I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king. ” Daniel found himself unexpectedly in great danger. He had pushed back on the demands of the king and people, and the consequences could have been devastating for him. But he trusted in God, and God intervened on Daniel's behalf–saving him and softening the heart of others in power over him. Daniel was "faithful in all circumstances" (Daniel 6) and, while many "sought to find occasion against Daniel" (6:4), none could. Thus, King Darius "set him over the whole kingdom" (6:1).
While many applications could be found in this verse, one of the most important applications has to do with Daniel's awareness of where his brilliance or inspiration came from. Daniel unequivocally states God has "given me wisdom and power," and "made known to me what" I asked to know. Whereas Daniel could have extoled his own brilliance, he instead gives credit where credit was due-and acknowledged that his success did not come from his own mind, but the inspiration of the almighty.
We will all be blessed with successes in life, whether in our academic pursuits, our professional lives, or perhaps in our relationships or in the rearing of our children. Most of us relish taking credit for "getting it right" or doing something "amazing." However, this verse in Daniel is a call to humility. It is an invitation to remember from whence all of our successes come. And our verse for today helps us to know that, if we wish to have more successes in the future, we must acknowledge the source of all of our accomplishments in the past.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. ” In the book of Jeremiah, the prophet Jeremiah is speaking to the Israelites at a time of great despair. They were exiled, living in Babylon, far from their homeland. Jeremiah's words were meant to offer hope and assurance during this period of upheaval. His message was not just for their immediate comfort but also to give them a perspective of a hopeful future planned by God.
This passage in Jeremiah speaks directly to the heart of encouragement, especially in the face of uncertainty and difficulty. It's a reminder that even when our current circumstances seem bleak or disheartening, there is a broader plan for good, for hope, and for a future. This can be particularly resonant for us when we face our own periods of doubt or when our path seems unclear. It's a call to trust in a greater plan that we might not fully understand yet.
