DANIEL & HOSEA

It's Saturday morning, and I have finished reading Daniel and Hosea.  Daniel ends the Major Prophets, and Hosea starts the minor prophets.  They are not called minor for their message but the length of their message.  Let me give just a few thoughts before I go to our Men's Prayer Breakfast: 1) Daniel 1:1 Nebuchadnezzar went to Jerusalem and "besieged it".  This means that before the king gave up the people were starving.  Daniel was one of the boys in that starving city.  He was of the king's seed or one of the princes' children, but he was starving like everyone else.  Now, in verse 8, he is refusing to eat the king's meat.  He was starving but now he is refusing food!!  It makes it even more outstanding that Daniel took this stand for His God. 2) Daniel 3:17 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were in trouble.  They were about to be thrown into a heated up furnace.  Here is what they said:  "our God whom we serve is able to deliver us".  Notice it was not our God…; but, "our God whom we serve…"  Their confidence came as they served their God.  Perhaps we would have more faith if we served God more?  Sounds like something to me!  Notice it also worked for Daniel in 6:16 "Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee."  Darius knew that Daniel served his God, so he knew God would deliver someone who served Him so faithfully!! 3) His to- My -to His Again!!  That's right, Nebuchadnezzar talked about God and "HIS" sings, and "His" wonders, and "His" kingdom, and "His" dominion (4:2) ; but then it deteriorated to "my" power and "my" majesty and he then lived like a wild animal for seven years in the wild (4:30); but then after he got right with God it came back to "His" kingdom and "His" will and "His" hand (4:34,35).  What's it all mean?  It means we had better keep giving God "His" glory and honor.  For only "HE" is worthy!! 4) What Get's God's Attention?  Dan. 9:3 "I set my face unto the LORD God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:" Humility with prayer and fasting, get's God's attention.  Try it, it works!! 5) Hosea 2:5- "the valley of Achor for a door of hope".  I circled this in my Bible last time I read it through.  I didn't exactly know what it was talking about so this time, I looked it up in a commentary.  I knew that the valley of Achor was when Achan stole the wedge of gold, 200 shekels of silver and a goodly Babylonian garment; and was judged for it.  It cost him his life.  In the valley of Achor (Joshua 7:24-26) he was stoned and burned with fire, and it says:  "So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger."  They valley of Achor, became a "door of hope".  What it means is that when God's judgment comes and does it's work and we repent and are cleansed that now a "door of hope" stands before us.  God's judgment paves the way for God's blessings.  He will not chide forever!!  Look for that "door of hope" every time you feel you are experiencing God's judgment in your life.  Well, the men's prayer breakfast is calling.  May God richly bless, and tomorrow…. Is SUNDAY!!!  Praise God!!   Dr. Mike Mutchler, Pastor and Friend

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com