After the Babylonians came the Medes and the Persians. We meet Darius and Cyrus today, who are both touched by God in different ways.
The Temple’s vessels returned
Ezra 1:7-11, 5:14-16
Cyrus’ decree
Ezra 6:3-5
Daniel thrown to the lions
Daniel 6:1-18
His deliverance and its result
Daniel 6:19-28
Daniel’s three weeks of mourning
Daniel 10:1-3
His vision by the river Tigris
Daniel 10:4-20
Revelation promised
Daniel 10:21
Revelation of future kingdom
Daniel 11:2-4
Today we meet Cyrus, who is busy issuing decrees that the Jews may return to Jerusalem and may build themselves a new Temple. He prepares to return the plunder which Nebuchadnezzar had removed from the original temple. Amazing hope! The exile is over!
But ... we turn back the clock just a little way and find that Daniel still has ordeals to endure. Under King Darius, who in many ways was a good ruler, though capable of being hoodwinked, Daniel (who must be an old man by now) suffers a fate similar to that of his three friends years ago. His enemies attack him on the subject of worship - so often the weak point in Israel’s life, but Daniel’s strength and stay. Because he disobeys the king’s command to worship only him for a month, he is put to the lions. Of course he survives, but the ravenous beasts devour his enemies. Darius is impressed and orders that Daniel’s God is to be revered.
Back to the time of Cyrus, and Daniel is given a vision. He was mourning the state of his people - the implication is that although the vision made him mourn, he has been constantly praying for Israel all his life. Are those years of faithful prayer to be answered?
The Temple’s vessels returned
Ezra 1:7-11, 5:14-16
Cyrus’ decree
Ezra 6:3-5
Daniel thrown to the lions
Daniel 6:1-18
His deliverance and its result
Daniel 6:19-28
Daniel’s three weeks of mourning
Daniel 10:1-3
His vision by the river Tigris
Daniel 10:4-20
Revelation promised
Daniel 10:21
Revelation of future kingdom
Daniel 11:2-4
Today we meet Cyrus, who is busy issuing decrees that the Jews may return to Jerusalem and may build themselves a new Temple. He prepares to return the plunder which Nebuchadnezzar had removed from the original temple. Amazing hope! The exile is over!
But ... we turn back the clock just a little way and find that Daniel still has ordeals to endure. Under King Darius, who in many ways was a good ruler, though capable of being hoodwinked, Daniel (who must be an old man by now) suffers a fate similar to that of his three friends years ago. His enemies attack him on the subject of worship - so often the weak point in Israel’s life, but Daniel’s strength and stay. Because he disobeys the king’s command to worship only him for a month, he is put to the lions. Of course he survives, but the ravenous beasts devour his enemies. Darius is impressed and orders that Daniel’s God is to be revered.
Back to the time of Cyrus, and Daniel is given a vision. He was mourning the state of his people - the implication is that although the vision made him mourn, he has been constantly praying for Israel all his life. Are those years of faithful prayer to be answered?
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