DANIEL 7-8:
In Daniel yesterday, we heard the famous ‘writing on the wall’ chapter. That is where that idiom in English comes from! While that was happening with King Belshazzar, the Medes and Persians were outside the wall and the prophecies of Ezekiel, Isaiah and Jeremiah all happened. Daniel was to be proclaimed the third ruler because Belshazzar was in fact the second ruler under his absentee father, Nabonidus. Then under King Darius, Daniel was thrown to the lions. I am estimating that Daniel would have been around 70 years old at that time.

ISAIAH 26:
Yesterday’s reading in Isaiah was not primarily dark with the sun piercing the darkness momentarily, but was a sunny psalm of praise. We heard even of the marriage supper of the Lamb, and there were glorious verses like this:

Is. 25:4 NLT But you are a tower of refuge to the poor, O LORD,
a tower of refuge to the needy in distress.
You are a refuge from the storm
and a shelter from the heat.

But at the end of yesterday’s chapter, gloomy clouds blew in with a word about the nation of Moab.

2CORINTHIANS 6:11—7:
In our first reading in chapter 6 we have already heard what it meant practically for Paul and his fellow apostles to be led as ‘captives’ or ‘prisoners’ in Christ’s victory parade.

2Cor. 2:14 NLT But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. …

The Greek does not actually have a word that corresponds to ‘prisoner’, but that seems to be Paul’s meaning when one factors in what Paul said in chapter 6. So being in this parade doesn’t mean a life of ease. Even though in chapter 5 he says they are Christ’s ambassadors, they are ambassadors that carry precious treasure in earthen vessels— very aware that the earthly tent (their bodies) could be destroyed at any time. It cost them so much to deliver this message:

2Cor. 6:1 NLT As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it.
2 For God says,
“At just the right time, I heard you.
On the day of salvation, I helped you.”
Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

DANIEL 5-6:
Yesterday we heard two stories: That of Nebuchadnezzar’s statue of gold and the exciting way God delivered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And the second story was Nebuchadnezzar himself sharing about his dream and how he was later humbled.

ISAIAH 25:
Yesterday’s reading in Isaiah talked of the destruction of the whole earth, but here again as typical in Isaiah, the sun was allowed to break through the clouds. We look forward to a city where God himself will outshine the sun.

2CORINTHIANS 5:14—6:13:
Here is part of Paul’s discussion about the earthly tents/bodies we all have, and heavenly bodies we will one day have:

2Cor. 5:6 GNT So we are always full of courage. We know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord's home.
7 For our life is a matter of [believing//faith], not of [seeing//sight].
8 We are full of courage and would much prefer to leave our home in the body and be at home with the Lord.
9 More than anything else, however, we want to please him, whether in our home here or there.

Paul returns to his theme about the the apostolic ministry that God has given to him and his companions, and especially now their commission to share the message of reconciliation with God.

NLT Translation notes:
2Cor. 5:13 If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if [it seems] we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit.
17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person [/, one might even say a new creation]. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
2Cor. 6:8 We serve God whether people honor us or despise
us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they [still] call us impostors.
6:12 There is no lack of love on our part, but you have [been] withheld your love from us.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

DANIEL 3-4:
Matthew Henry describes the parts of the statue in Daniel 2:

1. The head of gold signified the Chaldean empire, then in being.

2. The breast and arms of silver signified the empire of the Medes and Persians.

3. The belly and thighs of brass signified the Grecian empire, founded by Alexander.

4. The legs and feet of iron signified the Roman empire. The Roman empire branched into ten kingdoms, as the toes of [the//these] feet [of the statue]. Some were weak as clay, others strong as iron. Endeavors [were made] to unite them, for strengthening the empire, but in vain.

5. The stone cut out without hands, represented the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, which [will//should] be set up in the kingdoms of the world, upon the ruins of Satan's kingdom in them. This was the Stone which the builders refused, because it was not cut out by their hands, but it is become the head stone of the corner. Of the increase of Christ's government and peace there shall be no end. The Lord shall reign, not only to the end of time, but when time and days shall be no more. As far as events have gone, the fulfilling this prophetic vision has been most exact and undeniable; future ages shall witness this Stone destroying the image, and filling the whole earth.

ISAIAH 24:
Yesterday we heard the oracle against the proud seafaring city-state of Tyre.

2CORINTHIANS 4:10—5:15:
One of the hard things about 2 Corinthians for a translator is that ‘we’ in Greek is just like ‘we’ in English. The two languages do not distinguish between ‘we-speakers-excluding-listeners’ and ‘we-inclusive-of-listeners’. So which is it in places like this? Well, primarily in chapter 4, I think that Paul is talking about ‘we apostles’ in this section. As we repeat reading the second half of chapter 4 today, you will be able to see how ‘we’ contrasts with ‘you/your’ in verses 12 and 15. Even though Paul seems to be using ‘we’ in the exclusive sense (we apostles), this does not mean that we can’t take what Paul says about himself and his friends and apply it to us as our ideal. Let’s determine to be like Paul in things like “fixing our gaze on things we cannot see.” But in chapter 5, I believe Paul’s use of ‘we’ is inclusive of his hearers. We all have bodies that Paul pictures as our ‘earthly tent’.

NLT Translation notes:
Dan. 3:5 When you hear the sound of the [band, including the] horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments, bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue.
7 So at the sound of the [band//musical instruments], all the people, whatever their race or nation or language, bowed to the ground and worshiped the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
19 “Upon hearing this, Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) was overcome for a time, frightened by the meaning of the dream. Then the king said to him, ‘Belteshazzar, don’t be alarmed by the dream and what it means.’
[So I answered//Belteshazzar replied], “My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries!

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.