Fill in the two-word blank according to 2 Timothy 3:16.
All Scripture is “God-breathed”…
Aramaic, being the language of the world is used in those portions of the book which outline the future history of the worldly empires and their relation to the people of God, and Hebrew is used in those portions which interpret for the Hebrews the meaning of the visions of the world empires.
Read Daniel 1:1-2. According to what we’ve just learned, in which language were these verses originally written? “Hebrew”
What did Nebuchadnezzer do with the articles taken from the temple of God?
“He carried them off to Babylonia and put them in the treasure house of his god.”
In Jeremiah 6:13-15 the prophet was addressing the sins of Israel’s own priests and prophets. How did Jeremiah describe them (v. 15)?
“utterly shameless, not even knowing how to blush.”
If indeed he heard Jeremiah preach warning and coming judgment, what kind of impact do you think the sight of fulfilled prophecy had on Daniel?
“I suppose it strengthened his faith in God’s sovereignty and his trust in His love.”
Now, wind back the clock one hundred years when a certain king literally opened the doors of the palace, temple, and storehouse of Judah to the Babylonians. Read Isaiah 39:1-8. Who was Merodach-Baladan’s father?
Baladan “king” of “Babylon”
Set these events beside Daniel 1:1-2. What specific prophecy of Isaiah did Daniel witness in fulfillment? (See Isaiah 39:5-6)
“‘Everything in your palace… will be carried off to Babylon.’”
What made Hezekiah‘s reaction in Isaiah 39:8 stunningly selfish?
“He was just glad it wouldn’t happen in his lifetime. (It also reminds me of the famous quote by Louis XIV: ‘Après moi, le deluge.’)”
If you’re willing to share, and you’ll take care to be appropriate, describe one way you believe Satan tried to act like a friend and sympathize with you in your trouble only to later betray you.
“I’m not that good at sensing outside, evil influence, so I’m not really sure. I suppose it’s what happens when I waste hours playing video games. I rationalize about jobs I’ve done and how I’ll just play one more round.”
Dearest Rachel –
I should have known better, given that this is an in-the-moment study workbook and not something that’s necessarily meant to be pulled out now and again thereafter as a memory like one might a photo album, but on seeing the title of this particular day’s study, you can imagine that I thought about how these studies connect present-day me to past you. Once again, honey, thank you for filling these out and leaving them behind for me to find – even if you never gave them a second thought after finishing the study.
Admittedly, there isn’t much going on in this study that is uniquely “you,” but there are a few things that stand out. I’m sure someone else might have come up with the comparison between Hezekiah and Louis XVI, but if they have, their insights are about as obscure as yours is here. It might also be interesting to look up how many other rules held a similar insouciance about the future of their kingdom after they were no longer part of it, but perhaps they don’t cross our minds for the very fact that they didn’t consider what would happen après eux. It may well be that those erstwhile empires are as forgotten as the one ruled by the legendary Ozymandias; we can’t remember the rulers, since the land they ruled has been forgotten to the ages.
And as for your one personal note, well… it’s nothing you haven’t mentioned before, nor is it anything I wasn’t aware of, and occasionally might say something to you about. Still, given that I was as prone to spend too much time on my computer, I couldn’t do so too often, as it would usually be a case of specks and planks; only if I could set down my machine would I be qualified to say ought about your excessive time on yours. I know, we probably enabled each other to a certain extent, but we were happy together being that way. I don’t know what that says about each other, as I’m no better at recognizing evil influences than you were.
Maybe you can see them that much better now, given your current vantage point. If so, that’s all the more reason for me to ask you to keep an eye on me, though, and to wish me luck. No matter how you look at it, I’m going to need it.
Letters to Rachel 