Daniel

Date Written: Approximately 535 B.C., recording events that occurred from about 605-535 B.C.

Author: Daniel

Setting: Daniel had been taken captive & deported to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, the leader of Babylonia, in 605 B.C. He took the most talented & useful people back to Babylon & left only the poor behind. There Daniel served in the government for about 60 years. This book covers 75 years of Daniel’s life, but 490 years of history.

Key People: Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Belshazzar, Darius

Purpose: To convince the Jewish exiles that God is sovereign & to provide them with a vision of their future redemption.

Key Verses: He (God) reveals deep & hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness & light dwells with Him. 2:22

In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms & bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. 2:44

Chapter Outline:

1-6 Daniel’s Life

7-12 Daniel’s Visions

Importance of reading Daniel:

What we read: Daniel & his 3 friends are examples of dedication & commitment. They were determined to serve God regardless of the consequences. They didn’t give in to pressures from anyone. When the 3 Hebrews were told they were going to be thrown into the fiery furnace, they said, “If He rescues me or if He doesn’t, I will serve only God.”  What we can learn: We have to make up our mind that we are going to serve & obey God no matter what. Do not compromise.  Even if we face death, we will obey God. Be faithful to God whether He intervenes on your behalf or not because our eternal reward is worth any suffering we may have to endure in this life.

What we read: There was nothing more important to Daniel than God. Everything in his life revolved around God. What we can learn: God should be first in our lives. He shouldn’t just be a part of our lives, but He should be the central part & everything else revolves around Him. We are supposed to love Him with ALL of our hearts, souls & minds.

What we read: The rulers & leaders & those around Daniel, repeatedly drew spiritual conclusions as they closely watched Daniel’s life. They couldn’t help but notice his commitment to the Lord.  What we can learn: Others are watching. What are you telling them about your commitment to God? Do your actions line up with your words? Do you say with your mouth that you obey & follow God, but your actions say the opposite?

What we read: Daniel teaches us to take political changes in stride. Rulers come & go, kings rise & fall, but as Daniel 4:26 says, “Heaven rules.” This doesn’t mean we ignore politics. Daniel didn’t. He was right in the middle of the Babylonian & Persian governments. But he kept his balance because he knew his God was sovereign, controlling events, guiding history & moving the times toward their ultimate consummation. What we can learn: We are living in turbulent times. Times when our political leaders don’t make us feel secure about the future of our country. Our country needs us Christians to stand on God’s Word & pray without ceasing.

What we read: In Babylon, the king’s word was the law & once he made a law, he couldn’t change it. The men talked the king into signing a law making himself a god for 30 days & no one was allowed to pray to any other gods. When Daniel heard of this law, nothing changed for him. Even though he knew about this law, he still went to his room, opened his window & prayed to God as he always had. What we can learn: Daniel let nothing stand in the way of his daily prayer life, his time to be with His Father. Not even the threat of death. Think about the things that prevent you from spending time with God.

What we read: Chapter 7-12 are Daniel’s dreams & visions. They cover 2 periods of time. One leading up to the first coming of the Messiah & one leading to the second. His visions reveal that the Messiah will be the ruler of a spiritual kingdom that will overpower & overshadow all other earthly kingdoms. What we can learn: We have to understand that these visions help us see that we should interpret all of history in light of God’s eternal kingdom. These visions relate mainly to the future. God is showing the final end of all worldly kingdoms in contrast to His eternal kingdom. God revealed the future to us so that we can endure suffering, knowing that the end will be glorious.  

Things to think about as you read Daniel:

• Keeping in mind the meaning of Daniel’s name, “God is my judge,” think about how Daniel lived. Think about what you observed of his life & character & determine to be a Daniel.
• What did Daniel know about God that would help him accept what happened to him? How does this understanding of God help you deal with the situations & circumstances of your life?
• How does your understanding of future events help you understand & deal with what is happening in history?
• Consider the faith that Daniel & his 3 friends had. Is your faith as strong as theirs? If not, how can you strengthen it?

Hosea

Date Written: Approximately 715 B.C., recording events from about 753-715 B.C.

Author: Hosea

Setting: Hosea began his ministry during the end of the prosperous but morally declining reign of Jeroboam II of Israel. The upper classes were doing well, but they were oppressing the poor. He prophesied until shortly after the fall of Samaria in 722 B.C. God told him to find a wife & told him ahead of time that she would be unfaithful to him. Although she would bear many children, some of them would be fathered by other men. In obedience to God, Hosea married Gomer. His relationship with her, her adultery & their children became living, prophetic examples to Israel.

