Daniel 2 - Jesus is the Rock

Then the astrologers answered the king, “May the king live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it.” (Dan 2:4 NIV)

Not! The king wants his servants to not only interpret his dream, but to tell him what it was that he dreamed first! No king's servant is able to do that. Only God knows what goes has been put into the mind of man whether he is awake or asleep. The LORD comes to Daniel's rescue and shows Daniel the dream so that the dream might be interpreted for the king and the king will know what is to come.

"Daniel replied, 'No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come...'" (Dan 2:27-28)

What has been revealed is none other than Jesus, the Rock; Jesus the King. "They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ." (1 Corinthians 10:3-4)

"As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—  you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
    a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
    will never be put to shame.”

Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,

“The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone,”

and,

“A stone that causes people to stumble    and a rock that makes them fall.” (1 Peter 2:4-8)

Daniel interpreted the kings dream: “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 and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces..." (Daniel 2:44-45 NIV)

Jesus is the rock. He is the King of Kings. His Kingdom is the kingdom, prophesied by Daniel, that will endure forever.

And we will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Amen. (Psalm 23:6)

God's Peace - Pr. J
 

Isaiah 4 - Chapters and Verses

Today's reading from chapter four of Isaiah reminds me that the Holy Bible did not always have chapters and verses. The breakdown we have today makes for an easier way to reference scripture and was actually instituted in the 13th century A.D.. Verse 1, "In that day seven women will take hold of one man and say, “We will eat our own food and provide our own clothes; only let us be called by your name. Take away our disgrace!”" seems to fit much better with the woes of chapter three than the promises found in the rest of chapter four. It is a good reminder, while we're reading the Bible, one chapter at a time, that we have to remember the whole context of what we are reading. Yes, it can be fun to "proof-text" and "dig" into one verse. But, we should remember that "scripture validates scripture." If our interpretation of scripture (one of two verses) cannot be validated by the rest of scripture, then we are probably interpreting it from our own bias.

In chapter four, we begin with what appears to be the end of the woes to Judah, Jerusalem, and ourselves if we do not turn to the LORD and trust Him; if we put material things and even ourselves before God. But, we also have the promise of the Branch of the LORD, who will be the pride and the glory of those who survive the woes and continue to live in Zion. God will be their glory. This is amazing and wonderful Good News as Jesus is the branch that is beautiful and glorious and with and in Christ, we live and dwell in the Kingdom of God, even now.

He is our shelter and refuge! (vs 6)

God's Peace - Pr. J