Daniel – Shalom Talk

According To Your Conduct

Published on September 2, 2025August 13, 2025 by DanLeave a comment

It was my observation while reading Ezekiel (chapter 6) we find a message of firmness interspersed with grace for the Hebrew remnant, now in chapter 7 we find a much different message for those who were continuing to resist the mercy of God and seek solace in the idols of their neighbors. The approaching armies were pressing on Jerusalem, the imagery was strong and persistent. Repent or die. The messaging was very clear. For those who do not repent there will be complete and utter destruction of Jerusalem, they will reach the end of their life. It will not be a gentle death.

Ezekiel 7:1-4 — The word of the Lord came to me: Son of man, this is what the Sovereign Lord says to the land of Israel: The end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land! The end is now upon you, and I will unleash my anger against you. I will judge you according to your conduct and repay you for all your detestable practices. I will not look on you with pity; I will not spare you. I will surely repay you for your conduct and for the detestable practices among you. Then you will know that I am the Lord. [NIV]

In my view this was a fair and substantive warning of the judgement to come. It is unreasonable to assume that some were left unaware of the reason for the attack and siege from the Chaldeans. The prophets of God have been talking about this purging since Isaiah and even before. The message from God has been consistent. Now, the Hebrews can see the armies they have heard about. God kept his word. Yet most of the people are deaf, foolish and uncaring of the message. Jerusalem is in deep trouble, yet the men of the city are not concerned. They are trusting the walls of the city to stop the attack. Ezekiel continues on – the end is near, it has come, he that has ears, let him hear. This is the final event, the end that consummates the foregoing judgements. Now the trouble begins. This is on par with the message of Genesis 6:13 to Noah, which discussed the period of their depraved state, the destruction of the Hebrew nation, the serious deluge that was the end of almost all flesh.

The message was speaking of the end, the end you have been warned about, the end that leaves a scant measure of remnant to build upon after the trouble (see Jeremiah 29:10-14). They were expecting that God would bail them out. But that was not the case (see Deuteronomy 29:28-33). Their pride had obscured the proper impact of God’s wisdom. They were fooling themselves.

This messaging provides us with hints of the things to come down the road, even after Cyrus restores Jerusalem and they wait for the final stretch until the Messiah comes onto the scene. This hint points to the Romans (a replacement for the Chaldeans as a judgement tool). When we read messaging such as the end of things as we know it is at hand, we get the feeling of the thoughts found in Matthew 24:3. It seems that the once the Davidic reign came to close, the Hebrews were always feeling a sense of trouble on the horizon. This day was no different. With one exception. Destruction was going to happen soon, really soon. The veiled warnings were coming to fruit. If it is the last days for Jerusalem, then Daniel 12:13 applies — As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance. [NIV]

Nahum tells us about this kind of evil and trouble that ensues. There is no need to continue day-to-day business. Nahum 1:9 says — What do ye imagine against the Lord? He will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time [NIV]. The Babylonian thing is a final event. The Hebrew nation is forever changed. The trouble is without precedent or parallel (implied in Psalms 75:8).

This situation exhibits God’s wrath, yet we do see his mercy protecting the remnant. This font of calamity, river of pain, this is the wormwood we find in the depth of Ezekiel’s message. His fury is poured out on the city. Jeremiah 4:18 says — Your own conduct and actions have brought this on you. This is your punishment. How bitter it is! How it pierces to the heart! [NIV]. As for me? I choose Jesus.

A Still Small Voice

Published on July 31, 2025July 8, 2025 by DanLeave a comment

It has been my observation while trying to make sense of the Book of Job that sometimes God speaks to us with an audible voice, a whirlwind, an angel, a prophet, or a dream. He even writes stuff on a wall (Daniel 5). If we hear an audible or see a big sign, we feel more confident stepping out – we will follow the plan. When he is subtle, we can often get timid. It is easy to doubt what we are hearing. For sure we need to confirm all messages with scripture, but the truth is simple – God speaks in the way he decides is best for the specific situation. We are wise to trust his judgement.

We all experience confusing circumstances (1 John 4:1). Sometimes we just want God to send a text message to tell us what to do. Maybe you feel far from God and want Him to reach out to reassure you He is still there. Maybe you have heard people say the God of the Bible is personal, but you have never interacted with God before and wonder how to begin. The one true living God communicates with each of us.

