Days 253-254 ~ 2010

Originally posted in a forum in 2010 - this post may contain links which are no longer valid, if you find a non-working link, please let me know and I will attempt to find a replacement or make a correction as necessary.

Days 253-254

Attitude adjustment time...I read day 253...and then thought, what is there to share? Just a list of names. "Just"...how sad. I remember the 2nd year reading through, about to hit Kings and Chronicles with lists of names and praying, O' Lord, please help me to get through these. Do you think I remembered HIS exhortation then as I pondered the list of names? Father, in HIS divine nature, inspired these lists and I want to grumble? He thought it worthwhile and beneficial to record the names of those who were going back into the land. O' sinful woman that I am...Lord, forgive me for not giving due diligence and reverence to every jot and tittle in Your Word.

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Remnant returns (49,897 including Zerubbabel) - People - 536 B.C. - Ezra 2:1-70; Nehemiah 7:5-72

Priests - Nehemiah 12:1-26

Altar re-established - Ezra 3:1-7; Psalm 87

Work begins, foundations laid - Ezra 3:8-13; Psalm 84; 107; 66

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Psalm 84:2 - My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.

~ Does it? Really? Truly? Do I have a fervent desire to please HIM? How much do I long and faint for HIS courts? To desire to be in HIS presence?

~ Longeth - H3700 - A primitive root; properly to become pale, that is, (by implication) to pine after; also to fear: - [have] desire, be greedy, long, sore.

~ Fainteth - H3615 - A primitive root; to end, whether intransitively (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitively (to complete, prepare, consume):

Psalm 84:10 - For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Psalm 84:12 - O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

~ Trust - H982 - A primitive root; properly to hie for refuge (but not so precipitately as H2620); figuratively to trust, be confident or sure: - H2620 -A primitive root; to flee for protection (compare H982); figuratively to confide in:

~ Do I truly trust HIM? With everything? Even if life does not 'appear' to be going the way I want? Lord, help me to trust You implicitly, to work out Your good will and pleasure in my life. To be wholly surrendered to You in every area of my life.

Psalm 107 verses 8, 15, 21 and 31 - Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

~ I thought it interesting that this verse was repeated several times. How oft do we praise Him? Do I really long for Him?

~*~*Better is one day in your courts - ~*~*

Day 251 ~ 2010

Originally posted in a forum in 2010 - this post may contain links which are no longer valid, if you find a non-working link, please let me know and I will attempt to find a replacement or make a correction as necessary.

Day 251

People challenged to build the temple - Ezra 5:13; 2 Chronicles 36:22; Ezra 1:1-4; Psalm 126; Psalm 85

People's response - Ezra 1:5-6

Vessels returned - Ezra 1:7-11; 5:14-16

Instructions for dimensions and materials - Ezra 6:3-5

Daniel in the lion's den - Daniel 6:1-27

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Daniel 6:14 - Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.

~ I wonder if Darius could have given Daniel a second chance, like Neb did? No option there...but he appears to have worked diligently to get Daniel out of the scrape. What scrapes have I caused someone else to endure because of my pride? O' Lord, forgive me and give me a deeper understanding of You and Your wisdom.

v16 - Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.

~ What a testimony. Daniel was known to serve his God CONTINUALLY and that HE would deliver Daniel. What faith! What a testimony! How do those outside the household of faith view us? Would they see us being diligent to stand for HIS righteousness, continually? Do we have a similar track record. To serve God, no matter the cost? Do others know that our God will deliver us...whether it is 'shutting' the mouths of lions or rescuing us from a heated fiery furnace. Will we say of our God, you will deliver me either physically or bring me into thine presence, to YOU be all the glory, honor and majesty.

v20 - And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?

~ cried - H2200 - (Chaldee); corresponding to H2199; to make an outcry: - cry. H2199 A primitive root; to shriek (from anguish or danger); by analogy (as a herald) to announce or convene publicly:

~lamentable voice - H6088 - (Chaldee); corresponding to H6087; to afflict: - H6087 - A primitive root; properly to carve, that is, fabricate or fashion; hence (in a bad sense) to worry, pain or anger:

Darius reiterates the FACT that Daniel serves the living God...not a dead God...a living God. I see much anguish in Darius' lamentable cry...while obviously hoping that Daniel survived...still all the emotional outpouring in that utterance!

v21 - '...O king, live for ever.' - Does this mean eternal life? BTW - the living and life are 2417 (rooted to) 2418.

v24 - And the king commanded, and they brought those men which has accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and 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.

