Daniel

Replying to @bookofdaniel

Four of us from Judah: me, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. They’ve given us new names, apparently. I’m Belteshazzar now. They’re Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

Made up my mind: I’m not going to make myself unclean with the king’s food and wine. Asked the chief official if I could be excused.

Replying to @daniel

So I asked the steward: test us for ten days. Vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare us with the others and decide.

Went in and asked the king for time. Went home and told Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. Asked them to plead with the God of heaven for mercy, so we don’t die with the rest.

He showed me in the night. Praise the name of God for ever. Wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons. He takes kings down and puts kings up. He reveals deep and hidden things. He knows what’s in the dark, and light lives with him.

Told the king: no wise man, enchanter or magician can show you this. But there’s a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. And it’s not because I’m wiser than anyone.

The dream: a huge, dazzling statue. Head of gold. Chest and arms of silver. Belly and thighs of bronze. Legs of iron. Feet part iron, part clay. Then a stone, cut out without any human hand, hits it on the feet. The whole thing shatters and blows away like chaff. And the stone grows into a mountain that fills the whole earth.

Replying to @daniel

What it means: the king is the head of gold. Another kingdom comes after him, not as great, then others. But the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed. It will crush all the others, and it will last for ever.

Told the king to keep his gifts. I’d read it anyway. His father Nebuchadnezzar was brought down until he learned that the Most High rules. He knew all that. And still he drank from the cups of God’s house and praised gods that can’t see or hear, instead of the God who holds his every breath.

Replying to @daniel

MENE: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. TEKEL: you’ve been weighed on the scales and come up short. PERES: your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.

Told the king: my God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths. They haven’t hurt me. I was found innocent in his sight, and I’ve never done the king any wrong either.

Back in Belshazzar’s first year I had a dream and wrote it down. Four great beasts coming up out of a churning sea. A lion with eagle’s wings. A bear. A leopard with four heads. And a fourth, terrifying, with iron teeth and ten horns.

Replying to @daniel

Then thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days sat down. His clothes white as snow, his hair like pure wool. His throne was flames of fire. Thousands upon thousands serving him. The court sat, and the books were opened.

Replying to @daniel

And I saw one like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He came to the Ancient of Days, and was given authority, glory and a kingdom. Every nation and language will serve him. His kingdom will never pass away, and never be destroyed.

Replying to @daniel

My thoughts really troubled me. My face went pale. I kept it to myself.

Another vision, by the Ulai canal at Susa. A ram with two horns, and a goat that came charging from the west so fast its feet didn’t touch the ground. Gabriel explained it: the ram is the kings of Media and Persia, the goat is the king of Greece. Afterwards I was wiped out and ill for days. Then I got up and went back to work for the king. I couldn’t make sense of it.

First year of Darius. I was reading the scrolls, what the LORD told Jeremiah: Jerusalem would lie in ruins seventy years. So I turned to the Lord God and prayed. Fasting, sackcloth and ashes.

Jeremiah@jeremiahSo here’s what’s coming. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the one the LORD calls his servant. No more wedding songs. No millstones grinding. No lamplight. This land will be a ruin, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years.

We have sinned. We’ve done wrong. We’ve acted wickedly and rebelled. We’re not asking because we’re good, but because you’re so kind. Lord, listen. Lord, forgive. Lord, hear us and act. Don’t wait, for your own sake, my God.

Solomon@solomonWhen they sin against you, and there’s no one who doesn’t sin, and you let an enemy carry them off to a land far away: if they come to their senses there and turn back to you with all their heart, hear them. Forgive them. And make their captors kind to them.

Replying to @daniel

While I was still praying, around the time of the evening sacrifice, Gabriel came. He said the answer went out as soon as I started praying, because I’m, in his words, highly precious.

Third year of Cyrus. Three weeks mourning. No meat, no wine. Then, on the bank of the Tigris, a man dressed in linen. Face like lightning, eyes like flaming torches, a voice like a huge crowd. The men with me didn’t see him, but they were terrified and ran and hid. It left me with no strength at all.

Replying to @daniel

He touched me and strengthened me. Don’t be afraid, he said. You are highly precious. Peace. Be strong. Be very strong.

Many who sleep in the dust of the earth will wake up, some to everlasting life, some to shame and contempt that last for ever. The wise will shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to what’s right, like the stars, for ever and ever.

I heard it, but I didn’t understand. I asked him how all this will end. He said: go on your way, Daniel. You’ll rest, and at the end of the days you’ll rise to receive what’s yours.

Told the king he could keep his gifts. I’d read it for him anyway.

On my knees, giving thanks to my God. Same as I always have.

Replying to @darius.the.mede

Long live the king! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths. They haven’t hurt me, because he found me innocent. And I’ve never done you any wrong either, Your Majesty.