Pt. 18c: Daniel - Seeds that Mature for Eternity
![Pt. 3, Serving Faithfully in Exile - Daniel
Pt. 18c, the Biblical Story: Daniel – Seeds that Mature for Eternity
By Pastor Dan Kennedy
© August 24, 2014
www.pastorkennedy.com
The Scripture is full of life stories, which give us examples, for good or for bad, how people lived and how their lives turned out based on their relationship with God and subsequently, how they lived their lives:
Adam, Eve, Cain,
Those destroyed by their own greed and sin,
Abel, Enoch, Noah,
Those destroyed in the flood,
Job, Abraham, Lot, Isaac, Jacob,
Esau, Joseph, Moses,
Rahab, Joshua, Esther,
Samuel, Sampson, Delilah, Ruth, etc., etc.
Today we are continuing in our study of “The Biblical Story”, to review the life of Daniel, who as a teen, was embroiled in war and marched to Babylon to be exiled for the remainder of his life. Throughout Daniel’s time in Babylon he faced sometimes extreme lows and highs – while always being demeaned as a person labeled “an exile”. He was unjustly accused at times, and also faced the certainty of death, but the Living God, the One whom Daniel worshipped, delivered him.
Daniel’s life reveals to us the outcome of a person who steadfastly trusts in God. His life is still a beacon of truth and hope today, that has shined throughout the ages, revealing that a person who trusts God is living a worthwhile life - one which brings peace and the greatest practical, personal and eternal blessing. The seeds of Godliness planted and cultivated in Daniel’s life had borne and are bearing mature and precious fruit…even today.
Our Life – A Garden
Right now many of us are harvesting wonderful produce from our gardens. Living life is like planting our own personal garden. As we go through life, we sow the seeds of our life. When we look at the garden of our life, we may become impatient that nothing is growing very fast. We want ripened fruit right now…we want things to be happening! But gardens do not work that way. Life does not work that way! Ripening fruit and produce take time. We cultivate the ground, plant the seeds and provide water, but we may not see any plants growing for days or even weeks. Finally, depending on the seed, it dies, God germinates life, and a tiny fragile plant begins pushing out of the ground. If there is sufficient good soil, sunlight and moisture, any garden will begin providing produce and harvest, according to its kind. Eventually, we will see the fruit of our garden…that which we can enjoy on our table and share with friends. But, at the beginning of the planting season there is never immediate bountiful fruit…that only comes “in the fullness of time” in the lifecycle of each seed and its maturing harvest.
Our life is like a plot of special ground in God’s Garden. In time, if we die to ourselves and by faith trust God to accomplish His work in our life, planting seeds for nutritious crops, there will be fruit that pleases God. Just wait, it will come in time.
Unfortunately, there are also weeds that naturally grow in our garden plot. And, if we do not pull the weeds, or sadly make decisions to plant the wrong seeds in our life’s plot, those seeds will germinate as well, and produce that which neither we, nor God, will be happy or satisfied with, as they produce that which destroys the beauty of our life and potentially the lives of those we should love. Thankfully, God has given us opportunity to pull the weeds and to seek repentance!
As we look at Daniel’s life we will certainly realize that Daniel did not always have it easy, nor were people always happy with him. But the hallmark of Daniel’s life was that he loved God and faithfully served Him…even in the middle of adversity. The life of Daniel proved very fruitful in God’s Kingdom. Let’s look at some of the dynamics that Daniel faced; may these prove encouraging to us as we travel our own spiritual journey.
The Diverse Seeds Planted in the Garden of Daniel’s Life
What we have reviewed in previous messages:
• Daniel’s early years – he sought to honor God.
• Daniel’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and his being made governor over Babylon.
• Daniel’s administration of Babylon while his three friends endured confrontation, a disturbing fiery furnace experience, and God’s deliverance, when refusing to worship Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image.
Discovering Daniel’s continuing challenging and fruitful life:
• Today, let’s begin to look at Daniel’s faithful administration during Nebuchadnezzar’s removal from his throne, but first let’s look at the culprit of Nebuchadnezzar’s fall: Pride.
The “Seeds” of Nebuchadnezzar’s Pride Mature into a Drastic Fall
In obvious contrast to Daniel’s life, Nebuchadnezzar had a considerable issue with pride. Pride has often been named as one of the deadliest sins. “Pride is easier to recognize than to define, easier to recognize in others than in oneself.”1
Pride has long been attributed to the devil’s demise. Satan, created to be a primary archangel in God’s Kingdom (Ezekiel 28:12-17), because of pride and jealousy, wanted to be “like the Most High” (Is. 14:12-14), rebelled against his Creator, caused the fall of one third of God’s angels (Rev. 12:3-4; 7-9), and was cast out of heaven.