This communication mode is central to the notion we are created in the Image of God. He always reaches out in the way that is best for us and best for the circumstances we are in (implied in Psalms 143:8). However, never assume he will communicate on your timetable. When you say something to another person, we wait for a response. If nothing ensues, we rapidly follow up – Did you hear me? What say you? Yet when talking with God, a timetable and polite responding is not part of the game. The communication plan is his, the schedule to communicate is his, the message is his. We are told to rest and be still. Wait. Help is coming!

So how does God speak to us? On the night Jesus was arrested, He spoke to His closest friends. He knew that He was going to return to His Father (implied in Matthew 26:47-56). His friends, the disciples, had spent several years with Jesus every day. They never struggled to hear His voice. But this was changing. Soon, His disciples would need guidance every day to make decisions about where to go and what to do next.

Jesus told his disciples — I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on His own authority; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come (John 16:12-15). The comm plan emerges! And the wait begins. They barely understood what the spirit of truth was all about. But they waited. They trusted Jesus to do what he planned on his timetable.

Fast forward to now – after the second chapter of Acts (the arrival of the Holy Spirit is documented in Acts 2). The presence of the Holy Spirit in your life changes everything about hearing God’s voice. His presence delivers complete confidence that He lives within you and is always ready to deliver guidance. The Holy Spirit is our communications portal.

We read in 1 Corinthians 2:9-13 a description of the communication portal — What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love himthese are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. [NIV]

However, if we are not focused on God regularly, it is implausible to expect clear communication. God often speaks through the Bible. He uses scripture (coupled with insight from the Holy Spirit) to help us live the life we are called to live (implied in 2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Bible is full of lessons, experiences with God, wisdom, truth, and the message you need to hear to enhance and give direction to our ‘walk with God.’ Reading scripture on a regular basis is paramount. Getting to know the message is paramount. Learning the vocabulary of God is paramount. The message we hear will always align with Scripture.

Studying the Bible, spending time in prayer, and talking with other followers of Jesus are not just part of our to-do list – these actions are paramount. God encourages us to do these things because they help us to learn about His character and learn to recognize His guidance. However, I would be remiss if I did not say in clear language — If you think you have heard God speak to you, but it seems to be inconsistent with scripture, it is unlikely the message you heard came from Him. Pay attention, verify, then act on the message (implied in 1 John 4:1). Do not let Lucifer or your imagination get you into trouble.

AW Tozer said – the voice of God is a friendly unassuming voice. No one need fear to listen to it unless he has already made up his mind to resist it… Whoever listens will hear [God in Heaven speaking].

I think we are incredibly blessed be in contact with the one true living God. The more I learn and write about his attributes the more astonishing I find his attentiveness to our personal needs. Words fail me. We worship a God with undefinable range and power. Then comes us; finite and incredibly frail – needy. Goodness. I am prostrate on the floor. No place else to be. No words left except…

I choose Jesus.

Rebellion is their Name

Published on July 8, 2025July 8, 2025 by DanLeave a comment

It was my observation after reading Ezekiel chapter 1 and then progressing to chapter 2 that we are given a detailed image of the throne. Why did God show this to Ezekiel? Consider the message that Paul heard on the Damascus Road. Paul was clearly chosen by God, things happened around hi to be sure he got the message. There was no question in his mind what had happened. Now in the case of Ezekiel we see something similar. His nickname appears in this chapter – Son of Man. I suspect God applied this phrase to Ezekiel as an affectionate nickname; as a term of endearment. The Hebrew term for Son of Man is Ben-Adam. We see something similar in Daniel 7:17, we find the term Son of Adam, Son of the earth. I think this means he was called to be a representative of God on earth.

In the passage we are about to read, Ezekiel is told — Get up. Get off the ground, I want to talk to you. I think that God did not want to talk to the back of Ezekiel’s head. He stood Ezekiel up so Ezekiel was looking at the glory before him – this reveals the affection God has for people who walk with God. As much as we could imagine, within the confines of extreme holiness and the translucent shroud that protected us, they were looking at each other. Ezekiel’s instinct is to get prostrate, God says to him, not today. I am affirming your commission. Right here, right now. Face to Face.

Ezekiel 2:1-5 says — He said to me, Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you. As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. He said: Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day. The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, This is what the Sovereign Lord says. And whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are a rebellious people, they will know that a prophet has been among them. [NIV]

The short version of this passage is simple – Get up. You are my prophet to Isreal. They will not like you, but they will know one thing for sure – A prophet has been called to walk among them. They will know that I am the Lord their God and I am not Silent. This tells us something about how God thinks. He is immensely pleased to work with us. He delights in our willingness to serve. When we show a tiny bit of interest, he is all over it. He brings power and strength. He fills us with himself and then works from within us to accomplish his tasks. If you ponder this for a bit, you will realize how truly amazing this situation is. The one true living God choosing to work through us, training us in his way. He does not need help, but he has decided to partner with us to implement his plan. Goodness. We are loved.

