Looking for daniel

[JLG]

56) A very precious man and a top official


Daniel 1: But the principal court official says to Daniel: “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. What if he should see you looking worse in appearance than the other youths of your age? You would make me guilty before the king.”


- Daniel is a good listener !


- He takes into account what the principal court official says and his fears !


- Moreover, he listens carefully to God !


- As a consequence, he is the only one to receive visions !


- And he tells these visions with all the details !


- When someone listens carefully to what people say, he shows he cares about their opinions and their feelings !


- So Daniel cares about God and men !


- RESOLUTE / FAITHFUL / GOOD LISTENER !

 

[JLG]

57) A very precious man and a top official


Daniel 1: But Daniel says to the guardian whom the principal court official has appointed over Daniel, Han·a·niʹah, Mishʹa·el, and Az·a·riʹah: “Please, test your servants for ten days, and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to drink; then compare our appearance with the appearance of the youths who are eating the king’s delicacies, and deal with your servants according to what you see.”


- Daniel is proactive!


- First he is a good listener and then he proposes a solution adapted to the situation!


- Proactive Attitude (PA) is a personality characteristic which has implications for motivation and action. It is a belief in the rich potential of changes that can be made to improve oneself and one's environment. This includes various facets such as resourcefulness, responsibility, values, and vision !


- Being a good listener and being proactive are connected !


- It’s a combination !


- you have to follow the two steps !


- RESOLUTE / FAITHFUL / GOOD LISTENER / PROACTIVE

 

[JLG]

58) A very precious man and a top official


Daniel 1: So the guardian takes away their delicacies and their wine and gives them vegetables. And the true God gives these four youths knowledge and insight into every kind of writing and wisdom; and Daniel is given understanding in all sorts of visions and dreams.


- Once again, Daniel shows how Faithful he is !


- As a consequence, he receives knowledge and insight and wisdom and understanding !


- We can see it is a process !


- Qualities are to be developed !


- It must grow and grow !


- And there is no limit !




- God’s creation keeps growing !


- The universe keeps growing !


- The brain keeps growing if you don’t listen to human society !


- Getting older is a fake !


- We shouldn’t get older !


- There is no limit to the capacities of the brain !


- There is if we stop using it !


- There is no limit to the capacity of creating and developping ideas !


- So if we want to follow God’s example, we need to keep using our brains and being creative !


RESOLUTE / FAITHFUL / GOOD LISTENER / PROACTIVE / FAITHFUL

 

[JLG]

59) A very precious man and a top official


Daniel 1: When the king speaks with them, no one in the entire group is found to be like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; and they continue to serve before the king. In every matter requiring wisdom and understanding that the king asks them about, he finds them ten times better than all the magic-practicing priests and the conjurers in his entire realm. And Daniel remains there until the first year of King Cyrus.


- Again and again, Daniel shows himself faithful !


- That’s his main quality !

- He shines with faithfulness!


- And everybody can see it!

- And he is blessed again and again!


- And his faithfulness keeps growing bigger and bigger!


- it is so big that there is no room for the other people!


- Ten times better!


- And Daniel has visions he can explain!


- RESOLUTE / FAITHFUL / GOOD LISTENER / PROACTIVE / FAITHFUL / FAITHFUL

 

[JLG]

60) A very precious man and a top official


Daniel 2:


- King Nebuchadnezzar has a dream!


- He wants the wise men of Babylon to tell him the dream and its interpretation!


- But nobody is able to do it!


- As a consequence, the king orders all the wise men of Babylon to be killed!


- When Daniel hears about it, he discreetly and cautiously speaks to Arioch the chief of the king’s bodyguard, who has gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon!


- Here we get two qualities: Daniel is discreet and cautious!


- Discreet: careful and prudent in one's speech or actions, especially in order to keep something confidential or to avoid embarrassment !


- Cautious: careful to avoid potential problems or dangers !


- Discreet is respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic while cautious is careful; using or exercising caution; tentative.


