Four Young Hebrews in Babylon
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Daniel
The Book of the Prophet Daniel
“… some stopped the mouths
of lions, quenched the violence of fire!” Hebrews
11:33, 34
Chapter
1:1-7 Four Young Hebrews in Babylon
1. En
el año tercero del reinado de Joacim, rey de Judá, vino Nabucodonosor, rey de
Babilonia, a Jerusalén y la sitió.
2.
Y el Señor entregó en sus manos a Joacim, rey de Judá, y algunos de los
utensilios de la casa de Dios; los llevó a la tierra de Sinar, a la casa de su
dios, colocando los utensilios en la casa del tesoro de su dios.
3.
Entonces el rey mandó a Aspenaz, jefe de sus oficiales, que trajera de los
hijos de Israel a algunos de la familia real y de los nobles,
4.
jóvenes en quienes no hubiera defecto alguno, de buen parecer, inteligentes en
toda rama del saber, dotados de entendimiento y habilidad para discernir
y que tuvieran la capacidad para servir en el palacio del rey; y le mandó
que les enseñara la escritura y la lengua de los caldeos.
5.
El rey les asignó una ración diaria de los manjares del rey y del vino que él
bebía, y mandó que los educaran por tres años, al cabo de los cuales
entrarían al servicio del rey.
6.
Entre éstos estaban Daniel, Ananías, Misael y Azarías, de los hijos de
Judá.
7.
Y el jefe de los oficiales les puso nuevos nombres: a Daniel le puso Beltsasar;
a Ananías, Sadrac; a Misael, Mesac; y a Azarías, Abed-nego.
As we begin reading the first chapter of the book of Daniel, we
immediately learn two things: 1) The Bible harmonizes with the actual events of
human history. It accurately finds its place there and confirms all the rulers,
nations, and movements, which we know to be historically true and gives the
dates, in which they played their part. Babylon had an important role in the
Bible and its history began in the book of Genesis. In our study, we enter the
time, when this empire had reached its glory. In verse one, we read of one of
the conquests of Emperor Nebuchadnezzar II, son of Nabopolassar, who destroyed
the Assyrian empire and turned Babylon into the world power that it was in the
time of Daniel.
2) Israel is always involved in some way with these predominant
forces. Almighty God, who spoke the universe into existence, chose to be the
divine King over a relatively small nation. However, these people have never
been, and are not now, insignificant on the world scene. This is due, in part, to
the fact that they always interacted with the highest powers on earth.
Introduction to Daniel
Labels:
Daniel
For the next few months, or however long it takes, I will focus on the book of Daniel. Again, this will be an expository study, verse by verse. I hope you will join me, because, as you know, there are some exciting, meaningful stories in the first six chapters.
Then, we will come to some of the most amazing prophecies in the entire Bible, concerning the endtimes. There is also a prophecy in chapter two, a very important one for understanding the entire history of world empires. The greatest key to an outline of prophetic times and unlocking its mysteries is given in chapter nine. For sure, you will not want to miss the study of that chapter.
I would never attempt a study of the book of Revelation, without first tackling Daniel. I mention in the introduction that it is impossible to comprehend the book of Revelation, without a previous knowledge of this book. Perhaps in the future, we can plunge into John's Revelation, but let's get some help first from this noble prophet with his amazing eye for events that will take us to the Second Coming of Christ.
In the beginning, I wanted to turn aside a little, in order to mention some real hindrances to the development of spirituality in the individual Christian life, as well as being problems, relative to the church these days. There are just a few paragraphs concerning this, so please bear with me. I feel there must be a change of attitude and mentality, in order to hold the right Christian perspective in the very dangerous times, spiritually speaking, in which we live.
The Spiritual Person
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Important messages
My comments on the book of Galatians conclude with this article. I hope they have been of use to you...
Galatians 6:1-18
1. Brothers, if anyone is caught in any
transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of
gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
2. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
4. But let each one test his own work, and then his
reason to boast will be in himself alone and not
in his neighbor.
