Sunday we’ll finish chapter nine of Daniel, where Gabriel shows up to answer Daniel’s question and prayer. After reading the prophet Jeremiah, he learns that Israel would be exiled for seventy years. He figures out that seventy years is almost over, and he anticipates the fulfillment of God’s promises. Part of Jeremiah’s prophecy is the establishment of a new covenant with God’s people. Gabriel says that Israel will return to the promised land, but the bigger issue, “putting an end to sin,” wouldn’t happen until the Messiah comes and is put to death. God has bigger plans for his people than simply returning them to the promised land. Daniel wants to know when this transformation will happen. Gabriel lays out God’s plan to send Jesus to establish that new covenant and rescue his people from their sin. Israel longs for relief from their suffering, but God’s wants to provide their redemption. We’re often like Israel, wanting relief from our suffering more than we want our full redemption. So, join us Sunday and we’ll discuss God’s redemptive work.

This Sunday we’ll continue our study in Daniel, focusing on chapter nine. This chapter breaks into two sections: Daniel’s repentance and Gabriel’s explanation of the timeline of God’s judgment. Let me set the stage for the first section. Daniel is reading “the books,” which refers to the prophet Jeremiah. As he reads, he comes to understand that Israel is experiencing the curses explained in the Mosaic covenant. Remember that Moses lays out the blessings of obedience and the curses of disobedience. Daniel learns from reading that God sent Israel into exile for seventy-sevens, which he interprets as seventy years. Suddenly, Daniel is faced with the reason for Israel’s suffering and exile, her sin.

So, in chapters seven and eight, Daniel learns that Israel will face constant threats from Babylon, the Medes and Persians, and Greece. In this chapter, he recounts reading in Jeremiah’s prophecy an explanation of Israel’s exile. This is personal for Daniel. As a child, he was taken captive to Babylon and has faced his own death on multiple occasions. The sin of God’s people has directly affected him, his family, and his nation. How does he respond? He turns himself to the Lord in prayer and fasting. He humbles himself before the sovereign God. Much of the chapter is his confession of Israel’s corporate sin without pointing a self-righteous finger at his countrymen. Instead, he throws himself and the nation on the mercy of God.

How does this apply to us? Join us Sunday as we consider this beautiful text.

This week Matthew continues to show why and to whom the Messiah came. Matthew's writing style would have been familiar to anyone steeped in the Scriptures, but he writes in such a way that, while familiar, it was jarring at the same time. The details he includes preclude remembering history with rose colored glasses, and forces the reader to recognize that their heroes had feet of clay.

This Sunday we'll consider two of Jesus' parables, found back-to-back in Luke 14. Parables about feasts and banquets, who gets invited, where they fit in the pecking order, and some surprising grace-filled Gospel hospitality. They speak of honor and shame, of pride and humility, and of the flimsy excuses people make for not being "all in" with the Lord Jesus. A great banquet awaits those who are. Come on Sunday, and let the Great Physician take your spiritual temperature!

Sunday we’ll move into chapter eight, where Daniel has another vision during the time of king Belshazzar of the Babylonian empire. This week’s vision builds on the vision of chapter seven. In chapter seven, the third empire has a king that persecutes God’s people. In this week’s vision, that person is highlighted, and his horrible deeds revealed.

At least three things are revealed in this vision. First, the people of God are not exempt from tribulation. Daniel is given tragic news for his people; they will suffer intensely in the third kingdom. Second, God’s glory is not in his temple. It was destroyed under Nebuchadnezzar and this king will desecrate the rebuilt temple, worshipping pagan deities in God’s sanctuary. While God holds this king accountable, he doesn’t protect his sacred places. Third, as this pagan king leads idolatrous worship in the temple of God, Israel’s leaders join in the desecration. This not only brings shame on the nation, but further suffering as correction from God.

There isn’t much hope in this vision and Daniel is traumatized by the explanation. But there is hope because these events mark the beginning of the end of the kingdoms of men and the purification of God’s people. Gabriel, one of God’s angelic hosts is sent to interpret the vision and designates these things the last days of Israel’s humiliation. These days of darkness will end with the dawn of the Son of Man! Join us as we worship God for the gift of Jesus Christ!

This Sunday we move away from the narratives of Daniel’s story to the visions that he received during the reign of the various kings he served. These passages communicate God’s promises to Israel being fulfilled.  They also paint a cosmic picture of the victory of Christ over the kingdoms of this world. Chapter seven presents four kingdoms of men, the fourth being the most terrifying. The four kingdoms are portrayed as horrible beasts, emphasizing the evil nature of the kingdoms of men. Each beast is destructive and oppressive, especially for the people of God whom they persecute.

