QT 01/03/2024 Friday Daniel 1. Survivor who rejected paganism. 拒绝异教的幸存者。
QT 01/03/2024 Friday Daniel 1
READ & LISTEN here
https://www.esv.org/Daniel+1/
MEDITATION: The book describes Daniel serving in foreign palaces/courts under tremendous pressures of all sorts over a long period spanning both Babylonian and Persian empires! (605-536 B.C.) He would have won any "survivor" competition easily.
Daniel more than SURVIVED the vicious court and palace politics of his days without compromising his loyalty to the LORD—He was a BLESSING to other nations and their kings. The chief eunuch Ashpenaz (Dan 1:3) would have WITNESSED for himself the miraculous provision of the LORD: no meat diet consumed but ended up "fatter in flesh" (Dan 1:15).
Daniel resisted complete assimilation into pagan culture by rejecting the Babylonian king's food--an implicit reminder from the king of who is boss. Nevertheless, Daniel trusted the true king—the LORD God of Israel:
(1) The LORD was the one who "gave" the king of Judah into Nebuchadnezzar's hands (Dan 1:2). (2) The LORD "gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs" (Dan 1:9). (3) The LORD "gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom" (Dan 1:17). The LORD was STILL sovereign outside the Promised Land!
APPLICATION: Stand firm and resist being dissolved into the sea of paganism. Worship and serve the LORD faithfully.
REFLECTION: What has the LORD GIVEN you? What are you doing with it? Do you light up in God's way in this dark world?
星期五 2024年3月1日 今日读经：但以理书１章
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/dan/1/
但以理书１章
https://www.bible.com/bible/41/dan.1
默想：这本书卷描绘但以理在外国的宫殿/王宫里服侍时，从巴比伦到波斯帝国很长的一段时间，面对了各种极大的压力！(公元605-536)他极有可能在任何“智者生存”的竞赛中轻易获胜！
但以理不仅撑过了那险恶的宫殿和宫廷政治，且对耶和华的忠心毫不妥协---他甚至成为他国和他们的王的祝福。太监长亚施毗拿(但1:3)会亲自见证耶和华奇妙的供应: 吃的是无肉的饮食但却“更加俊美健壮”(但1:15)。
但以理很抗拒完全融入异教徒的文化，他拒绝了巴比伦王的食物---国王暗地提醒他谁才是老大。尽管如此，但以理信任真正的王—耶和华以色列的神:
(1)耶和华是那位把犹大“交”到尼布甲尼撒手里的人(但1:2)。(2)耶和华“使但以理在太监长面前得着恩惠和同情”(但1:9)。(3)耶和华“在各种文字和学问上，赐他们知识和聪明”(但1:17)。耶和华在应许之地之外仍然掌权！
应用：站稳并竭力抵抗卷入异教的浪潮。敬拜并且忠心地事奉祂。
反思：耶和华给了你什么？你如何使用它？你是否以神的道照亮这黑暗的世界？