Matthew Henry said — Thus, in a similar case, Daniel was strengthened by a divine touch (Daniel 10:18) and John was raised by the right hand of Christ laid upon him (Revelation 1:17). The Spirit set him upon his feet, made him willing and forward to do as he was bidden, and then he heard him that spoke to him. He heard the voice before, but now he heard it more distinctly and clearly, heard it and submitted to it. The Spirit sets us upon our feet by inclining our will to our duty, and thereby disposes the understanding to receive the knowledge of it.

We find the conclusion of this passage, Ezekiel is being called, prepared, strengthened and sent to deliver a message to a rabble. A rebellious group of people who have been pushed off the island, the land of the promise to the land of Babylon. Ezekiel knew what this was all about. He knew it would not be an easy life. But he had a calling and purpose. His people were in captivity for rebellion against Gods law. He hoped God would be gracious, but his resolve to serve was clear. We do the same. I choose Jesus.bellion is their Name

Rebellion Is Their Name

Published on June 10, 2025May 30, 2025 by DanLeave a comment

Infusing Your Heart

Published on January 23, 2025February 3, 2025 by DanLeave a comment

It has been my observation; without a plan we will soon fade and perish. Furthermore, there is wisdom available when we take in the council of many wise men schooled in the things of God. Cities are not built in a single day, they take time, planning, resources, effort, a solid process, and commitment to the end goal. This is the second part of an essay series on the art of educating yourself on scripture. In the first essay we explored two topics – (1) decide to learn and (2) focus on your learning objectives.

Let us review – decide to learn – choosing to dive in, choosing to open the scriptures and open your heart to the wisdom of God. That is the first step. Then comes the focus on learning objectives– select where and in what you are interested. If you do not know where to begin, I suggest that you open the bible to the Gospel of John. Start there. Get to know Jesus, not as a casual acquaintance, but as a trusted friend. Look for my essays on prayer and meditation. Dive in. Pray, focus, and learn.

With that in mind, let us move on to more parts of the learning process that might be helpful. At this juncture; you may be feeling a little unsure of yourself. We read in Luke — The things which are impossible with men are possible with God (Luke 18:27). Push into this. You will not be disappointed. God will provide.

Learning Preparation. In other essays I talked about a Toolkit and a Wall of Truth. I want to revisit these items. They are part of learning preparation and data retention. Proverbs says — Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house (Proverbs 24:27).

Zechariah says — Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin (Zechariah 4:10).

Before you dive into the acquisition of books and material, I suggest you ponder for a bit on how you learn. If you are a reader, then your choice of books is important. If video is part of your learning formula, then the bible app may be a useful resource. Please remember, adapt your wall of truth to the format of your data. I suggest you do not depend upon a single mode of learning. Data coming at you in different formats may enhance the learning process. Be patient, anything worth doing usually takes a bit of discipline and effort. Keep focused.

Let us keep in mind what Paul tells us about reasons for learning — All Scripture is breathed out by God and (1) profitable for teaching, (2) for reproof, (3) for correction, and for (4) training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Do not lose sight of the prize. I have found while mining scripture – Easy is not always better. Use good judgement on your toolkit choices (study aids). We read in Joshua — Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful (Joshua 1:8). Keep the word close by. Get the phone app, there will be times when you have some ‘dead space in your schedule.’ Use that phone bible app as needed– access the bible – ‘cause, ya know’, your bible is sitting in your house not in your hands.

Some people may prefer to use bible study guides to assist in their learning. If you have had experience with authors such as Max Lucado or David Jeremiah, you may find their guides helpful to get started. Select your reference bible, concordance, systematic theology book, bible dictionary, and your Greek and Hebrew dictionary after careful research. Include a visit with trusted friends who have experience with these tools. Perhaps they will show you their toolkit. I suspect that used bookstores and used online book services may become your friend. Reference bibles are handy. The Thompson Chain bible is handy.

Get your tools together, look the tools over, do some preliminary research using the tools to gain experience with the tools. If you have overcome the learning curve for the tools you are more likely to use them when you are formally engaged in learning. Establish a place on your phone or your laptop for the wall of truth. Organize the sub directories using your target list as a guide.

Start – work on the target list. Pace yourself. Read some, study some, document some, manage your energy outlay, do not hammer it, and then get burned out. Proverbs says — My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart (Proverbs 3:1).