- RESOLUTE / FAITHFUL / GOOD LISTENER / PROACTIVE / FAITHFUL / FAITHFUL / DISCREET AND CAUTIOUS

 

[JLG]

61) A very precious man and a top official


Daniel 2:


He asks Arʹi·och the officer of the king: “Why is there such a harsh order from the king?” Then Arʹi·och informs Daniel about the matter. So Daniel goes in and asks the king to grant him time to tell the interpretation to the king.


- That’s what we call to be resolute !


- He goes straight away to the king !




- He knows what to do and he does it !


- He doesn’t lose time !


- RESOLUTE / FAITHFUL / GOOD LISTENER / PROACTIVE / FAITHFUL / FAITHFUL / DISCREET AND CAUTIOUS / RESOLUTE AND PROACTIVE


- Faithful (3)

- Resolute (2)

- Proactive (2)

- Good listener (1)

- Discreet and cautious (1)

 

[JLG]

62) A very precious man and a top official


Daniel 2:


Daniel then went to his house and informed his companions Han·a·niʹah, Mishʹa·el, and Az·a·riʹah of the matter. 18 He asked them to pray for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions would not be destroyed along with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.


- Daniel is definitely a team player!


- He can count on himself but also on others!


- He also shows how he is humble!


- Having or showing a modest or low estimate of one's importance !


- RESOLUTE / FAITHFUL / GOOD LISTENER / PROACTIVE / FAITHFUL / FAITHFUL / DISCREET AND CAUTIOUS / RESOLUTE AND PROACTIVE / TEAM PLAYER AND HUMBLE


- Faithful (3)

- Resolute (2)

- Proactive (2)

- Good listener (1)

- Discreet and cautious (1)

- Team player (1)

- Humble (1)

 

[JLG]

63) A very precious man and a top official


Daniel 2:


- Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision at night. So Daniel praised the God of heaven.


- The first thing Daniel does when the vision is revealed to him is to thank God!


- Thus once again he shows how humble he is!

- RESOLUTE / FAITHFUL / GOOD LISTENER / PROACTIVE / FAITHFUL / FAITHFUL / DISCREET AND CAUTIOUS / RESOLUTE AND PROACTIVE / TEAM PLAYER AND HUMBLE / HUMBLE


- Faithful (3)

- Resolute (2)

- Proactive (2)

- Humble (2)

- Good listener (1)

- Discreet and cautious (1)

- Team player (1)

 

[JLG]

64) A very precious man and a top official


Daniel 2:


Daniel then goes in to Arʹi·och, whom the king has appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon, and he says to him: “Do not destroy any wise men of Babylon. Take me in before the king, and I will tell the interpretation to the king.”


- Once again Daniel is resolute and proactive!


- He doesn’t waste time!


- He acts as fast as possible!


- Of course, it is a question of life or death for many people!


- RESOLUTE / FAITHFUL / GOOD LISTENER / PROACTIVE / FAITHFUL / FAITHFUL / DISCREET AND CAUTIOUS / RESOLUTE AND PROACTIVE / TEAM PLAYER AND HUMBLE / HUMBLE / RESOLUTE AND PROACTIVE


- Faithful (3)

- Resolute (3)

- Proactive (3)

- Humble (2)

- Good listener (1)

- Discreet and cautious (1)

- Team player (1)

 

[JLG]

65) A very precious man and a top official


Daniel 2:


Daniel replies to the king: “None of the wise men, conjurers, magic-practicing priests, or astrologers are able to tell the king the secret that he is asking. But there is a God in the heavens who is a Revealer of secrets, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what is to happen in the final part of the days.

- Once again Daniel shows how humble he is!


- He always puts God first!


- And he always says that he is nothing!

- RESOLUTE / FAITHFUL / GOOD LISTENER / PROACTIVE / FAITHFUL / FAITHFUL / DISCREET AND CAUTIOUS / RESOLUTE AND PROACTIVE / TEAM PLAYER AND HUMBLE / HUMBLE / RESOLUTE AND PROACTIVE / HUMBLE


- Faithful (3)

- Resolute (3)

- Proactive (3)

- Humble (3)

- Good listener (1)

- Discreet and cautious (1)

- Team player (1)

 

[JLG]

66) A very precious man and a top official


Daniel 2:

As for me, this secret was not revealed to me because I have greater wisdom than anyone living; rather, it was to make the interpretation known to the king so that you may know the thoughts in your heart.


