The dream of Nebuchadnezzar - Daniel 1–3
This has actually been one of my favorite old testament books. It has lots of good stories of faith and God actively responding to it. And it has loads of mystery and a fascinating character in King Nebuchadnezzar.
The book starts off with King Nebuchadnezzar taking all the best and brightest young men from Israel and training them to be his advisers. Daniel is one of them.
Then King Nebuchadnezzar has a frightening dream and he demands that someone not just tell him what it means - but also, what it was.
When no-one can do that, King Nebuchadnezzar threatens to kill all his advisers, at which point Daniel rouses himself and with a faith that is so strong it is almost casual he tells Nebuchadnezzar he will interpret the dream before asking God!
Anyway God reveals to Daniel what the dream was and also what it means, and that dream has been the subject of much interpretation ever since.
Nebuchadnezzar declares that Daniel’s God is the one true God, but has a short memory because in the next breath he is making an idol and ordering all of his subjects to worship it.
Daniel’s friends Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refuse to worship the idol.
“At that the king flew into a rage and had the three men brought before him. ‘Is it true that you refuse to worship by god and to bow down to the gold statue I have set up?’Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego answered ‘Your majesty, we will not try to defend ourselves. If the God whom we serve is able to save us from the blazing furnace and from your power then he will.”
God does save them from the furnace, even though it is so hot that the guards near it faint and die.
Nebuchadnezzar declares God the true God again: “And now I command that if anyone of any nation, race or language speaks disrespectfully of the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, he is to be torn from limb to limb.”
Dear God, Thank You for the book of Daniel. It is a beautiful, mysterious book. Thank You for the stories of reconnection with Your people. Thank You for the lovely day we have today. Please let our women’s day of prayer be successful, so that You hear our prayers as incense floating up from earth. Thank You for the safe arrival of baby T. Please be with his mother and father and also my father. Please be with F who is suffering in a bad relationship. I love You my Father, please help me love and worship You more. In Jesus’ name, Amen