Prophet of Dreams - Daniel

Daniel stands in God’s word as the man who dared to keep a clean heart and body (Daniel 1:8), and the man therefore whom God chose as a channel for his message to the Gentile nations of the world. Daniel was in the palace at Babylon the same time Ezekiel was toiling in a slave gang.

Daniel has been called the prophet of dreams. God revealed to him his secrets. “During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision” (Daniel 2:19). Daniel, like Ezekiel, looks far into the future. He is quoted most in Revelation. One cannot understand the great signs of Revelation without looking at their meaning in Daniel. Although Daniel was a captive, he rose to be prime minister of Babylon. The wonderful thing is that he always remained true to Jehovah God.

Daniel was the companion of Kings. He was, like Joseph, God’s candle shining in pagan darkness. He was chief statesman in the first empire of the world, chief adviser of a great monarch and a great protector of his own people. God gave him favour and love in the sight of the court official, Ashpenaz. Even proud Nebuchadnezzar seemed to have had real affection for Daniel. Book of Daniel reveals the power of God and his universal sovereignty. God’s power is contrasted with world power.

In Daniel 1, we see God’s power in keeping Daniel and his companions. They were given understanding and wisdom above all the wise men of Babylon.

In Daniel 2, we see the power of God in revealing the dream of Nebuchadnezzar to Daniel. None of the wise men of Babylon could do this.

In Daniel 3, we see the power of God in delivering Daniels three companions from the fiery furnace. This occurred after they had been in Babylon about 20 years, and God was demonstrating in this most dramatic way his power over all the gods of this country.

God’s power is revealed in the deliverance of Daniel from the lion’s den in Chapter 6.

Unlike other prophets, Daniel deals more fully with the Gentile nations than with his own Jewish nation. The other prophets only mention the gentiles as incidental to something concerning Israel. But Daniel gives us the history of the Gentile powers from Babylon to the end.

The prophetic revelations are from Chapter 7 to 12. We see a glimpse of the last days in chapter 11. Description about the great tribulations is also mentioned in Chapter 12.

As we are experiencing lots of signs of the last days which are mentioned in the Bible, it is important to study this book along with the last book in the Bible, Revelation. May the Spirit of God lead and guide you to live a holy life as of Daniel and be prepared to see Christ coming to take his Church at any time.

Home Missionary - Ezekiel

In the book of Ezekiel, we see him work among the exiles in Babylon. God had prepared a witness to the people in their captivity. God needed a voice to warn the people. For 22 years Ezekiel dealt with the discouraged captives to whom God had sent him. God’s greatest communications can only be made by his servants whose own hearts have been broken. The instrument in God’s hands must personally be ready to share in suffering with others. Jesus’s body was broken for us.

Like Jeremiah, Ezekiel was not only a prophet, but he was a priest as well. He was a prophet during the captivity. When he was 25 years old, he was carried captive to Babylon. He lived at the same time as Daniel and Jeremiah. Jeremiah remained among the Jews in Jerusalem. Ezekiel lived with the exiles in Babylon, and Daniel lived in the court of the rulers in Babylon.

The captivity did not bring the people of Judah back to God, but only seemed to drive the people into greater wickedness. They worshiped idols and set up shrines in the hills and defiled the sanctuary of Jehovah (Ezekiel 5:11). Ezekiel began his prophecies to them. Ezekiel used symbols, as in the mimic siege of Jerusalem (Ezekiel 4), visions (Ezekiel 8), parables (Ezekiel 17), poems (Ezekiel 19), proverbs (Ezekiel 12:22-23; 18:2) and prophecies (Ezekiel 6:20; 40 – 48). He talks of sin and punishment, of repentance and blessing. His responsibility was to deliver God’s message and the results was not in his hands.

Ezekiel opens with the heavenly glory in a vision (Ezekiel 1). The book ends with earthly glory (Ezekiel 40-48). Ezekiel visions given in between tell of the departing of this glory (Ezekiel 9:3). First it left the cherubim for the threshold of God’s house (Ezekiel 10:4), thence to the east gate (Ezekiel 10:18,19), and finally clear away from the temple and city to the Mount of Olives (Ezekiel 11:22,23). Thus gradually, reluctantly, majestically, the glory of the Lord left the temple and the Holy city. Then captivity came. This was Ezekiel’s message. Their captivity was a result of their sin, and before they could hope for return to their land they must return to their Lord. This message reaches its climax in the impassioned cry of Ezekiel 18:30-32. The closing vision of temple is important and significant. The glory of the Lord returns (Ezekiel 43:2-6) and fills the house of the Lord (Ezekiel 44:4).