- When Daniel has to tell a vision or a dream and its interpretation, he always explains that it doesn't come from him!


- Or that he doesn’t have greater wisdom!


- He never forgets to tell he gets the information from God!


- So once again Daniel shows how humble he is!


- And it is even truer because he is a top official in Babylon!


- And he has to work with people who are proud!


- RESOLUTE / FAITHFUL / GOOD LISTENER / PROACTIVE / FAITHFUL / FAITHFUL / DISCREET AND CAUTIOUS / RESOLUTE AND PROACTIVE / TEAM PLAYER AND HUMBLE / HUMBLE / RESOLUTE AND PROACTIVE / HUMBLE / HUMBLE


- Humble (4)

- Faithful (3)

- Resolute (3)

- Proactive (3)

- Good listener (1)

- Discreet and cautious (1)

- Team player (1)

 

[JLG]

67) A very precious man and a top official


Daniel 2:


The king then elevates Daniel and gives him many fine gifts, and he makes him the ruler over all the province of Babylon and the chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. And at Daniel’s request, the king appoints Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the administration of the province of Babylon, but Daniel serves in the king’s court.


- Once again Daniel shows himself faithful to God and he is rewarded!


- He becomes the ruler over all the province of Babylon and the chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon!


- And he also is a team player because he doesn’t forget his companions who at his request are appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon!


- RESOLUTE / FAITHFUL / GOOD LISTENER / PROACTIVE / FAITHFUL / FAITHFUL / DISCREET AND CAUTIOUS / RESOLUTE AND PROACTIVE / TEAM PLAYER AND HUMBLE / HUMBLE / RESOLUTE AND PROACTIVE / HUMBLE / HUMBLE / FAITHFUL AND TEAM PLAYER


- Humble (4)

- Faithful (4)

- Resolute (3)

- Proactive (3)

- Team player (2)

- Good listener (1)

- Discreet and cautious (1)

___________________________________________________________

- Get away from this old world of Chaos and prepare for the New World!

- don’t do like the Israelites who stayed in the old world and died

 

[JLG]

68) A very precious man and a top official


Daniel 5:


Daniel then replies to the king: “You may keep your gifts and give your presents to others. However, I will read the writing to the king and make known its interpretation to him...Then Belshazzar gives the command, and they clothe Daniel with purple and place a gold necklace around his neck; and they herald concerning him that he is to become the third ruler in the kingdom.


- Once again Daniel does his job and tells the vision and its interpretation as told by God!


- Thus he is rewarded!


- And once again he shows himself faithful to God!


- He keeps God’s way going straight away, not on the left, not on the right!


- RESOLUTE / FAITHFUL / GOOD LISTENER / PROACTIVE / FAITHFUL / FAITHFUL / DISCREET AND CAUTIOUS / RESOLUTE AND PROACTIVE / TEAM PLAYER AND HUMBLE / HUMBLE / RESOLUTE AND PROACTIVE / HUMBLE / HUMBLE / FAITHFUL AND TEAM PLAYER / FAITHFUL


- Faithful (5)

- Humble (4)

- Resolute (3)

- Proactive (3)

- Team player (2)

- Good listener (1)

- Discreet and cautious (1)

 

[JLG]

69) A very precious man and a top official


Daniel 6:

It seems good to Darius to appoint 120 satraps over the whole kingdom. Over them are three high officials, one of whom is Daniel; and the satraps must report to them, so that the king does not suffer loss. Now Daniel is distinguishing himself over the other high officials and the satraps, for there is an extraordinary spirit in him, and the king intends to elevate him over the entire kingdom.


- Once again Daniel shows himself faithful and he is rewarded with an extraordinary spirit!


- And the king elevates him over the entire kingdom!


- God always blesses him!


- Daniel is so different like Job and Samuel!

- So exceptional!