5. For each will have to bear his own load.
6. Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with
the one who teaches.
7. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows,
that will he also reap.
8. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap
corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap
eternal life.
9. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we
will reap, if we do not give up.
10. So
then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone,
and especially to those who are of the household of faith
God is the God of restoration. Shall we term
restoration a second chance? My favorite biblical example of God’s willingness
to restore is that of Samson, after he miserably compromised his Nazarite
secret with a foreign woman, who immediately betrayed him. As a result, the
covenant hair of his head was shaved, he was taken prisoner, his eyes were put
out and he was made to grind at a mill. The next verse brings tears to my eyes
and hope to my heart: “But the hair of
his head began to grow again after it had been shaved” (Jud.16:22). As
simple as it is, I love this verse, because it reveals the nature of Samson’s
God. The Holy Spirit wants to convey the fact that He is the God of
restoration. The duty of the spiritual Christian is to restore a fallen brother
and to do so in a spirit of gentleness.
Works and Fruits
Labels:
Important messages
Galatians 5:13-26
13. For you were called to freedom, brothers.
Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the
flesh, but through love serve one another.
14. For
the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as
yourself."
15. But
if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
16. But I
say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the
flesh.
17. For
the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit
are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from
doing the things you want to do.
18. But
if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
The whole of the letter to the Galatians is a plea to
return to freedom, into which they were born and which is characteristic of the
true Christian life. God calls a people out of slavery into glorious liberty. The
point is not only that spiritual slavery is dreadfully bad, but that life in
the Spirit is joyously wonderful. In this section, Paul will show that the walk
in the Spirit is synonymous with freedom. The only people on this planet, who
are truly free, are those who have been born of the Spirit of God and whose practical,
daily life is under the control of the Spirit.
Liberty, Faith, Love and Truth
Labels:
Important messages
Galatians 5:1-12
V. 1-4 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand
firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
2. Look:
I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no
advantage to you.
3. I
testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to
keep the whole law.
4. You
are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen
away from grace.
Warren Wiersbe wrote: "Sad to say, there are some people who feel very insecure with
liberty. They would rather be under the tyranny of some leader than to make
their own decisions freely. There are some believers who are frightened by the
liberty they have in God’s grace; so they seek out a fellowship that
is legalistic and dictatorial, where they can let others make their decisions
for them. This is comparable to an adult climbing back into the crib. The way
of Christian liberty is the way of fulfillment in Christ. No wonder Paul issues
that ultimatum: “Do not be entangled again in the yoke of bondage. Take your
stand for liberty.”
What is biblical liberty? Once again, we have to be sure to obtain the definition from the Bible. It is something more than what the world would describe as liberty and it is also contrary to the world’s view.
What is biblical liberty? Once again, we have to be sure to obtain the definition from the Bible. It is something more than what the world would describe as liberty and it is also contrary to the world’s view.
Because the man of the world is basically egocentric,
liberty would mean to him a removal of obstacles, so that he can fulfill his
desires, ambitions, and bring himself happiness. It might also mean that, if he
is bound by vices and bad habits, he would seek freedom from them, in order to
enjoy himself on a much higher level. A higher degree of morality and decency
would win for him a greater respect and honor from his fellow man. However, all
of these goals are against the purposes of God and therefore, the liberty that
he seeks, is not that which is found in the Bible.
Human definitions take nothing away from the fact that
God is the God of liberty and offers, through the gospel, true freedom. Liberty
is the ambiance of the heavenly Jerusalem and it is only in that ambiance that
the new spiritual nature can develop. God’s freedom is absolutely priceless and
far beyond the highest value that we can put upon it. I appreciate Warren
Wiersbe’s comments throughout this epistle. Concerning gospel liberty, he says:
“Paul’s
doctrine of Christian liberty through grace is not the dangerous doctrine. It
is legalism that is the dangerous doctrine, because
legalism attempts to do the
impossible: change the old nature and make it obey the Laws of God.”
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