Daniel

II Chronicles 36:15-21, Daniel 1:1-21

Every 7th year the children of Israel were to let the land rest by not farming it.  The Jews were to trust God for provision.  For 490 years they failed to practice letting the land rest.  490 / 7 = 70  Thus they were exiled to Babylon for 70 for failing to obey God.  The land got it's rest.  Talk about decisions have consequences.

We learn of four young Hebrew men who were taken captive and taken to Babylon.

Points to Ponder:

• The four Hebrew men were Daniel - which means God is my judge, Hananiah - which means the Lord is gracious, Mishael - which means who is what God is, and Azariah - which means The Lord has helped me.  (Abednego).

• Their Babylonian names in parenthesis are Daniel (Belteshazzar), Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach), and Azariah (Abednego).

• We can sum up the lives of these four men with the epitaph of 'we toe the line' regarding God instruction for the Hebrews.

• What might we learn from these four men for us today?

• As we look at our country today we seem headed for times of trouble.  Things are towards liberalism.

• We need to bring our nation before God in prayer.

• Finally, like the four Hebrew men, we should determine to follow the God of Daniel and be faithful to the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Toe The Line