Daniel 8:21-25

December 14, 2025 by Leave a Comment

The first thing I noticed is that we went back in time. Chapters 7-8 happened before chapters 5-6. I should have noticed this yesterday! It’s funny how I see different things on different days. 

If you are like me and have trouble understanding these visions, you are also like Daniel, who said, “And I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for some days. Then I rose and went about the king’s business, but I was appalled by the vision and did not understand it.” (27‬)

“And the goat is the king of Greece. And the great horn between his eyes is the first king.22 As for the horn that was broken, in place of which four others arose, four kingdoms shall arise from his nation, but not with his power. 23 And at the latter end of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their limit, a king of bold face, one who understands riddles, shall arise. 24 His power shall be great—but not by his own power; and he shall cause fearful destruction and shall succeed in what he does, and destroy mighty men and the people who are the saints. 25 By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall become great. Without warning he shall destroy many. And he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes, and he shall be broken—but by no human hand.” (Daniel 8:21-25) 

This vision has information that is helpful for interpretation. The single horn is Greece, which is broken and replaced by four smaller horns. From these four, one will be stronger. 

Starting with the one horn, we can see Alexander the Great, whose kingdom was divided into four smaller kingdoms upon his untimely death in 323 BC. Ultimately, Antiochus IV (Seleucid empire) rose above the other three. He named himself Antiochus Epiphanes (Epiphany in English). An epiphany is an appearance of a divine or supernatural being. Notice what Daniel wrote about this person: “in his own mind he shall become great.” That description certainly fits a person who thinks he is the appearance of a divine or supernatural being when he is not. 

The timing of our reading is crazy: Hannukkah starts tonight. This is a holiday that Jews celebrate the rededication of the temple after they defeated Antiochus’s army in 164 BC.

Father, please help me see how your word references the world we live in and is applicable to everyday life. Amen.

Filed Under: Daniel, devotional thoughts, Old Testament, Prophecy

Daniel 7:13-14

December 13, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13-14)

The Ancient of Days has always been understood to be God, or the Father, if one believes in the Trinity. So, we have one who is like a son of man who approaches the father and is given an eternal kingdom. Additionally, all peoples, nations, and languages will serve him. 

Daniel clearly has a vision of Jesus. 

Father, help me to recognize more of the OT connections to Jesus. Amen.

Filed Under: Daniel, devotional thoughts, New Testament, Old Testament, Prophecy

Daniel 6:3, 5

December 12, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.“ (Daniel 6:3)

Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.” (Daniel 6:5‬)

These verses do two things. First, they tell us of Daniel’s character. Remember, he had been exiled from Jerusalem in a way that none of us would want for ourselves. Yet, he didn’t walk away from his faith. He believed strongly and remained faithful. He was so faithful that the only accusation others could make against him was that he was faithful to his God. 

Second, these verses set the stage for the well-known story of Daniel in the lion’s den. 

In short, others seemed to be jealous of Daniel, so they set a trap. They tricked the king into signing a decree that no one could worship anyone or anything except the king for 30 days. Of course, Daniel could not follow such a law and was found guilty. He was sentenced to a night in the lion’s den. 

We all know the next portion of the story: the angel closed the mouths of the lions, and Daniel survived the night. 

The king, realizing he had been snookered, sentenced those who had tricked him to the lion’s den. Those men AND their families were cast into the lion’s den and were immediately crushed by the lions. 

I think the king unwittingly fulfilled God’s law: “then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.” (Deuteronomy‬ ‭19‬:‭19‬)

Perhaps the most important verse in the chapter is the king’s declaration regarding Yahweh: “I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end.” (6‬:‭26‬)

Father, help my heart to be so faithful to you that others not only see you, but want to know you. Amen. 

Filed Under: Daniel, Deuteronomy, devotional thoughts, Faith, Old Testament

Daniel 5:14, 23

December 11, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“I have heard of you that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. (Daniel 5:14)

“But you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your Lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored.” (Daniel 5:23‬)

Verse 14 is Belshazzar’s attempt to compliment Daniel because he wants Daniel’s help. Notice how confused Belshazzar is about Daniel’s faith or beliefs. “The spirit of the gods is in you.” Here, he reveals his own belief in “the gods” and assumes the same of Daniel. Of course, Daniel believes in “the one true God, and no others,” which will be revealed in the rest of the story. 

Verse 23 is Daniel’s reply to Belshazzar’s actions and words. First, Daniel notes that Belshazzar and his friends drank from the holy items taken from the Temple in Jerusalem. These items were sanctified (set-apart) for holy use in the Temple. Second, Daniel notes that Belshazzar and his party goers “have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know” rather than “the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways.”

From 1965 to 1982, Daniel’s words described me. I didn’t know that I was offending the one true God. I was just living life, having fun. But like Belshazzar, I stood rightly condemned before a holy God (Jn 3:18). I’m thankful for a classmate who regularly invited me to church, where I heard the gospel and believed. 

Unfortunately, “That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed.” (5‬:‭30‬) He was just living life, and as the most powerful man in the world, probably thought he had time … lots of time. In his death, not only did he (and the Babylonians) lose his kingdom, but he also lost his soul. 

Father, help me to make the most of the unknown time I have remaining. Amen.

Filed Under: Daniel, devotional thoughts, Old Testament

Daniel 4:37

December 10, 2025 by Leave a Comment

“Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.” (Daniel 4:37)

In this chapter, Nebuchadnezzar tells his personal story of conversion. In the beginning, everything was for his own glory. Afterall, he was the king of the most powerful empire in the world. But, as he concludes this chapter, he testifies of the living God. 

First, he says all God’s ways are correct. Second, he says God has ways to humble the proud. These are both true and powerful statements. They are also evidence of a significant shift in Nebuchadnezzar’s thinking.

Father, please help me to be as in tune with you as Nebuchadnezzar was. Amen.

Filed Under: Babylon, Daniel, devotional thoughts, Old Testament
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