January 23, 2012
I've been thinking a lot about this chapter since I read it on Friday. Today is Monday. There are just so many correlations between this chapter, Psalm 8, Psalm 150, Psalm 140 and "the storm" situation we are in.
Daniel lived Psalm 8 and Psalm 150. Lived it. It didn't matter that he was in captivity. God was HIS LORD. He clearly understood the relationship between
God was Sovereign, All-Powerful, Majestic, Holy, and Daniel was going to bow down and worship HIM—no matter what.
Daniel was given work to do by the king and he did it well. Daniel 6:3 - "Daniel showed that he could do the work better than the other supervisors and governors, so the king planned to put Daniel in charge of the whole kingdom." "Because of this," the other supervisors and governors became angry, jealous, bitter, and revengeful. "Because of this," they sought to find ways and reasons to accuse Daniel about his work.
Daniel 6:4 - "Because of this (they) tried to find reasons to accuse Daniel... but they couldn't find anything wrong..."
When the other supervisors couldn't find anything legitimate to accuse Daniel of, they had to come up with a different plan; so they put a plan into place to trap him. (Psalm 140:4–5 - Keep us O LORD from the hand of the wicked. Proud men have hidden a snare for us, they have spread out the cords of their net along our path.) Daniel was dependable. Three times a day Daniel "would kneel down to pray and thank God, just as he always had done." (Psalm 8; Psalm150)
The other supervisors go to the king to report on Daniel. He was doing what he had always done—praying to his LORD. Because of their scheming and planning and manipulating the system, the king was forced to put Daniel in the lion's den. He didn't want to do it. Daniel 6:14 - "He wanted to save Daniel, and he worked hard until sunset trying to think of a way to save him." There was nothing he could do to save him so he said, "May the God you serve all the time save you! (Psalm 140:6–7 - But we say, You are our God. Hear O LORD our cry for mercy. O Sovereign LORD, our strong Deliverer, who shields our heads in the day of battle, do not grant the wicked their desires O LORD, do not let their plans succeed, or they will become proud.) Daniel was thrown into the den. A large stone was put over the entrance. Either God protected him or Daniel's life was over.
The next morning King Darius goes to the den. He calls out, "Daniel, servant of the living God! Has your God that you always worship been able to save you from the lions?" Daniel answers, "My God sent his angel to close the lion's mouths. They have not hurt me, because my God knows I am innocent. I never did anything wrong to you, O king." Darius had Daniel removed from the den. Daniel 6:23 - "So they lifted him out and did not find any injury on him, because Daniel had trusted in his God." Then the king commanded that all those who had accused Daniel (including their families) be thrown into the den. (Psalm 140:8–11 - Let the heads of those who surround me be covered with the trouble their lips have caused. May burning coals fall on them. May they be thrown in to the fire, into the miry pit never to rise.) The lions grabbed them and crushed their bones before they even hit the floor.
King Darius sent a letter to all people and all nations, and all languages:
As I thought about this chapter over the weekend and was preparing to write this morning, I had no intention of writing about schemes and traps. None. What I wanted to write about was God's power and "He is the One" who saves. But now I realize the story of Daniel, and how God saved him, doesn't get written if there weren't schemes, traps, and accusations. God used those very things to get His message out to all people all nations and all languages. His message is: HE is the One who saves.
I feel the same way. How can you regret the lousy things that have happened to us (the betrayal by loved ones and subsequent lawsuit), when it's those very things God has used to bring Him the honor and glory due HIM. That is why I can say I would not change anything about these last few years. It has been worth it all to be able to see the Hand of God at work. Do I wish the hearts and attitudes wouldn't have been such to cause this to happen? Absolutely. But, the story of what God has done for us would not have been written if not for the ugliness of "the storm." This isn't about us. It's about HIM and what He has done. "HE is the One who saves!" Praise the LORD (Psalm 150).
What others meant for our harm God has used to bring HIM honor and glory. Only when you are on the edge—where either God does it or you fail—does HE get the glory when HE is the One who saves.
It is truly not about us! It is all about HIM!
Addendum: Oh my! Oh my! When I wrote this private journal entry in early 2012, this journal was not intended for anything other than my own personal journal through the Bible and a personal record of the journey we have been on. But now I realize not only does His story not get written, His story doesn't get told or shared without the ugliness of the schemes, traps, and accusations. There is NO story of Daniel without the betrayals. There is NO story of Jane E. Wolfe and the faithfulness of God without the betrayals we've experienced.
LORD, we are NOT the victims of a vile and vicious lawsuit, we are the recipients of a Blessed Event. It is just amazing to me that you somehow chose us to be the instruments YOU used to get YOUR story out to whoever it is that YOU want to find it. LORD, all of the "junk" has been worth it all to see YOUR hand at work. LORD, I pray right now for whoever it is that YOU want to get YOUR message to. May YOU bless them, LORD. May YOU bless them indeed while they learn more about who YOU are and YOUR loving mercies. YOU are the One who saves. It is all about YOU.
LORD, we surrender all to YOU.
Next Entry: Daniel 6:1–28 (Continued)
I've been thinking a lot about this chapter since I read it on Friday. Today is Monday. There are just so many correlations between this chapter, Psalm 8, Psalm 150, Psalm 140 and "the storm" situation we are in.
