Thought to Ponder: Prayer for power is always in evidence in the history of the church prior to revival. (From Revival, p.180, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

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How Christ Learned Obedience

“Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.” (Hebrews 5:8)
This verse is a very difficult verse. The Lord Jesus Christ was the very Creator and Sustainer of the universe, the omniscient God, perfect wisdom and complete truth. How could it be that one who knows all things would have to learn anything? Even more particularly, how would He have to learn obedience? He was always obedient to His heavenly Father. “I do always those things that please him,” Christ said (John 8:29). He surely did not have to be chastised like a disobedient child in order to learn obedience, as the verse seems on the surface to be telling us.
He was indeed a Son, and He was never disobedient, but He had to become obedient through actual experience. He “became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8). The “things which he suffered,” as the innocent Lamb of God, are beyond all human understanding, and His willingness to obey His Father even in this (“nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done”—Luke 22:42) demonstrates the ultimate obedience.
There are many things that one can learn in theory but that are onlyreally learned in practice. The Lord Jesus Christ knew all things by omniscience; nevertheless, He had to learn obedience by actual experience. “For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, . . . to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings” (Hebrews 2:10).
Once having passed this test, He had been “made perfect” as the succeeding verse assures us, and thus has become “the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him” (Hebrews 5:9). No act of obedience that He urges upon us can ever be as difficult as the things that He was willing to suffer to provide forgiveness and salvation for us.

(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)

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