- RESOLUTE / FAITHFUL / GOOD LISTENER / PROACTIVE / FAITHFUL / FAITHFUL / DISCREET AND CAUTIOUS / RESOLUTE AND PROACTIVE / TEAM PLAYER AND HUMBLE / HUMBLE / RESOLUTE AND PROACTIVE / HUMBLE / HUMBLE / FAITHFUL AND TEAM PLAYER / FAITHFUL / FAITHFUL


- Faithful (6)

- Humble (4)

- Resolute (3)

- Proactive (3)

- Team player (2)

- Good listener (1)

- Discreet and cautious (1)

 

[JLG]

70) A very precious man and a top official


Daniel 6:


These men then say: “We will find in this Daniel no grounds for accusation at all, unless we find it against him in the law of his God.”

So these high officials and satraps go in as a group to the king, and they say to him: “O King Darius, may you live on forever. All the royal officials, prefects, satraps, high royal officers, and governors have consulted together to establish a royal decree and to enforce a ban, that for 30 days whoever makes a petition to any god or man except to you, O king, should be thrown into the lions’ pit. Now, O king, may you establish the decree and sign it, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be annulled.”

So King Darius signs the decree and the ban. But as soon as Daniel knows that the decree has been signed, he goes to his house, which has the windows of his roof chamber open toward Jerusalem. And three times a day he gets down on his knees and prays and offers praise before his God, as he has regularly done prior to this. At that time those men burst in and find Daniel petitioning and pleading for favor before his God.


- Daniel doesn’t care about people!


- But he cares about God!


- There is nothing more important than serving him!


- And the people who trick him know it!




- As soon as he hears about the decree, he praises God!

- FAITHFUL!


- Such an incredible example of the Bible!


- RESOLUTE / FAITHFUL / GOOD LISTENER / PROACTIVE / FAITHFUL / FAITHFUL / DISCREET AND CAUTIOUS / RESOLUTE AND PROACTIVE / TEAM PLAYER AND HUMBLE / HUMBLE / RESOLUTE AND PROACTIVE / HUMBLE / HUMBLE / FAITHFUL AND TEAM PLAYER / FAITHFUL / FAITHFUL / FAITHFUL


- Faithful (7)

- Humble (4)

- Resolute (3)

- Proactive (3)

- Team player (2)

- Good listener (1)

- Discreet and cautious (1)

 

[JLG]

71) A very precious man and a top official


Daniel 9:


So I turn my face to the true God, entreating him in prayer, along with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I pray to my God and make confession and say: “O God, the great and awe-inspiring One, who keeps his covenant and shows loyal love to those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled…


- God listens to Daniel because he prays God with humility!


- He recognizes all the bad actions of Israel!


- And there is a long list!


- And God tells him Jerusalem will be rebuilt but destroyed again!


- He tells a lot about how God considers Israel!


- RESOLUTE / FAITHFUL / GOOD LISTENER / PROACTIVE / FAITHFUL / FAITHFUL / DISCREET AND CAUTIOUS / RESOLUTE AND PROACTIVE / TEAM PLAYER AND HUMBLE / HUMBLE / RESOLUTE AND PROACTIVE / HUMBLE / HUMBLE / FAITHFUL AND TEAM PLAYER / FAITHFUL / FAITHFUL / FAITHFUL / HUMBLE


- Faithful (7)

- Humble (5)

- Resolute (3)

- Proactive (3)

- Team player (2)

- Good listener (1)

- Discreet and cautious (1)

 

[JLG]

72) Where does it come from?

How does it grow?


Daniel 1

Then the king orders Ashpenaz, his chief court official, to bring some of the Israelites, including those of royal and noble descent. They are to be youths without any defect, of good appearance, endowed with wisdom, knowledge, and discernment, and capable of serving in the king’s palace. He is to teach them the writing and the language of the Chaldeans.


But Daniel resolved in his heart that he will not defile himself with the king’s delicacies or with the wine he drinks.


- Daniel had a good education!


- He was taught God’s word when he was young!


- It could penetrate his heart and mind!


- When he was exiled to Babylon in a foreign land with a different tradition and religion, Daniel would stick to his faith and his way of living!