Key People: Hosea, Gomer, their children

Purpose: To show God’s love for His sinful people.

Key Verses: The Lord said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another & is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods & love the sacred raisin cakes.” 3:1

Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as My priests; because you  have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children. 4:6

Chapter Outline:

1-3 Hosea’s Wayward Wife

4-14 God’s Wayward People

Importance of reading Hosea:

What we read: The book of Hosea is a love story. It tells of God’s love for His people & the response of His bride. A covenant had been made & God had been faithful. His love & His commitment were unbroken. But Israel, like Gomer, was adulterous & unfaithful. Then after warning of judgment, God reaffirmed His love & offered reconciliation. His love & mercy were overflowing, but justice would be served. What we can learn: God is a God of love, but He also is a God of justice. Sin has to be punished, yet He is always ready to forgive us when we turn to Him & repent.

What we read: Gomer lost interest in Hosea & ran after other men. She turned away from the one that loved her & provided for her. What we can learn: We can lose interest in our relationship with God & pursue dreams & goals that don’t include Him. When we compromise our Christian lifestyles & take on the ways of the world, we are being unfaithful.

What we read: Although God will discipline His people for sin, He encourages & restores those who have repented. True repentance opens the way to a new beginning. God forgives & restores. Hosea went after his wife & bought her back. He paid the price to get her back.  What we can learn: There is still hope for those who turn back to God. No matter how far you have strayed, God is willing to bring you back. God chases after His runaway bride & is eager to restore & renew the relationship. Just as Hosea paid the price, Jesus paid the price to redeem us with His blood.

What we read: Hosea ends on a note of hope with God promising to restore His people & renew His covenant with them. This restoration is shown as a wedding, symbolizing a renewed relationship between God & His people. What we can learn: This is another reminder that no matter how far we have strayed from God, He is always ready to welcome us back with open arms.

Things to think about as you read Hosea:

• Think about what Paul wrote in II Corinthians 11:2 as you read Hosea – I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin.
• Are there any similarities between your relationship with Jesus Christ & Israel’s relationship with God? How are you pleasing your heavenly Bridegroom? Are you breaking God’s heart in any way? What do you need to do if you are? How do you think God will respond?

Joel

Date Written: Probably during the time Joel may have prophesied, from about 835-796 B.C.

Author: Joel

Setting: The people of Judah had become prosperous & complacent. Taking God for granted, they had turned to self-centeredness, idolatry & sin. Joel warned them that this kind of life-style would eventually bring down God’s judgment. Joel’s prophecy was given 10 years after Obadiah’s.  

Key People: Joel, the people of Judah

Purpose: To warn Judah of God’s coming judgment because of their sins & to urge them to turn back to God.

Key Verses: “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting & weeping & mourning.” Rend your heart & not your garments. Return to the Lord, your God, for He is gracious & compassionate, slow to anger & abounding in love & relents from sending calamity. 2:12-13

And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons & daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 2:28

Chapter Outline:

1 Locusts

2-3 Blessings & Curses

Importance of reading Joel:

What we read: Joel begins by describing a terrible plague of locusts that covers the land & devours the crops. This devastation is a foretaste of the coming judgment of God, the “day of the Lord.” He urges the people to turn from their sin & turn back to God. All of the prophets had the same message – sin brings God’s judgment, yet with God’s justice there is also great mercy.  What we can learn: This message has never changed. God is still calling us to turn from sin & turn to Him.

What we read: God was always ready to forgive & restore all of those who would come to Him & turn away from sin. He wanted to be in right relationship with them. What we can learn: God’s greatest desire is for all to come to Him. It’s not too late to receive His forgiveness.

What we read: Joel began with a prophecy about the destruction of the land & ended with a prophecy about its restoration. He began by stressing the need for repentance & ended with the promise of forgiveness that repentance brings. He was trying to convince the people to wake up & get rid of their complacency, & realize the danger of living apart from God.  What we can learn: God’s message to us is that there is still time. Anyone who calls on His name can be saved. Those who turn to God will enjoy His blessings & those who refuse will face destruction.

Things to think about as you read Joel:

• What do you see happening in the world & in your nation? Could it be the judgment of the Lord? What could you learn from Joel’s exhortations? What can you do?
• Have you failed God in any way? According to what you have seen in Joel, is there a chance to return to Him? How can you apply the message of Joel to your life?

Video Link: https://youtu.be/S4ZNVMHUfnM?si=9P1rdKaJbiULiitC

Blessings,

Nichole Henson, Fullness of Joy Ministry