Daniel lived Psalm 8 and Psalm 150. Lived it. It didn't matter that he was in captivity. God was HIS LORD. He clearly understood the relationship between
God
↓
Man.
God was Sovereign, All-Powerful, Majestic, Holy, and Daniel was going to bow down and worship HIM—no matter what.
Daniel was given work to do by the king and he did it well. Daniel 6:3 - "Daniel showed that he could do the work better than the other supervisors and governors, so the king planned to put Daniel in charge of the whole kingdom." "Because of this," the other supervisors and governors became angry, jealous, bitter, and revengeful. "Because of this," they sought to find ways and reasons to accuse Daniel about his work.
Daniel 6:4 - "Because of this (they) tried to find reasons to accuse Daniel... but they couldn't find anything wrong..."
When the other supervisors couldn't find anything legitimate to accuse Daniel of, they had to come up with a different plan; so they put a plan into place to trap him. (Psalm 140:4–5 - Keep us O LORD from the hand of the wicked. Proud men have hidden a snare for us, they have spread out the cords of their net along our path.) Daniel was dependable. Three times a day Daniel "would kneel down to pray and thank God, just as he always had done." (Psalm 8; Psalm150)
The other supervisors go to the king to report on Daniel. He was doing what he had always done—praying to his LORD. Because of their scheming and planning and manipulating the system, the king was forced to put Daniel in the lion's den. He didn't want to do it. Daniel 6:14 - "He wanted to save Daniel, and he worked hard until sunset trying to think of a way to save him." There was nothing he could do to save him so he said, "May the God you serve all the time save you! (Psalm 140:6–7 - But we say, You are our God. Hear O LORD our cry for mercy. O Sovereign LORD, our strong Deliverer, who shields our heads in the day of battle, do not grant the wicked their desires O LORD, do not let their plans succeed, or they will become proud.) Daniel was thrown into the den. A large stone was put over the entrance. Either God protected him or Daniel's life was over.
The next morning King Darius goes to the den. He calls out, "Daniel, servant of the living God! Has your God that you always worship been able to save you from the lions?" Daniel answers, "My God sent his angel to close the lion's mouths. They have not hurt me, because my God knows I am innocent. I never did anything wrong to you, O king." Darius had Daniel removed from the den. Daniel 6:23 - "So they lifted him out and did not find any injury on him, because Daniel had trusted in his God." Then the king commanded that all those who had accused Daniel (including their families) be thrown into the den. (Psalm 140:8–11 - Let the heads of those who surround me be covered with the trouble their lips have caused. May burning coals fall on them. May they be thrown in to the fire, into the miry pit never to rise.) The lions grabbed them and crushed their bones before they even hit the floor.
King Darius sent a letter to all people and all nations, and all languages:
"Daniel's God is the living God; he lives forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end. God rescues and saves people and does mighty miracles in heaven and on earth. He is the one who saved Daniel from the power of lions." Daniel 6:26-27(Psalm 140:12–13 - I know, the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy. Surely the righteous will praise his name and the upright will live before him.) What was meant for Daniel's harm brought honor and glory to God.
As I thought about this chapter over the weekend and was preparing to write this morning, I had no intention of writing about schemes and traps. None. What I wanted to write about was God's power and "He is the One" who saves. But now I realize the story of Daniel, and how God saved him, doesn't get written if there weren't schemes, traps, and accusations. God used those very things to get His message out to all people all nations and all languages. His message is: HE is the One who saves.
I feel the same way. How can you regret the lousy things that have happened to us (the betrayal by loved ones and subsequent lawsuit), when it's those very things God has used to bring Him the honor and glory due HIM. That is why I can say I would not change anything about these last few years. It has been worth it all to be able to see the Hand of God at work. Do I wish the hearts and attitudes wouldn't have been such to cause this to happen? Absolutely. But, the story of what God has done for us would not have been written if not for the ugliness of "the storm." This isn't about us. It's about HIM and what He has done. "HE is the One who saves!" Praise the LORD (Psalm 150).
What others meant for our harm God has used to bring HIM honor and glory. Only when you are on the edge—where either God does it or you fail—does HE get the glory when HE is the One who saves.
It is truly not about us! It is all about HIM!
Addendum: Oh my! Oh my! When I wrote this private journal entry in early 2012, this journal was not intended for anything other than my own personal journal through the Bible and a personal record of the journey we have been on. But now I realize not only does His story not get written, His story doesn't get told or shared without the ugliness of the schemes, traps, and accusations. There is NO story of Daniel without the betrayals. There is NO story of Jane E. Wolfe and the faithfulness of God without the betrayals we've experienced.
LORD, we are NOT the victims of a vile and vicious lawsuit, we are the recipients of a Blessed Event. It is just amazing to me that you somehow chose us to be the instruments YOU used to get YOUR story out to whoever it is that YOU want to find it. LORD, all of the "junk" has been worth it all to see YOUR hand at work. LORD, I pray right now for whoever it is that YOU want to get YOUR message to. May YOU bless them, LORD. May YOU bless them indeed while they learn more about who YOU are and YOUR loving mercies. YOU are the One who saves. It is all about YOU.
LORD, we surrender all to YOU.
Next Entry: Daniel 6:1–28 (Continued)
No comments:
Post a Comment