S – Listen closely, my God, and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations and the city that bears your name. For we are not presenting our petitions before you based on our righteous acts, but based on your abundant compassion

Daniel 9:18 CSB

O – Daniel recognizes that Israel has lost its reverence and relationship with God.  He recognizes that their actions do not merit God’s mercy.  He appeals to God’s compassion to have mercy on Israel.

A – We could (should) have this same prayer today.  As God’s adopted children, the Bible says we can come boldly before the throne of grace (Heb. 4:16).  Yet, we should not come arrogantly or entitled.  Our righteousness will never measure up.  Our boldness is predicated on a God who is filled with undeserved love and compassion.

R – Abba Father, we come before you with great reverence and humility.  You are the one, true God and there is no other.  We invite the Holy Spirit to lead us today in all that we do.  We walk with you in the relationship not on our own merit but on your gracious mercy and compassion.  Help us draw closer to you today.

S – The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been told is true. Now you are to seal up the vision because it refers to many days in the future.”

Daniel 8:26 CSB

O – Commentary:  

shut … up … vision—implying the vision was not to be understood for the present. In Rev 22:10 it is said, “Seal not the vision, for the time is at hand.” What in Daniel’s time was hidden was more fully explained in Revelation, and as the time draws nearer, it will be clearer still.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible,

A – God’s timing is perfect.  Fascinating that he would reveal a vision to Daniel to have it sealed for approximately 600 years.  In our lives, we have to trust that God will accomplish those things in our lives at the right time.  If we are going to grow in our faith, we must grow in our trust o God’s timing.

R – Lord, I invite you into every aspect of today.  Even the things I do not see but set my faith that you are going to do.  Your timing is perfect and I will surrender to your will on those things. Help me to continue to trust your leading and prompting.  I know your ways are better than mine.  Thank you for loving us and showing us your mercy each day.

S – The kingdom, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the holy ones of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey him.’ 

Daniel 7:27 CSB

O –  Commentary:  

At the beginning of the Millennium the Son of Man will be given authority to rule (cf. Dan. 7:14), and He will rule over the saints, the people of the Most High (cf. comments on 3:26), that is, the nation Israel (cf. 7:18, 22), which has been bound to God by God’s covenant with Abraham (Gen. 12:1–6; 13:14–17; 15:18–21). This kingdom will not be overthrown and superseded by another. It will continue in the Millennium and on forever (cf. Dan. 4:34; 6:26; 7:14). All peoples and kings will worship and obey Him.

 “Daniel,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – The time of tribulation laid out in Revelations is also previewed here in Daniel.  In the end, the Lord wins the battle and establishes His kingdom.  

R – Lord, there is an ultimate battle that is coming and gratefully, it is in your hands.  We do not have to walk in fear because our assurance is in you.  We ask for your help to live each day to prepare our hearts and minds to know your voice and direction in all times.

S – Daniel distinguished himself above the administrators and satraps because he had an extraordinary spirit, so the king planned to set him over the whole realm

Daniel 6:3 CSB

O – “extraordinary” yattı̂yr (Chald.), yat-teer’ preeminent; adv. very:— exceeding (-ly), excellent.

     “spirit” rûwach — mind, spirit, wind.

 The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words 

Daniel stood out because he had an excellent mind, attitude and essence.  

A – If Daniel can serve a pagan king with this embodiment, how much more can we do the same today?  No matter our job or task, we ultimately serve the Lord.  Daniel honored all the kings he served and used it as a way to share his God with them.  As they prospered, the reality of who God is was acknowledged.

R – Lord, I surrender to your will today.  I ask that you give me an extraordinary spirit to accomplish all that you have before me today.  Let my leadership, actions and words point others to you.

S – ²⁶ This is the interpretation of the message: 

‘Mene’ means that God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end. 

²⁷ ‘Tekel’ means that you have been weighed on the balance and found deficient. 

²⁸ ‘Peres’^, means that your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.” 

Daniel  5:26–28 CSB

O – Commentary: 

Then Daniel proceeded to interpret the meaning of these words. He explained that Mene meant that God had numbered (menâh) the duration of the days of Belshazzar’s kingdom and was about to bring it to an end. Tekel meant that Belshazzar had been evaluated by God, weighed (teqîltâh, from teqāl) in a balance and had been found wanting, that is, he was too light. A balance was the normal device used in weighing payments. A payment was to meet a certain standard so if it did not meet that standard, it was rejected as unacceptable. Belshazzar’s moral and spiritual character did not measure up to the standard of God’s righteousness so he was rejected. “By Him [God] deeds are weighed (1 Sam. 2:3).

“Daniel,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures,

A – What does it mean that God found him wanting?  He was too light.  I do not want to be “too light” in my approach to God or in the way I am living out His purpose in my life.  All of us are in the same journey as the king.  Our days are numbered, we will be judged and either we are going to enjoy relationship with Him or rejected into separation from God.

R – Lord, I am not perfect but I want to live each day in a growing relationship with you.  Whatever your plans and purpose for me, I surrender my will to you.  I want each day to matter – making an impact on those around me.  Thank you, God, for you Holy Spirit to help guide and strengthen me each day.

S – Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and glorify the King of the heavens, because all his works are true and his ways are just. He is able to humble those who walk in pride

Daniel 4:37 CSB

O – Commentary:

The king’s acknowledgment of God’s right to rule (vv. 34–35) brought about the restoration of the king’s sanity (cf. v. 34) and a restoration to his throne. Having been humbled before God, Nebuchadnezzar rose to greater heights of honor than he had known when he walked in pride. He said he praised, exalted, and glorified the King of heaven (cf. “honored” and “glorified” in v. 34). These verbs indicate continued action, suggesting that Nebuchadnezzar did these things habitually. These verbs embody the ideas of reverence, respect, honor, admiration, and worship.

“Daniel,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – The most “powerful” man on earth at the time of the writing recognizes that God is King of Heaven.  He ascribes glory to God.  We should do the same.  He is still the King of Heaven.  We need to lose our pride, walk in humility and bring honor to God daily.

R – Lord, thank you for the opportunity to exalt your name.  You alone are worthy of our praise, honor and reverence.  You have blessed us with so much.  You provide your presence to be with us each day and to walk in your power.  Thank you for another day with you.

S – If the God we serve exists, then he can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and he can rescue us from the power of you, the king. ¹⁸ But even if he does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.” 

Daniel 3:17–18 CSB

O – Commentary:  

The three showed absolute confidence in God, stating that their God was greater than Nebuchadnezzar and was able to deliver them from Nebuchadnezzar’s judgment in a display of His superior power. Their words, the God we serve (cf. 6:16, 20), show they recognized that God’s authority was greater than the authority claimed by Nebuchadnezzar. Though they were employed by Nebuchadnezzar (2:49), they “served” Yahweh.

Their God demanded implicit obedience and had forbidden them to worship any other gods. One who obeys God is not presuming when he expects God to protect and deliver him. Obeying God was more important than life to these three, so if God chose not to deliver them, they would still obey Him

“Daniel,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – When is the last time your faith cost you something?  These three were kidnapped, trained in foreign education and culture, used for foreign leadership and exposed to gods they didn’t believe to be true.  Yet, they did this while maintaining a strong faith in God.  So much they would die before disobeying Him.  This is the faith that I want. 

R – Lord, you are true.  You are worthy of our praise, honor and obedience today.  There is a price that comes with serving you.  Whatever the cost, give me the strength and courage to be faithful to you.  There is nothing greater than you.

S – Your Majesty, while you were in your bed, thoughts came to your mind about what will happen in the future.^, The revealer of mysteries has let you know what will happen.

Daniel 2:29 CSB

O – Commentary:

Daniel asserted at the outset that the king’s dream was prophetic (cf. v. 45, “what will take place in the future”), about things to come and what was going to happen. Nebuchadnezzar’s dream covered the prophetic panorama of Gentile history from his time till the forthcoming subjugation of Gentile powers to Israel’s Messiah. This time period is called “the times of the Gentiles” (Luke 21:24). This dream was given to Nebuchadnezzar, the first of many Gentile rulers who would exert power by divine appointment during the times of the Gentiles. God was not revealing spiritual truth to Nebuchadnezzar but facts concerning the political dominion that Gentiles would exercise. Everything in the dream would be readily understandable to Nebuchadnezzar.

“Daniel,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures,

A – God is the revealer of mysteries.  In our own life, there are “mysteries.”  We have things that are important to us and God chooses to reveal or not reveal is for our benefit.  

The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.

Deuteronomy 29:29 CSB

R – Lord, thank you for another day with you.  In our challenge to navigate each day, reveal to us the mysteries we need to know so we can use them as foundations for a better relationship with you and others.  What you choose to not reveal, we accept your sovereignty and love for us to keep it hidden.  You are God and we put our faith and trust in you either way.  

 S – God gave these four young men knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom. Daniel also understood visions and dreams of every kind

Daniel 1:17 CSB

O – As these four men honored God, God gave these men exceptional abilities that would be used by the king and grant them favor.  Daniel’s ability to understand dreams will elevate his worth even more.  It is also an indicator of future prophecy he will do later in the book.  

A – We should continue to ask God to increase our knowledge and understanding each day.  Also, we want to elevate our spiritual gifts so the Lord can use us to grow others in their relationship with God.

R – Lord, we want to grow today.  In knowledge, wisdom and understanding.  We also want to grow in our spiritual gifts so we can be a blessing to You and others.  Give us opportunities to use these gifts.  Like our natural muscles, help us get stronger by being used by you in a way that challenges us.  Thank you for using us to fulfill your purposes.

S – Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

Matthew 28:18 CSB

O – Authority: ĕxŏusia,  privilege, i.e. (subj.) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (obj.) mastery; delegated influence:— authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength.

The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words 

Jesus states that all power and influence has been given to him in heaven (God’s realm) and earth (satan’s realm). 

A – It is an important principle to understand that Jesus has all authority because of the victory of the cross.  It gives us the foundation to grow in our faith and to stand on His Word as truth.  It gives us the confidence that God is limitless and has no peer/rival.

R – Lord, there is nothing that compares to you.  Jesus claimed all authority through his crucifixion, death and resurrection.  I want to walk in your authority as your child to accomplish what you have for me today.  Let me walk in humility, courage and confidence demonstrating love for You and others.