The same is true of the church of Christ. The glory of the Lord left the house of the Lord because of the sins of God’s people. It is true of individual Christian experience. God’s blessing returns to his people when his people return him.

Young Christians, this is just what happens to us. We can grieve the Holy Spirit and resist him until he is quenched and our heart becomes like a ruined temple bereft of its glory. There are so many blighted Christian lives from which the radiance has gone through disobedience. We grieve the Spirit when we do not allow ourselves time to read the word or pray. We limit the spirit when we refuse to be clean vessels through which he can work. We resist him by allowing idols to be in our hearts. Remember, your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1Corinthians 6:19). The questions I have for you is, Does His presence glow in your life?

Jeremiah Laments

The book of Lamentations is attributed to Jeremiah (2 Chronicles 36:25). Five beautiful poems are bound together in this book. Here we see the prophet weeping over the sins of his people. In Lamentations 3:22-27, the light breaks through to throw a shining rainbow across the murky sky. God’s grace always shines above the clouds of sin, and it will always shine in the heart that is trusting in God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Lord Jesus Christ gives, “to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair” – Isaiah 61:3.

Similar to the book of Job, Lamentations shows a man of God puzzling about the results of evil and suffering in the world. While Job was dealing with an unexplained evil in his life, Jeremiah lamented over the tragedy of Jerusalem. The people of city went through tough times. This book laments over the result of sin in the world, and some verse of hope in the Lord (Lamentations 3:22-25). This verse of faith will build us strong in the midst of darkness and a light to all those suffering under the results of sin and disobedience.

This book of Lamentation reminds us the importance of asking Lord for the forgiveness of our sins when we fail him. As you see in Chapter 3, the hope of a better day, may the Lord empower you with his wisdom and knowledge to hope in faith of the beautiful days ahead with Christ Jesus. Amen

God’s Prophet - Jeremiah

Jeremiah came from the village of Anathoth some 3 miles from Jerusalem. This gave him the advantages of the Holy City. He inherited the traditions of an illustrious ancestry. His early life was, no doubt, molded by strong religious influences. God had something better for Jeremiah than to spend his life as a priest serving at the alters. God appointed this young man to be a prophet of the Lord in this most trying hour in the history of the chosen people. God often choses unlikely instruments to do his work. He chose the sensitive shrinking Jeremiah for what seemed a hopeless mission, with the words, “Do not say, I am only a child, you must go to everyone I send you to say whatever I command you, do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you, declares the Lord” – (Jeremiah 1:7-8). This is what a prophet is - one that tells forth what God says.

Jeremiah prophesied during the time when Israel had been taken into captivity and Judah was in the declining days. Lists of the prophecies of Jeremiah are:

·         Judah – Captivity. Restoration

·         Cities – Jerusalem, Babylon, Damascus

·         Gentile nations – Egypt, Philistia, Moab, Ammon, Edom, Elam, Babylon

·         Messiah

Jeremiah uses many symbols given him by God in teaching the people. On one occasion he wore a rotted girdle, another time he put a yoke on his neck, like an ox, again he broke a bottle in the presence of the ruler, he bought a field and buried the deed. He was the ninth of the prophets. He prophesied to the Southern Kingdom of Judah, before the exile and during the trying days of the captivity. He saw five kings upon the throne of Judah: Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin and Zedekiah. He was to Josiah what Isaiah had been to Hezekiah. 

There were three main events in Jeremiah’s life:

·         Battle of Megiddo, between Judah ad Pharaoh Necho of Egypt in which good king Josiah was killed

·         Battle of Carchemish, which happened during Jehoiakim’s reign. Egyptians were defeated by Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar and the first deportation of Jews followed.

·         Capture of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, destruction of city and temple, and exile of greater part of those who were left by Babylon.

A prophet is simply God’s messenger boy delivering not his own ideas, but conveying to the last detail God’s thoughts. Jeremiah’s commission was worldwide, including not only his own country, but also all nations and kingdom of Egypt, Ammon, Moab, Tyre and Sidon. His commission was to root out the idolatry and pride and to say only what the Lord commanded him to say.

In Jeremiah 1:9, you see the touch of God on Jeremiah’s life. “Then the Lord reached out his hand”. This touch of God on his life gave him the confidence that God was with him and he could not get away from it. God’s word shows its power in two ways – in destruction and in construction. We see this in God’s words to Jeremiah. If people accept God’s word it will give life, it they reject it, it will bring condemnation (John 3:36).