“The Bible describes pride (self-regarding love and self-satisfaction with one’s person, status, behavior, reputation, and traits) as sin.”2
Pride leads to shame
Proverbs 11:2
2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with the humble is wisdom.
Matthew 23:12
12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Pride leads to arguments
Proverbs 13:10 (NIV84)
10 Pride only breeds quarrels,
but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
Pride will be punished
Proverbs 16:5
5 Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished.
Pride ends in destruction
Proverbs 16:18
18 Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Prideful prayer is not heard by God
Luke 18:9–14
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Proud boasting should not be in the life of the Christian
Romans 3:27
27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded….
God reveals Himself to the humble, not the proud
1 Corinthians 1:26–31
26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Examine the Humility of Jesus Christ and follow His Example
Philippians 2:3–11
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Pride is not a fruit of the Spirit
Galatians 5:22–26
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
God opposes the proud
James 4:6
6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Daniel 4 – Written by King Nebuchadnezzar
An Introduction of Nebuchadnezzar’s Praises God
Nebuchadnezzar begins the description of this phase of his life with honor and praise to God. Had his life been evidencing this honor and recognition of God previously, he would not have gone through such degradation and humiliation. What he had planted in the garden of his life bore fruit.
Daniel 4
4 King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! 2 It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.
3 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation.
Nebuchadnezzar’s Pride brings Him Low
One of the most vivid illustrations of the humbling of man’s pride is seen in Daniel chapter 4, where Nebuchadnezzar’s pride is humbled in a most graphic way.
Daniel does not write this chapter in his book, rather Nebuchadnezzar writes an autobiographical sketch of his demise through pride. This, in itself reveals how God transformed the king’s heart, to humbly acknowledge God.
• Another Powerful Dream from God shook King Nebuchadnezzar.
• The Magicians, Enchanters, Chaldeans and Astrologers fail to interpret the dream.
4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace. 5 I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me. 6 So I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. 7 Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its interpretation. 8 At last Daniel came in before me—he who was named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods—and I told him the dream…
The Recounting of Nebuchadnezzar’s Second Dream
• An enormous tree is seen in the midst of the earth (Dan. 4:9-12).
o The tree grew and became strong, reaching into heaven and visible to the ends of the earth
o Its leaves were beautiful
o Its fruit abundant
o In it was food for all
o The beasts of the field found shade under it
o The birds of the heavens lived in its branches
o All flesh was fed from it.
• Angelic beings, one called “a watcher”, the other “a holy one” came down from heaven and made a proclamation about the tree (Dan. 4:13-17).
o “Chop down the tree and lop off its branches,
o Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit.
o Let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches.
o Leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, amid the tender grass of the field.
o Let him be wet with the dew of heaven.
o Let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth.
o Let his mind be changed from a man’s, and let a beast’s mind be given to him.
o Let seven periods of time pass over him.
o The decree (from the watcher and holy one) is to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.”
Daniel was asked to give an interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
• Daniel, realizing the personal implication to the king was dismayed. (v. 19)
• Daniel interpreted the dream. The dream was about Nebuchadnezzar, his reign and disposition from the kingdom. (vs. 20-25)
o The king had grown and become strong.
o His greatness had grown and had reached to heaven, with a dominion to the ends of the earth.
o He would be driven from his kingdom and from people.
o His dwelling would be with the beasts of the field.
o He would be made to eat grass like an ox
o He would be wet with the dew of heaven
o Seven periods of time would elapse while he was this mental state (because his nails and hair grew so long. Many assume that this time of “seven periods” was speaking of seven (lunar calendar) years. (see v. 33).
o The time would come to an end when he knew that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom He will.
• Nebuchadnezzar’s Return to His Kingdom is also Decreed
o And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, Nebuchadnezzar would be given back his kingdom from the time that he knew that Heaven rules.
• Daniel’s advise to the king
o O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.”
Nebuchadnezzar’s Proclamation of Pride with his Decent into Humiliation…in Fulfillment of the Dream
Daniel 4:28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” 31 While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, 32 and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” 33 Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws.
What Happened to Babylon’s Government while the King was Gone?
Remember that when Nebuchadnezzar had this horrible dream originally – the year previously, he had called in “all the wise men of Babylon… that they might make known... the interpretation of the dream” (Dan. 4:6-7). Everyone who was of any importance in Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonian kingdom knew of this dream, which was such an enigma to the king, and everyone was desperately searching for its interpretation. When God gave Daniel the interpretation, everyone also became aware of its meaning, as well, and were appalled – that the king would be given the mind of an animal for until “seven times passed over him”!