~ Judged simply for bring accusation against the anointed of the Lord. Notice Daniel did not ask for vengeance. Father handled it all. He always does. Those who bring railing accusation against those chosen of the Lord, will be judged. Not on our timetable, or because we 'deserve' to have someone judged, but simply because of HIS righteous character and just justice and judgment. Praise the Lord that we can rest in HIM to bring to completion all of HIS will.

Lord give each of Your children the ability to have the tenacity to stand amidst the trials and tribulations You allow this world and its current ruler to throw at us. Help us Lord to give such a proper estimate of You in all that we say, do and think that others will utter forth praise to the Living God. Father, strengthen Your people to know and study Your Word. Help us Lord to be proper ambassadors for Your glory and kingdom.Day 252

Daniel's vision - 537 B.C.

Three weeks of mourning - Daniel 10:1-3

Vision of man in white - Daniel 10:4-20

Revelation promised - Daniel 10:21

Revelation of future kingdom - Daniel 11:2-45; 12:1-13

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Daniel 4:11 - "...O Daniel, a man greatly beloved..." Do you ever wonder if Father thinks and/or says the same about you?

I know we are beloved...HE sent HIS sinless son to die for us...but are we greatly beloved? What made Daniel so greatly beloved?

Did he ever murmur, complain and/or grumble about being in captivity? Or was he always so focused on God that he did not allow situations and/or circumstances to dampen his enthusiasm for Father and standing for HIM. Father forgive me for all my discontent that I have voiced to You or others, when I have not suffered anything in comparison to your saints of old, or those who are enduring great tribulation and trials even in this time that I live. Lord help me to pray and intercede for those of the household of faith which are enduring death, separation or other deprivations for their steadfast belief in You.

Day 250 ~ 2010

Originally posted in a forum in 2010 - this post may contain links which are no longer valid, if you find a non-working link, please let me know and I will attempt to find a replacement or make a correction as necessary.

Day 250

A great banquet - Daniel 5:1-4

Hand-writing on the wall - Daniel 5:5-16

Daniel interprets the same - Daniel 5:17-29

Babylon falls to Darius the Mede - Daniel 5:30-31

Cyrus enters city - 539 B.C.

Persia is the world power - 539-333 B.C. (Daniel's 2nd world empire)

Reign of Cyrus and Darius the Mede continue - 539-529 B.C. - Isaiah 44:28; Daniel 1:21; 11:1

Daniel's prayer - Daniel 9:1-19

Daniel's vision of the 70 weeks of years - Daniel 9:20-27; Psalm 102

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Heh, I have heard that phrase 'the handwriting is on the wall' but did not grasp the connection between it and this incidence in scripture until typing out the heading.

5:6 knees smote against one another? Hmmm...several commentaries I looked at gave nothing definitive...he could have simply had 'weak' knees, unable to support himself, or lost control of bodily functions. Either way, the terror of the situation was exceedingly great.

5:12 - Daniel 2x, pagan name Belteshazzar 1x (Daniel - God is my judge) - Name change (from Unger's Bible Dictionary) "Obliged to enter the King's service at the royal court of Babylon, on which occasion he received the Chaldean name Belteshazzar, according to Eastern custom of taking a new name when a change takes place in one's condition of life and more especially if his personal liberty is thereby affected."

5:13 - "...Judah...brought out of Jewry..." - Jews are of the tribe of Judah...

Daniel 9:2 - "...I Daniel understood..." - only the Lord can make someone understand. How oft I get frustrated with someone because they do not 'get it'. Lord help each of us to have patience with others, especially me!

Daniel 9:20 - "...confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel..." - do we? Are we confessing daily? Praying and confessing for our nation?

Psalm 102 - who wrote this Psalm...some sources say David...regardless, I am again touched by the outpouring of prayer and petition to our heavenly Father through the difficulties.