One good thing about sharing what you learn is that it keeps you accountable. I knew I had to share the lessons from my second week of reading the book of Daniel so I had to complete my reading. It didn’t matter whether I felt like reading or not, sharing this post with you kept me accountable. And of course, thank God for His grace to continue.
So, here’s what I learnt in my second week alongside using the She Reads Truth reading plan. You can click the sub-headings to read the She Reads Truth’s (SRT) study note on that section.
Nebuchadnezzar’s Proclamation
Reading texts: Daniel 4:1-37, Proverbs 16:18, 1 Corinthians 1:28-29
We shouldn’t drag rulership with God. Besides, as an SRT contributor pointed out, He is better as the Lord over our lives and all things than we, as self-seeking people, could ever be. God is the Ruler. Anytime we fail to acknowledge this, we tend to get into trouble thinking we have control over anything.
God is the One who gives us what we have and makes us who we are. He alone is worthy of glory. It’s not up for sharing. He is the author and finisher. In salvation and in every other circumstance, we make our boast in Christ alone and not ourselves.
The Handwriting on the Wall
Reading texts: Daniel 5:1-31, 1 Peter 5:4-7, 1 John 2:15-17
God is the only one worthy of worship. He holds our lives in His hands and controls the whole course of our lives. We are nothing without Him. So, no matter how great we become, we must remember that He made us who we are and He alone should be glorified.
Acknowledging Him as the True King, Ruler and Giver of all things reminds us to stay humble before Him and before people too.
Daniel in the Lions’ Den
Reading texts: Daniel 6:1-28, 2 Timothy 3:12-15, 1 Peter 5:8-9
It is possible to remain faithful to God even in a corrupt environment or in the face of persecution. We can stand in the light no matter how dark a place is even if it means standing alone. God’s Spirit is within us to help us stay in the light.
God is faithful to save us in the face of danger and He has saved us from the ultimate danger of death itself. So, we have nothing to fear in this world and beyond. God is always with us no matter what we pass through. It’s beautiful to see that even an unbeliever like King Darius could affirm that God could save Daniel from the lions.
Also, it’s worthy to note that persecutions will come while we are in this world but we resist the devil by staying strong in our faith. As 2 Timothy 3:12 says, “in fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” Yet, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. Romans 8:37
The Ancient of Days and the Son of Man
Reading texts: Daniel 7:1-14, Psalm 104:1-5, Hebrews 12:28-29
God is majestic. He deserves our worship and awe. Yes, He is our Daddy but He is also majestic. We must give Him alone the reverence He deserves.
Interpretation of the Vision
Reading texts: Daniel 7:15-28, Philippians 4:6-7, Colossians 1:15-20
God will eventually judge the world and it’ll be in favour of the children of God. We can hold on and remain confident that evil doesn’t win in the end. God is just.
Lastly, Jesus is God. As Colossians 1:15 says, He is the visible image of the Invisible God. It is through Jesus Christ that God reconciles everything to Himself. We have peace with God only through the blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross.
I trust you’ve learnt something or had a lesson re-emphasised. You should read the book of Daniel for a better understanding of these lessons. Be sure to also look out for part 3 of my lesson notes as I read along. You can read part 1 here.
As you read the study notes on the book of Daniel, make sure to test the content against the Word of God which is the Truth. You can also check out this guide to help you read and understand Bible texts better.
Cheers!
P.S. The 3-weeks Daniel reading plan is also available for men on He Reads Truth.
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