In the conclusion of Daniel 9, we hear God's response to Daniel's great prayer. Gabriel brings a word to be considered: prophetic, apocalyptic, and full of promise. There's been much debate over this passage. We will take a certain "already-not yet" view through Jesus Christ, as we hear the angel Gabriel again bring a word of good news to a favored one. Let us consider it together, as the angel commands us, not in speculation, but in wonder. Let us ask in faith, "How will we receive it?" Brothers and sisters, we receive the promises through Jesus Christ alone. In the hope we have in Him, let us too say to God "Let it be to me according to Your Word."

In response to God's promise that he would end his people's exile in Babylon after 70 years, Daniel senses the time is near and earnestly seeks God's face in confession and prayer for God's mercy in fulfilling that promise.  Which raises the question, why pray if God, who is sovereign has already promised.  Here in Daniel 9:1-19, we learn from Daniel about pleading God's promises in prayer.

No one likes to hear that there are dark days ahead.  Especially when you're just coming through a long period of trouble that you are expecting to end soon.  Daniel is given another difficult and disturbing vision by God of continued hardship and trials for God's people for many years to come, and it understandably upsets him.  But even hearing the bad news is good news in that it points to God's sovereign power and purpose to rule over his enemies, redeem his people, and restore his kingdom.  In Daniel 8:1-27 we look at God shining his light on dark days ahead.

Chapter 7 of Daniel is a pivotal point not only in the book of Daniel, but in the whole of the Bible. In it, God pulls back the curtain of world events to reveal to Daniel and to his people in exile what is going on behind the scenes of history, and in particular, who is in control of all the scenarios. Here we consider the tyranny of worldly powers and the triumph of God's kingdom through One like a Son of man to whom is given eternal dominion over all things.

When Daniel, as a result of a conspiracy against him by evil men, finds himself lowered into a den of hungry lions, he does not open his mouth in complaint, nor raise his hand in resistance, but he entrusts himself to God who is sovereign over all and can deliver him from the lion's mouth.  Here we consider from Daniel 6 the powerful truth of the gospel revealed in the familiar account of Daniel in the lion's den.

In Daniel 5, we see the great kingdom of Babylon brought to an end through God's judgment upon King Belshazzar. God's judgment begins at an idolatrous feast and ends with the death of the king and the fall of his kingdom. Such is the "writing on the wall" for all sinners save for the judgment of God being laid upon another King, Jesus Christ, who humbled himself before God and in his death bore the wrath of God for our sin.  Through King Jesus, the kingdom of God is established forever, and redeemed sinners are now welcomed to the holy banquet of the true King of kings.

In Daniel 4 we hear a story of an exalted king, humbled by God, told "that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom He will and sets over it the lowliest of men." And who is that, but Jesus? He is the Most High God who became the lowliest of men. His obedience, His willingness, His humiliation, in God's will became His exaltation - and ours, too. Let us hear testimony of God's sovereignty from this pagan king, but even more from the King of kings Himself.

As Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah emerge from the flames unharmed, the king exclaims of their God "There is no other god who is able to deliver in this way." Their sovereign LORD, able and willing to rescue, is the same God we worship today - revealed in Jesus Christ. He is the Way of our deliverance. Join us to hear, in Daniel 3, how Christ delivers us not from flames, but through them, with Him, redeemed for glory! 

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When King Nebuchadnezzar finds himself troubled in spirit and unable to sleep because of a recurring dream, he is desperate to know what it means. When his wisest counselors fail the king, the young Daniel turns to the Lord who knows and can reveal all things. When God reveals to Daniel the king's dream and its meaning, we find both the reason as well as the remedy for the king's restlessness, and it's a message that is meant for us as well when we find ourselves up at night with a restless spirit.  We continue in Daniel 2 and look at the recipe and remedy for a restless heart.

To stand firm in the faith when everything in the world around you is working to deconstruct that faith and to shape you into its mold is one of the greatest challenges we face as followers of Christ. It comes at great risk, but it promises a great reward.  As exiles in Babylon, Daniel and his friends found themselves under great pressure to shed their faith in God and conform to the ways of a pagan king and kingdom. Their resolute faith reveals the faithfulness of God to protect and provide for his own as we seek to serve him in this world, while not being of this world. Here we look at Daniel 1 and the risk and reward of resolute faith like that of Daniel.