As that year progressed without the dream being fulfilled, those serving Nebuchadnezzar may have forgotten the shock of what was going to happen to the king, or even dismissed it as something that might not happen…but when Nebuchadnezzar suddenly lost his mind, they remembered very clearly that it was going to be “seven times” before he could be restored to his kingdom. [Daniel may have even been quietly preparing a safe place and pasture for Nebuchadnezzar to be kept, since Daniel most certainly believed it was going to happen.] Remembering this, together with the dream’s assertion that the king, in fact, would be restored to his throne, would have reinforced Daniel’s position, as “ruler over the whole province of Babylon” (Dan. 2:48). This, together with God’s authority over him, kept Daniel firmly in control of running a smooth government in Babylon, until the kingdom was restored to Nebuchadnezzar.
God gives Nebuchadnezzar his sanity and his kingdom, once again
I can see, in my mind’s eye, the day – after the predicted “seven times” had gone by, the day that Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged that “the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom He will.” I can see this bedraggled Nebuchadnezzar stand up by the fence, under which a few moments before, he had been groveling to fill his belly with the longer blades of grass growing around the base of the posts. His eyes were becoming clearer now as his capacity to understand was returning to him. I can see him analyzing the long rows of the restraining enclosure that had kept him secure…and everyone else safe, for those seven periods of time. At the end of the enclosure was a gate. He had not been able to comprehend and negotiate the gate during his time of restraint, but now it was clear what to do. He walked carefully down to the gate, deftly opened it and began purposefully working his way along the long road back to Babylon.
People on the surrounding paths stared at him, turned and scurried away in disbelief, but their reactions did not deter the now cognitive Nebuchadnezzar. His steps grew bolder and more confident as he defiantly strode through the gates of the city and up to the palace doors. At the sight of him women and children continued to screech and rush away. Wary guards had been notified and began to establish a parameter around him, at a safe, cautious and courteous distance. Daniel too, had been told that Nebuchadnezzar was coming, so he left his administrative duties to begin walking out to meet this bedraggled, frightening-looking creature. Unafraid, Daniel walked up to Nebuchadnezzar. He had interpreted the king’s dream some eight years before, and had meticulously managed his kingdom in preparation for his return. He had known that just about this time of the year Nebuchadnezzar would be coming back with a fully sane mind, and a new fear, honor and acknowledgment of the Most High God.
Daniel bowed honorably before this hairy, naked, creature with nails like bird-claws, and respectfully enunciated in perfect Chaldean, “Oh, king, live forever!”
Nebuchadnezzar is Restored and Gives Honor and Praise to God
34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;
35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
and he does according to his will among the host of heaven
and among the inhabitants of the earth;
and none can stay his hand
or say to him, “What have you done?”
36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
Discovering Daniel’s challenging and fruitful life: Daniel 5
The king who cared for Daniel, and had come to revere Daniel’s God is now dead.
“Nebuchadnezzar reigned forty-five years, Evil-merodach twenty-three” years, and Belshazzar’s short reign followed. [www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/2846-belshazzar]
• Nebuchadnezzar’s son, Belshazzar takes the throne and Daniel is eliminated from Belshazzar’s arrogant reign. (Dan. 5:1-4)
• Belshazzar’s Drunken and Profane Feast.
o King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of the thousand.
o Belshazzar’s command to bring the pilfered gold and silver vessels from God’s Temple in Jerusalem as goblets from which he and those with whom he was reveling to drink from.
o They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. Belshazzar was in for a shock.
• God’s Disclosure of Himself (Dan. 5:5-12).
o Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, opposite the lampstand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote.
o The king’s color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together.
o He called for all his spiritual advisors and wise men, and promised them great rewards if they could read the inscription, but they could not interpret the Handwriting.
o The queen mother advises her son to call Daniel and he was summoned.
• Daniel’s interpretation of the Handwriting on the wall (Dan. 5:13-31).
o Daniel declines the rewards, and instead advises Belshazzar what happens to proud and haughty people, using the example of the king’s father, Nebuchadnezzar, when he lost his throne for seven years and lived like an animal, until he acknowledged God.
o Daniel continued to confront Belshazzar with his gross error of having a drunken party using the sacred vessels from God’s Temple, and praising the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God who held the king’s life in His hand, Belshazzar had not honored.
o Daniel read the inscription from God’s Hand: Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin.
o Daniel then gave the interpretation: Mene, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; Tekel, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; Peres, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”
o Daniel is promoted: Belshazzar ordered the rewards he had promised for the one interpreting the inscription - Daniel was clothed with purple, a chain of gold was put around his neck, and a proclamation was made about him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
o That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed. And Belshazzar’s kingdom was overturned, and delivered to a 62-year-old conqueror, Darius the Mede (whose army had quietly penetrated the city’s defenses by diverting the river running through the city and walking in on the dry river bed).
