Day 209 Daniel 4–6 Psalm 17

In Daniel 4, King Nebuchadnezzar has another intense dream—this time about a towering tree cut down and turned into a beast. The only one brave enough to interpret it is Daniel. The king will lose his mind and live like an animal until he learns that God is King. In a beautiful turn, Nebuchadnezzar humbles himself, and praises God.

In Daniel 5, there is a new king, Belshazzar, Nebuchadnezzar’s descendant. Belshazzar is often called Nebuchadnezzar’s son, but historically speaking, he was not Nebuchadnezzar’s biological son. At a drunken party using sacred temple cups, a mysterious hand writes words on the wall. No one understands it, except Daniel. Your time is up. Your kingdom ends tonight. Belshazzar is killed, and Darius the Mede takes over the kingdom.

In Daniel 6, the new ruler is Darius the Mede. Under the new rule, Daniel is promoted. His enemies are jealous. They trick the king into signing a law that targets Daniel’s faith. When Daniel continues to pray to God, he’s thrown into a den of lions. Daniel walks out

Psalm 17 was likely written while David was fleeing from Saul. David prays with raw honesty, asking God to listen, to see his heart, and to protect him. Surrounded by enemies, he doesn’t lash out, he turns to God as his refuge.