Monday, 16 June 2008 00:00  |  Written by Kenny Fulton and posted in Daniel

But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself in this way. Daniel 1:8

Daniel and his friends (all young teenagers from Judah) have been taken captive by the Babylonians and are chosen to serve in the king’s palace. As part of this service, they are offered food and wine from the king’s table.

The only thing is, it’s been sacrificed to idols.

Daniel loves his God and decides to courageously make a stand.

Tuesday, 17 June 2008 00:00  |  Written by Kenny Fulton and posted in Daniel

Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come.” Daniel 2:27-28

King Nebuchadnezzar has had a dream that no one can interpret… In a fit of rage he decides to execute all of his wise men (including Daniel). When Daniel hears he offers to interpret the dream for Nebuchadnezzar!

Daniel’s life that night depended on hearing from God. He knew it would be through God’s mercy and not his own skills, that he’d be able to interpret the King’s dream in the morning.

Wednesday, 18 June 2008 00:00  |  Written by Kenny Fulton and posted in Daniel

Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrator and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. Daniel 6:3

For many years Daniel served kings who had no regard for his God. I think I might get pretty cheesed, to be honest. Maybe I’d give a little less than my all; but not Daniel. He gave of his best all the time and it glorified God. After all, who was he really serving?

Thursday, 19 June 2008 00:00  |  Written by Kenny Fulton and posted in Daniel

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Daniel 6:10

The 120 provincial governors that Daniel led were so jealous of his success that they tricked King Darius into issuing an edict that stated that anyone who prayed to any god or man other than the King for the next 30 days shall be thrown to the lions.

What does it say about Daniel that he did as he had done before?

Would you have left the windows open?

Friday, 20 June 2008 00:00  |  Written by Kenny Fulton and posted in Daniel

At first light of dawn, King Darius got up and hurried to the lions’ den… he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” Daniel 6:19-20

I remember this story well from Sunday school. I would sit and colour in drawings of Daniel and the lions, where Daniel always looked like a teenager. Truth is Daniel was in his 80s when he was caught and put in the lions’ den… We also always focused upon Daniel, but by this point in the story the Bible makes it more about Darius’ faith than Daniel’s.

Saturday, 21 June 2008 00:00  |  Written by Kenny Fulton and posted in Daniel

In my vision at night I looked, and there before me were the four winds of heaven churning up the great sea. Four great beasts, each different from the others, came out of the sea. Daniel 7:2-3

What?! Now hold on. Beasts, winds, the great sea? I’m confused.

It gets pretty hard to understand all of Daniel’s dreams and visions (his book’s got loads of them). Some were prophecies that came true during his lifetime, others concerned the end of time. One thing that comes across in all of them is that God is so much bigger than the box we put him in; and he has the master plan.

Sunday, 22 June 2008 00:00  |  Written by Kenny Fulton and posted in Daniel

Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.” Daniel 10:12

Daniel was hungry for God. He pursued and desired him. He wasn’t interested in gaining knowledge that puffed him up but he wanted to know his God. No wonder God chose to reveal such wonders and mysteries to him.