We see the warnings God gave to his chosen people so that they can leave sin and live a righteous life. God chosed Jeremiah for cautioning the people. In the beginning of his ministry he faced difficulties, which God told was just a beginning of the trials he is going to face. From this book, we can understand two things. First one is to honour God and live a godly life when we are told about our sin. Because otherwise, even when grace is unlimited, we may have to face the punishment. Second is to understand when you carry God in your life, hardship will always be there following you.

Other prophets in the Bible had at least occasional success to cheer their hearts in the midst of difficulties, but Jeremiah seemed to be fighting a losing battle to the very end. Disaster, failure and hostility were rewards for his work. He preached to deaf ears and seemed to reap only hate in return for his love for his people. In life he seemed to accomplish little. He was broken hearted. But God has given us a record that makes him one of the greatest prophets. God delights to trust a trustworthy child with a trial. When we go through tough times, stay connected with the love of God, even though you don’t see any results.

May Almighty help you to understand the relationship between Jeremiah and God, so that you can have him as an example in your life, and live a holy and faithful life to glorify God.

Royal Prophet - Isaiah

Prophet Isaiah was brought up in the court and had high standing with the people of Jerusalem. He not only was a prophet, but he also married a prophetess (Isaiah 8:3,118). Isaiah was the prophet during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah (Isaiah 1:1). He received his real commission in the year King Uzziah died. He preached God was about to abandon Judah, showing that God wants his people to be holy more than prosperity.

God called Isaiah just as he called Moses, Joshua, Gideon or Paul. Isaiah’s commission came at the tragic death of the grand old King Uzziah (Isaiah 6 :!). For years he preached and told of doom and deliverance. Hardship and tough times awaited him, but God gave him a victorious strength. He was the man of the hour.

The secret of all Isaiah’s power lay in a vision in the Temple. This vision should be every disciple’s experience.

·         Conviction – a sense of sinfulness before God’s holiness (Isaiah 6:5)

·         Confession – a broken heart and a contrite heard is precious to the Lord (Isaiah 6:5)

·         Cleansing – guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for (Isaiah 6:7)

·         Consecration – here I am, send me attitude (Isaiah 6:8)

·         Commission – Gods command to Go (Isaiah 6:9)

From Isaiah 7 to 24 we see the days of King Ahaz. He was utterly bad and an idolater. For this reason, God gave the kingdom to other kings. Isaiah was silent, but this invasion brings him to the front in his ministry (Isaiah 7:3). God sent him to encourage Ahaz. Besides predicting the Assyrian invasion in Isaiah 8, the prophet saw an end to all of Israel’s troubles through the birth of Jesus Christ who shall rule over the kingdom of David in righteousness forever and forever. He gave Ahaz a sign that Judah was not to perish – the prophecy of Jesus Christ (Isaiah 7:14). But Ahaz pursued his own idea with Assyria, and that nation on which they now leaned was to become the means of their punishment (Isaiah 7:17-20).

In Isaiah 13, we see prophecy about Babylon’s destruction. God often allows nations to punish Israel for her national sins, but retribution is inevitable. In Isaiah 14, we see the death of king Ahaz. But Isaiah warns the people that his death must not be hailed as the end of their burdens. Even worse oppressors than Ahaz were yet to come (Isaiah 14:28-32).

From Isiah 15 to 39, it talks about the period under Hezekiah, which was an important period in all of Israel’s history. He was a godly king. The critical year in Hezekiah’s reign was the 14^th year (Isaiah 36:1). It was then we have the Assyrian invasion, the king’s mortal sickness and his recovery, and the withdrawal of Assyrians from the land.

Chapters 40 to 66 are called the Book of Consolation because Isaiah tells in glowing terms not only of the restoration of Judah, but also of the coming of Jehovah’s servant to be the Messiah king. Isaiah 53 gives us a perfect picture of our suffering redeemer. Isaiah 60 to 66 tells of the coming kingdom – the future glory of Israel. God’s goodness to redeemed Israel is seen in chapter 61 and 62. He promises an era of prosperity in chapters 63 to 65.

Isaiah spent his life trying to get Judah to become acquainted with God and his word. He wanted them to trust wholly in God’s guidance. This book not only speaks of Israel, but of Jesus Christ who came to take away the sins of whole world. It shows us how Christ suffered for the sins which we have done.

When you pray and read this book, you will understand the real grace which God showed upon the humanity to get saved. I pray that everyone understand this grace of Christ that he died for our sins to make us free, and accordingly live a life pleasing and testifying Jesus Christ.