- It shows the importance to be taught about God’s word when being a child!


- It is important to study the Bible daily!


- Children must learn how to personally know the faithful characters!


- They must become their friends!


- Thus they will gradually learn how to become faithful to God and develop a special relationship with him!


- They will learn how to pray to God and open their hearts to him!


- It is never too late but it is more difficult when it is necessary to do it when an adult or even later!


- So it is better to start as early as possible!


- Remember Jesus when he was in the temple at the age of 12 speaking with the priests who were astounded by his knowledge!


- This old world only offers superficiality but it leads nowhere, certainly not to God!


- With the Bible we have everything but we need to open the doors and there are many!


- But many let the doors closed and they go to religious meetings and they do it as if they were watching TV passively!


- They only hear noise but nothing penetrates their hearts and minds!


- How do you want to get closer to God in such a way!


- What do you think God will think of you?


- Will you be a stranger or a friend of his?


- It’s up to you!

 

[JLG]

73) Where does it come from?

How does it grow?


Daniel 2


Daniel then went to his house and informed his companions Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the matter. He asked them to pray for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions would not be destroyed along with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision at night. So Daniel praised the God of heaven. -


- Daniel had a good education and he was taught God’s word when he was young!


- But he would keep it to maintain and develop it daily!


- Every time he felt the need, he would pray to God and in case of extreme emergency, he would ask his companions to pray too!


- And God would tell him about visions and dreams and their interpretations and to nobody else!


- The channel of communication between them was constantly open!


- It was something natural and necessary!


- Like what it should be between parents and children!


- The problem is even there there is usually no more communication!


- So how do you want to develop a strong communication when there is no or little communication between you and your children!


- And the same if children don’t know how to communicate with their parents, how do you want them to learn how to communicate with God!


- We have cellphones and social networks, but when people are in front of each other, they usually don’t communicate anymore!


- How many old people stay alone and don’t communicate anymore!


- Everything seems so superficial in this dying world!


- Even communication is dying!


- Take the example of the communication between God and Jesus!


- There are so many examples!


- But it has to be worked out!


- There are doors but if they stay closed, it leads nowhere!

 

[JLG]

74) Where does it come from?

How does it grow?


Daniel 3


Shadrach, Meshach, and Abedne·go answered the king: “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If it must be, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the burning fiery furnace, O king, and to rescue us from your hand. But even if he does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold that you have set up.”


- When we speak about Daniel, we can say the same about his three companions!


- They say no to Nebuchadnezzar!

- There is nothing to say, their ideas are clear!


- Whatever may happen, they are resolute!


- They speak with one voice!


- They don’t need to discuss!


- they know who they belong to!


- They know who they worship!


- It is based on a good knowledge of God’s word!


- It is the same when Daniel asks them to pray to God to get a vision and its interpretation!


- Strong knowledge and strong communication!


- No superficial knowledge and no superficial communication!


- They can see the lighthouse!


- And it shines at any time in any weather!


- There is no darkness for them!


- They can’t lose their way!

 

[JLG]

75) Where does it come from?

How does it grow?


Daniel 4


“‘O Belteshazzar the chief of the magic-practicing priests, I well know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and no secret is too difficult for you. So explain to me the visions I saw in my dream and its interpretation.

“‘This was the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw; now you, O Belteshazzar, tell its interpretation, for all the other wise men of my kingdom are unable to make the interpretation known to me. But you are able to do so, because the spirit of holy gods is in you.’


- Babylon is the greatest nation at the time!


- You can get many wise men in Babylon at this time!

- There are also many Jews in Babylon at the time!


- And according to what we can read in Daniel 1, these people are able men!


- But only four Jews get out of these people!


- Daniel and his three companions!


- And nobody can be compared to them!


- And among these four Jews, one is more exceptional than the others!


- Daniel!


- And guess why?


- He is the one with the best relationship with God!


- He gets the visions and the dreams and their interpretations!


- He has God’s spirit!


- He is directly connected to God!


- And he keeps developing this connection every day!


- It fills his life!