May 14, 2020 marks the 72nd anniversary of the modern state of Israel! Like Daniel, let's praise “the great and awesome God” Who has kept His covenants with the Jewish people. Revisiting Daniel's story gives us a road map and a hope for our personal lives too. Daniel prayed three times a day in pagan Babylon. He didn’t hesitate
to bring his and the people’s failures before the Lord, yet he trusted that God keeps His covenants
no matter what. Daniel remained faithful and God remains faithful to Israel and to us!
Here are a few
of his prayers in Daniel 9: “The great and awesome God, who keeps His
covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, …we have sinned and done wrong. Turn away your anger and your
wrath from Jerusalem, see the desolation of the city that bears your Name…and O
my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your name.”
Daniel’s life was dramatic. Babylonians
kidnapped him from his Jerusalem home when he was a teenager. Daniel’s 12
chapters describe his ascent in exile to the heights of Nebuchadnezzar’s regime
as a politician and a respected interpreter of dreams. Yet, he practiced a
vibrant faith and interceded for the Jewish people. Today, Daniel’s IQ would
surely be genius level!
Drama continued into Daniel’s 80's when he
was thrown into a lion’s den for refusing to worship anyone but the Lord! A clay
tablet discovered in the late 1800's in the ruins of ancient Susa (modern Iran) confirmed
the death penalty of throwing the “criminal” alive into a lion’s pit or cage
where kings likely kept lions for their hunting sports.
The Susa tablet and discovery
of cages with iron bars in Babylon (modern Iraq) shows that archeology once again proves
biblical facts!
Daniel lived most of his life in Babylon yet praised
God and believed His commitment to keep His eternal covenants promised to
Father Abraham. God kept one of His most
profound covenant promises on May 14, 1948 when Israel was re-born as a
modern Jewish state!
On this significant day, let's follow Daniel who prayed for his Jewish people
and pray for our Christians too. Some Christians believe the error
of Replacement Theology which declares that the church has ‘replaced’ the Jews and that they no
longer have relevance. Pray against antisemitism and Boycott, Divest, and Sanction (BDS)-economic warfare against Israel.
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