Discovering Daniel’s challenging and fruitful life: Daniel 6
• Daniel During Darius’ Reign (Dan. 6:1-18).
o King Darius appointed 120 governors (satraps) over the kingdom he had conquered.
o He appointed three high officials over the governors to whom they should give account, so the king might not suffer loss.
• Daniel is given favor under King Darius, but others plot to bring him down.
o Daniel was one those three high officials and had such an excellent spirit that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. This caused considerable jealousy of Daniel, so the other officials sought to find ground for a complaint against Daniel to keep him from being promoted.
o They could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.”
o They devised a scheme to deceive the king and destroy Daniel.
o They came to the king…“O King Darius, live forever! All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.”
o The king signed it.
• Daniel continues his daily routine of Prayer and Worship of his God
o When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.
o Daniel’s enemies spied on him in prayer and went back to the king with an ultimatum. “You signed an injunction demanding punishment for anyone breaking the decree.” “Daniel broke the decree; so, throw Daniel to the lions!”
• King Darius’ great regret but necessary fulfillment of his obligation
o The king realized the jealous plot and his being deceived and was considerably distressed – and set out to deliver Daniel, but the decree had been worded and sealed in a foolproof manner (according to the laws of the Medes and Persians), so when the sun went down the king had Daniel thrown into the lion’s den.
o A stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.
o The king went back to his palace and spent a sleepless night fasting.
• God Delivers Daniel (Dan. 6:18-24).
o At the break of day, the king arose and hurried to the den of lions. He cried out in anguish to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”
o Daniel responded to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.”
o The king was very glad, and commanded that Daniel be brought up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
• Justice was served on those who sought to destroy Daniel (Dan. 6:24).
o The king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.
• King Darius decree to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth regarding God, who had delivered Daniel (Dan. 6:25-27):
o “Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.”
• Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian (Dan. 6:28).
Conclusion
Daniel’s challenging and fruitful life:
• Daniel’s early years – he sought to honor God.
• Daniel’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and his being made governor over Babylon.
• Daniel’s administration in Babylon while his three friends endured confrontation, a disturbing fiery furnace experience, and God’s deliverance, when refusing to worship Nebuchadnezzar’s golden image.
• Faithful administration during Nebuchadnezzar’s discipline and removal.
• Nebuchadnezzar’s acknowledgement of the God of heaven.
The king who cared for Daniel, and had come to revere Daniel’s God is now dead.
“Nebuchadnezzar reigned forty-five years, Evil-merodach twenty-three” years, and Belshazzar’s short reign followed. [www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/2846-belshazzar]
• Nebuchadnezzar’s son, Belshazzar takes the throne and Daniel is eliminated from Belshazzar’s arrogant reign.
• Daniel’s interpretation of the Handwriting on the wall.
• Belshazzar was put to death that evening, and reign of Darius, the Medo-Persian king, began.
• Daniel’s placement and faithful service in the Persian kingdom.
• Deceitful Jealousy of Daniel.
• God’s deliverance of Daniel from the lion’s den.
• Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and Cyrus, the Persian kings
• Prophetic visions given to Daniel.
• God’s affirmation of Daniel’s life.
Daniel 12:13 (The last verse in the Book of Daniel is to Daniel himself)
13 But [Daniel,] go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.”
Daniel’s life reveals to us the outcome of a person who steadfastly trusts in God. His life is still a beacon of truth and hope today, that has shined throughout the ages, revealing that a person who trusts God is living a worthwhile life - one which brings peace and the greatest practical, personal and eternal blessing. The seeds of Godliness planted and cultivated in Daniel’s life had borne and are bearing mature and precious fruit…even today.
What are the seeds we are planting in our daily life? One day, they will all bear fruit!
1 Cowen, G. (2003). Pride. In C. Brand, C. Draper, A. England, S. Bond, E. R. Clendenen & T. C. Butler (Eds.), Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (C. Brand, C. Draper, A. England, S. Bond, E. R. Clendenen & T. C. Butler, Ed.) (1327). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
2 Baker encyclopedia of psychology & counseling. 1999 (D. G. Benner & P. C. Hill, Ed.) (2nd ed.). Baker reference library (907). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.](Pt._18c,_Daniel_Seeds_that_Mature_for_Eternity_files/shapeimage_1.png)
