17 To
these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of
literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all
kinds.
18 At the
end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief
official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked
with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so
they entered the king’s service. 20 In every matter of wisdom
and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times
better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. 10 times
better. Really, is that a big surprise? God is able to supply us with what we
need better than anything we can conjure up.
21 And
Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.
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John Burnett:
15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better
nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to
drink and gave them vegetables instead.
17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and
understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could
understand visions and dreams of all kinds. God gives us all the things we need. Here is another example
of Him providing Daniel and his friends with knowledge and wisdom beyond their
years and it prospered them in the eyes of a wicked king.
18 At the end of the time set by the king to
bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to
Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and he found none
equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s
service. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding
about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all
the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.
21 And Daniel remained there until the first year
of King Cyrus.
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Krista Cook: 15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better
nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So
the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave
them vegetables instead.
17 To
these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of
literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all
kinds.
- Look
at the blessings they received because they stood firm and trusted God.
18 At the
end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief
official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked
with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so
they entered the king’s service. 20 In every matter of wisdom
and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times
better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.
- They
were better in all things because they had the Lord on their side. He
will not fail us.
21 And
Daniel remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.
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Allen Michaels: 15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished
than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the
guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them
vegetables instead.
17 To these four
young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and
learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. Different culture need not be God’s enemy. If it does not
violate his commands, it can aid in accomplishing his purpose. We who follow
God are free to be competent leaders in our culture, but we are required to
pledge our allegiance to God first.
18 At the end of the
time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official
presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them,
and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they
entered the king’s service. 20 In every matter of wisdom and
understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times
better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. As we serve others, we must not merely pretend to have God’s
wisdom. Our wisdom will be genuine when we are rightly related to God.
We
may feel like foreigners whenever we experience change. Alien cultures come in
many forms: a new job, a new school, a new neighborhood. We can use the same
principles to help us adapt to our new surroundings without abandoning God.
21 And Daniel
remained there until the first year of King Cyrus.
Babylon was a wicked nation, but it would have been much worse without Daniel’s
influence.
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Tuesday’s reading for Daniel 2:1-7. There is no reading Friday or Monday.
2 In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his
mind was troubled and he could not sleep. 2 So
the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers[a] to tell him what he had dreamed. When they
came in and stood before the king, 3 he said to them, “I have had a dream that troubles
me and I want to know what it means.[b]”
4 Then the astrologers answered the
king,[c] “May the king live forever! Tell your
servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”5 The king replied to the astrologers, “This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble. 6 But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and interpret it for me.”
7 Once more they replied, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”
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