Day 261 Reading Schedule: Daniel 3-4

Daniel 3: The Faith of Daniel's Three Friends

[Overview]

King Nebuchadnezzar ordered his people to worship the image he had made. This can be understood as a clear example of human pride (verses 1-12). However, despite this order from the king, Daniel's three friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, did not worship the golden image, and as a result, King Nebuchadnezzar's wrath came upon them (verses 13-18). Eventually, they were thrown into a fiery furnace, but there they experienced the miracle of not dying through the power of God (verses 19-27). King Nebuchadnezzar praised God's name through Daniel's three friends and gave them high positions (verses 28-30).

​Daniel 4: Nebuchadnezzar's Dream and God's Sovereignty

[Overview]

This chapter begins with King Nebuchadnezzar praising God through Daniel and his three friends. Judging from his confession of faith and the process of interpreting his dream, we can see that it is by no means perfect. Despite the precedent of having his dream interpreted through Daniel, he still makes the mistake of trying to find out through the magicians and enchanters of the country. However, Daniel eventually interprets the dream (verses 1-18). As Daniel interprets the dream, he informs King Nebuchadnezzar of a series of events that will occur: the king's power, which had been growing ever higher, will disappear with only a trace due to God's judgment, and it will be restored after the end of time (verses 19-27).  Daniel's prophecy is fulfilled, and after twelve months, King Nebuchadnezzar is driven out of the palace and becomes a miserable wanderer in the field, but he is restored and blessed with greater strength than he had the day before (verses 28-37).