Commit to the list, use the toolkit, retain what you learn on your wall of truth. Get moving.

Document your findings on your wall of truth carefully. Proverbs say — For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones (Proverbs 2:6-8).

I suggest that you set a weekly goal — keep your goals modest. Victory is always better than a frustrated failure. Measured progress is helpful.

Failure does not mean — stop. Failure does not mean — I cannot, so I won’t. Failure is simply a speed bump. Pick yourself up, give yourself grace, and start again. It is more important to start again than anything else that you can do during Bible study. This is the mark of a successful person; a person who can recover from failure. Depart failure and move to success as many times as is needed. Never stop trying. God’s mercy is amazing, it is renewed every sunrise. Every Sunrise. Take a few moments and review Lamentations 3:22-24; you will not be disappointed.

Daniel says — Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians (Daniel 1:3-4).

Paul says — For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope (Romans 15:4). Get ‘er’ done.

I choose Jesus.

Finding Your Voice

Published on January 21, 2025February 3, 2025 by DanLeave a comment

It has been my observation that scripture has more to say about studying and learning than first meets the eye. The classic statement on reading scripture appears in 2 Timothy 2:15; we learn from Paul that we should study scripture and be able to express our thoughts to others who do not understand the truth.

If we invest the time, we will benefit from reading the ancients wisdom. How does this notion of ‘studying’ emerge in our life? It starts with the occasional emission of pithy observations in our favorite bible study (as we gradually find our voice). We sometimes surprise ourselves with the things that come from our heart. We wonder where they came from. Then God reminds us of the source.

The pithy stuff morphs into decisions about how we are to live our life (scripture gradually seeps into our heart, overrides our earthly thoughts). We could say that acquisition morphs to transformation. Acquiring information leads to a changed (transformed) heart. As a man thinks – a man is. You have heard me say this proverb many times in my essays. Take a minute and review Proverbs 23:7…

All who manage their thoughts and control that noise come out of the mouth will keep his soul from troubles (implied in Psalms 21:23). The righteous man consumes the wisdom of God to satisfy and feed his soul: but the belly of the wicked craves earthly prater (implied in Proverbs 13:25).

Decide to learn. Knowing God’s word helps us to see trouble coming and tiptoe around the landmines of false teachings and philosophies. Knowing God’s word helps us to see goodness when we are staring at it. When a man takes the time to press into the Word, amazing things start to happen. The journey starts when we decide we want to enrich our relationship with God. Success begets success. But, during the growth process it is not uncommon to compare ourselves with others. I suggest you refrain from comparing your learning pace to others.

Learning is an extremely personal process, detailed cookie cutter methods do not usually yield much fruit, we all grow at different paces, with different interests in the variety of topics discussed in scriptures. Proverbs tells us — The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out (Proverbs 18:15). Decide that now is the time to start. Now is the time to grow. Now is the time to crawl into God’s word.

Identify your initial learning targets.I think it is wise to develop a simple list of things in which you are interested. You probably have a vague idea of things you are interested in, but I suggest you make it more specific; with a list you can monitor your progress. A little success, documented, leads to more success.

Daniel tells us — 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 (Daniel 1:17).

In addition to the list, I suggest you declare a clear ‘why’ I want to know the stuff on the list. Having a clear goal defined will help you know when you have achieved the learning objective. Proverbs tell us — Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them (Proverbs 4:5).

You might have noted that I did not recommend building a formal, detailed learning plan. While this can be helpful for some efforts, I think in this case the level of effort would not bear much fruit. Planning everything out at the front does not leave much space for spontaneous pursuit of interesting stuff you did not know you wanted to explore. I can say for sure – you are learning goals will shift over time.

I noted in 1 Kings 3:5-10 an interesting exchange between God and Solomon — That night the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!” Solomon replied, “You showed great and faithful love to your servant my father, David, because he was honest and true and faithful to you. And you have continued to show this great and faithful love to him today by giving him a son to sit on his throne. Now, O Lord my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who does not know his way around. And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted! Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For whom, by himself, is able to govern this great people of yours?” The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom (NIV).

I think it might be helpful to approach learning with Solomons willing heart. The first two objectives of learning are (1) Decide to learn and (2) Focus on your learning targets. There is more. In the next essay I will continue this line of reasoning. If you are interested, find the essay titled – Infusing the Mind.

I choose Jesus.

Bible Verse Of The Day

Published on October 11, 2024October 8, 2024 by DanLeave a comment

Daniel 4:34-35 NIV

At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?”