The challenge we face is how to interpret these texts since they are “visions” given to Daniel. One key is to remember that the Scripture is written in the common literature of the day. For example, the Proverbs of the Scripture are written in the genre of wisdom literature in Solomon’s day. This means that we interpret the Proverbs as they would have been interpreted by the original audience. The same goes for “visions” in the Scripture. Old Testament visions were similar to New Testament apocalyptic literature which is not interpreted literally but cosmically. Daniel’s visions don’t disappoint as they follow that apocalyptic pattern. We’ll have to discuss this Sunday as we begin our study of Daniel 7.

As we approach these passages, we see Thanos-type evil characters, tormenting the world and the specifically the people of God. We learn that there is a hero character, sent from God to conquer and judge these evil characters, rescue his people, rule the creation, and bless his children. Join us Sunday as we begin to study these passages.

This Sunday we are blessed to have Dr. Samuel Nshimyumukiza minister the word of God to us. He was trained in South Korea and ministered in Rwanda where he met his wife, our missionary, Sarah. God blessed them with their first child last December. We are blessed to have them living in our community and worshipping with us while Sam looks for work here in the States.

Dr. Sam will examine the life that Christ came to give us, what Jesus calls a life of abundance. Foundational to that abundant life is the separation of light from darkness, the freedom of the believer from a life of sin. The life of Christ is a life of light and freedom like we have never enjoyed, but he offers us this life in himself. Join us as we worship God for our life in Christ and learn what that life means for us.

Sunday, we left Daniel entering the den of lions. The king says to him, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” Will God deliver him? You know that he does. God shows up and prevents the lions from harming him, demonstrating that the God whom Daniel lives “before” is the “living God.” As Darius says in response, “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.”

But there is more in the text than simply God’s amazing rescue. Daniel is set up by the Satraps who judge him for being an exile from Judah, a Jew. The law Darius signs forces Daniel violate the kings law in obedience to God. But the world’s evaluation of him is not what guides Daniel. His name tells the story; it means “God is my judge.” Not only does God rescue Daniel, but he makes a statement about his authority. Notice what Daniel says, “My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.”

Living “before” God means that Daniel rejects the world’s judgment, entrusting himself to the true Judge. Again, God makes a statement about his authority: God is mankind’s judge and his people’s defender. Great themes we’ll discover Sunday!

This week we move into chapter six, where Daniel is thrown into the lion’s den. The stage is set by the new king, Darius, who is preparing to set Daniel over the regional leaders of his kingdom. These leaders are unwilling to have a Jewish exile rule over them, so they work to expose his corruption to prevent him from taking this role. They launch a research team to dig up dirt on Daniel, but they can’t find anything. Realizing they have nothing they target his religious practice of regular prayer. The plan they hatch is to get a law passed that makes Daniel’s religious practice illegal. It works, the king signs a law-making prayer to anyone but him illegal for a month. The trap is set! The Satraps move in and catch Daniel praying to God, facing Jerusalem where God put his presence. They report this to the king who is bound by law and political pressure to escort Daniel to the lions.

 There is an important message for God’s people. Even while living in exile, apart from Jerusalem, they need to live humbly before the Lord. But they need to recognize that living out their faith in the world, will bring persecution. Peter says it well, “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation,” (1 Peter 2:12).

 It’s not only a message of warning, but a call to faithfulness, a call to live humbly before God no matter the consequences. Join us Sunday as we worship the Lord and pursue his grace.

As we continue in chapter five, Daniel’s words to the king are important for God’s people. Daniel recounts the rise, fall, and renewal of Nebuchadnezzar. He was given everything, but failed to humble himself before God, so God mercifully humbled him so that he could know the Lord. Then Daniel says, “And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven.” (vv22,23) What does this say to Israel? Well, put Israel in the place of Nebuchadnezzar or Belshazzar. “Israel, you have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this. Israel, you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven.”

Two lessons come from Daniel’s words. First, Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, and Israel all share the same sins. Israel can’t stand in judgment of these pagan kings for they had followed them into idolatry and all the sins of paganism. God had been generous to each of them, but they lived separately from him, exalting themselves, worshipping the created things rather than the Creator. The drama with these kings carries a message for God’s people. Israel is in Babylon because of their idolatry.

The second lesson concerns God’s mercy. Two kings, Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar, one was shown mercy, while the other faced the judgment of God. Which would Israel be? The clue is that Israel is being humbled not destroyed. God could have destroyed them like Belshazzar, but in faithfulness to his commitment they are shown mercy. The question remains, how will they respond to God’s merciful humbling? Join us Sunday as we consider this text.