New - Daily Bible Reading - November 30th

November 30 Daniel 3:1–4:37 Psalm 136:1–9 Proverbs 29:11 2 Peter 1:1–21

- Daniel 3 - Neb the King (remember was just bowing to Daniel for revealing his dream from the true God). Makes an image of Gold, 60 cubits width 6 cubits, plain of Dura,
- He rounds up all the officials to come bow down to this image at dedication, when all of the harps, horn, and flutes play you must bow, and worship the gold image,
- Whoever does not fall down will be cast immediately into the fiery furnace
- Was this a reaction to the Gold Statue that Daniel told him about or either way obvious idolatry and he missed the point,
- MacArthur then notes this as well, (likely from 2:38 which we just read)
- All peoples, nations, and languages fall down and worship the idol, this is the opposite of end times, or revelation, or psalm 2, Matthew 28:20
- Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.”
- Neb - gives them a second chance, when you hear the music good, if not you will cast into the burning fiery furnace, "And who is the God who will deliver you from my hands? It's like he is totally spiritually blind to everything that happened which of course he is.
- The God whom we serve is able to deliver us but if not O King we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image you have set up,
- In fury Neb- heats the furnace 7 times hotter than normal (originally they were 10 times better now he is furious)
- The fire kills the men who took them to the furnace, the 3 fell into the furnace bound,
- I see four men loose walking and they are not hurt, the fourth is like the Son of God,
- Servants of the Most High God, come out here... they saw the fire had no power, could have been the per-incarnate Christ, Jesus has been active throughout redemptive history,
- 29Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; BECAUSE there is no other God who can deliver like this,
- Then the 3 get a promotion
- Chapter 4 Neb - has another dream - Vision of a large Tree, (an angel comes down) chop down the tree, leave the stump, Neb - gets the heart of a beast, the most High Rules in the Kingdom of men Gives it to Whomever he will, and sets over it the lowest of men,
- The large tree is Neb - according to Daniel, God is sovereign, and gives kingdoms to whomever he chooses,
- Neb - “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?”
- After 12 months God sends him into the fields...
- For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation. 35 All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, “What have You done?”
- Neb is restored above
- Psalm 136:1-9
- Give thanks to the LORD, He is good!
- The God of gods, he is the creator, His Mercy endures forever,
- Proverbs 29:11 - A fool vents all his feelings but a wise man holds them back
- better to pray and consider your thoughts
- 2 Peter 1:1-21 precious faith and righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ, big statement,
- New creation reminder, 8 things to look for in the believers life, make your calling and election sure, (Peter knows his execution is near) put off this tent,
- MacArthur notes- Partakers of the divine nature being born -again,
- We did not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made known the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we were eyewitnesses, of His majesty,
- More sure word than the transfiguration in the Bible, the Bible is God's very word, MacArthur notes the importance of the divine nature of the Bible here, In the OT the writers refer to their writings as the words of God 3,800 times,