Daniel 3-4

The moral of this story: God is able to humble those who walk in pride (4:37).

The Fiery Furnace. This story has become so well known that it has become a cultural reference point to going through trials ("being tried by the fire"). Take the preconceived notions you've had away and read these chapters with fresh eyes and perspective.

Remember that the king that is building this gargantuan statue to be worshipped is the very one who in the last chapter was giving praise to the one, true God. How quickly we forget! When will you acknowledge that the Most High is ruler over the kingdom of men?

Read it here.

Daniel 1-2

"Daniel determined that he would not defile himself" (1:8).  Defile himself from what? The finest food and beverage money could buy! Daniel and his friends were establishing themselves as men devoted to God ... and God blessed them tremendously! "No one was found equal to Daniel" and his godly friends.

Before long, the king ended up falling before Daniel proclaiming, "Your God is indeed God of gods, Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries" (2:47).

All because Daniel chose to live unashamedly for God.

Oh to be a Daniel.

Read it here.

Ezekiel 45-48

Ezekiel's prophecies continue to be elusive. Is he speaking of a yet-future Temple and restoration of sacrifices and land? How do we understand that in light of the "new and living way" brought to us in final sacrifice of Jesus (Hebrews 10)? Is it a way for God's people to commemorate what God did for them (in the way that Messianic Jews celebrate the Passover seder)?

Mysterious to me. Ezekiel, you baffle me here. But I'll keep searching.

Read it here. 

Ezekiel 43-44

What a devastation to see the glory of the Lord depart. What a joy to see it return. No wonder Ezekiel falls facedown.

Read it here.

Ezekiel 40-42

There is some mystery here.  What is the purpose for the future temple that Ezekiel describes in such detail? Scholars scratch their heads a bit on this one.  I think one plausible explanations is as follows...

God reiterated His promise of covenantal blessing, in spite of Babylon's destruction, but it as always was conditional on the people's obedience. But the vision would only be open to those Jews who were sincerely ashamed of the sins that got them exiled (Ezk. 43:11). This was a vision of an offer, rather than a prediction. Just as the Lord through Moses promised Israel to bless their crops, their families, their finances, and their nation as a rewarcd for obedience, the Lord sharpens up His promise by including a temple that would be even finer than the one they had. But this was an offer that went unclaimed -- a coupon that went uncashed. Not because the Lord failed, but the people failed. This temple was one more part of the Old Testament code of promise, which no sinner can ever be good enough to fulfill. The vision described something that could have been (from the standpoint of God's power) but never was (because the people were never sufficiently repentant or faithful to enter into all that God had to offer). Ezekiel's temple -- the temple that never came to be -- is one more part of why Israel needs a Savior who can save them not just from the guilt of their sins, but from its corruptive power as well.

Read it here.

Ezekiel 37-39

The Valley of Dry Bones - one of the most memorable images in the book of Ezekiel!  And this prophecy of restoration is followed by a prophecy of unprecedented wrath - gory and uncut. May this drive us to be on the restoration side of God's future prophecies!

Read it here.

Ezekiel 34-36

Woe to the shepherds who do not strengthen the weak, heal the sick, bandage the injured, bring back the strays, or seek the lost.

What in the world were they doing?  Feeding themselves instead of the God's flock.

So God steps in.  Woe to the shepherds.  But relief for the flock!

And then this awesome promise of a new covenant: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you...I will place My Spirit within you and cause you to follow my statutes and carefully observe my ordinances." (36:26-27).

Read it here.