Category: The Book of Daniel
-
Reading between the Lines (or Lions)
Sometimes the Bible is outright confusing to us (for example, the bit about the sons of God marrying the daughters of men in Gen 6 – that’s a head-scratcher). Other times, it is refreshingly straightforward and clear (for example, the bit about God being the creator). Then sometimes we think it’s clear and obvious, but…
-
Taking and Making Opportunity
Daniel 6 is the last of the narrative (i.e., story) chapters in the book before we move into the apocalyptic/prophetic half of the book (chs. 7–12). It’s also part of the block of Aramaic text we’ve talked about before, and in this Aramaic chiasm, the story of Daniel in the lions’ den in chapter 6…
-
Darius the Precarious
“We’ve got some news, good King Darius We fear your position is precarious” These opening lines from the Veggie Tales song set in Daniel 6 are truer than the songwriters may have known. One of the many conundrums in the book of Daniel is the identity of Darius the Mede, the ruler who succeeds Babylonian…
-
Happy Left-Handers Day! We’re in good company!
Apparently, I missed a holiday yesterday: International Left-Handers Day! Somehow – I can’t imagine how – this important day was not on my calendar. I certainly would have figured out the, er, left way to celebrate. As it is, I’ll have to settle for reposting something that was wildly popular earlier this summer – and…
-
All in a Day’s Work
With Belshazzar off the scene, Daniel’s employer has changed for the third time in the book. We’ve turned the page to a new chapter, and Daniel 6, like the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in chapter 3, is one of the best-known stories in the book: Daniel in the Lions’ Den. In one of…
-
The Worst Penmanship Lesson Ever, Part 2
Elementary school teachers learn how to read the indecipherable. It just goes with the territory. By Christmas time, they can fairly accurately sort and grade a batch of papers even if half the class forgot to put their names on the papers. (Though in my class, you didn’t win any prizes if I had to…
-
God Just Might Be a Lefty
People have asked me on occasion why I like Hebrew (the language of the Old Testament) better than Greek (the language of the New Testament). There’s a variety of ways to answer this question, but today’s answer is that Hebrew is friendly to lefties. If you’ve had the misfortune of hearing me drone on about…
-
The Folly of Flunking History
I have kept Daniel waiting in the wings too long. The queen has made her speech, Belshazzar has made his, and Daniel has been patiently waiting his turn while I’ve done this, that, and the other for the past couple weeks. Today’s the day. Bring the man on stage and let him talk. Daniel, you…
-
The Final Four: How My Really Wrong Bracket Gets It Right
My first disclaimer is that I don’t care about college hoops. Every couple years I get moderately interested in mid-March and sorta follow – but really, Don’t Care. However, on a particularly dull day at work a few weeks ago, I joined the company’s “NCAA Challenge” and filled out a bracket. My “method” was largely…
-
It Doesn’t Take a Thousand Words to Get the Picture
You can learn a lot about people from what they say – which is one reason it’s often a very good idea to keep your mouth shut. Or, as the inimitable 16th president of the United States is said to have said, “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out…
Three Rubies Press 