September 14-20, 2025

Heart PreparationThis week, you are going to meet Daniel and his friends, who resolve to not defile themselves with the things of the world. As you prepare to read this week’s readings, check your own heart and ask God to reveal to you areas in your life that you might be compromising and defiling yourself with the things of this world. Confess those to God as He brings them to light, repent of them, and walk in His grace, resolving to stand firm in His truths.


Reading Plan

• Sunday, September 14: Daniel 1–3
• Monday, September 15: Daniel 4–6
• Tuesday, September 16: Daniel 7–9
• Wednesday, September 17: Daniel 10–12
• Thursday, September 18: Ezra 1–3
• Friday, September 19: Ezra 4–6, Ps 137
• Saturday, September 20: Haggai 1–2

What to Expect:I’m going to be honest, this is one of my favorite week’s to read in the Old Testament. When we get to Daniel, there is so much going on. There are the Sunday School stories that we hear about growing up, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace (Rack, Shack, & Benny for Veggie Tale kids), as well as Daniel and the Lion’s Den. These are the events we grow up hearing about, and associating with Daniel. Yet, they aren’t why I’m excited, though they are very exciting. The thing that excites me is the historical accuracy of Daniel’s visions, yet they were written decades and even centuries before the events actually occurred! If you desire to dive deeper into this, there is an attached document with the information of Daniel’s specific visions and what they mean. The history that comes to light when you read them, and the accuracy of God’s Word, is so encouraging to me to see that God is the One on the throne, He is in charge, He orchestrates times and seasons and even nations for His purpose! That is the amazing God that we serve! That being said, here is what you can expect in your readings this week.
DANIELThe book of Daniel can be divided into two portions: narrative and prophetic. Daniel was a youth of nobility who was taken into exile during the first Babylonian invasion. The nation of Babylon attempts to change Daniel’s, as well as the other youth’s, identities. They give them new diets, new names, and new educations. Yet Daniel and his friends resolve to stand firm in God’s truth. This sets the theme for Daniel’s life, as well as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s lives. They make the decision to stand firm, to not compromise in their faith, even when it leads them into the fire and lion’s den. The events of the book all occur during the Babylonian empire, lasting from 606-539BC. The first 6 chapters are narratives of what was going on with the exiles, and their resolution to stand firm. The final 6 chapters are visions that Daniel receives of what is going to happen “during the age of the Gentiles”, from the fall of Babylon to the coming of the Messiah.
EZRAWith the fall of the Babylonian empire to King Cyrus of Persia, the Jews are allowed to go back to Jerusalem, just as God promised. The end of 2 Chronicles states that the city of Jerusalem will lie desolate for 70 years, and now the people are able to return and rebuild the Temple, just as God decreed 200 years prior in Isaiah 44:28-45:4, even calling Cyrus by name. Though the Jews are able to go back and rebuild the temple, this isn’t met without opposition, and for 20 years the Jews stop rebuilding the temple due to the opposition.
HAGGAIIt is during this time where the Temple was not being worked on due to opposition that God spoke through Haggai, a prophet who encouraged the people to continue the work on the Temple. Haggai’s contemporary, Zechariah, prophesied alongside him and encouraged the people to also work on the temple. At the encouragement of the two prophets, the work on the temple continued, and in 516BC, the Temple was accomplished. This was 70.5 years after the destruction of the first Temple in 586BC by the Babylonians. With the Temple being rebuilt, the exile of the people was considered officially over.

What to Look ForDANIELAs you read through Daniel, as mentioned already, look at the willingness of the four men to stay true to their faith, resolving not to defile themselves. Passages like Daniel 3:17-18, Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace…. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up, as well as Daniel 6:10, When Daniel knew that the document had been signed (which stated if you pray to anyone other than the king you are to be thrown into the lion’s den), Daniel 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.
Another thing to take note of is during the narrative portion of the book, there is a key statement made towards the end of most of the chapters about God, but they come from a Gentile leader.

• Daniel 2:47
• Daniel 3:28-29
• Daniel 4:34-35
• Daniel 6:26-27

Lastly in Daniel, look at all the ways that God’s hand of protection and control is continually shown. Darius makes an accurate summary statement: 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…. (Daniel 6:26-27).
EZRAThe book of Ezra continues the narrative where Daniel left off in Daniel 6. When you get to Ezra 4:7, the chronology jumps to a different time in history, during the reign of Artexerxes of Persia (the rest of Ezra 1-6 takes place during the reigns of Cyrus the Great to Darius I). This jump in chronology is to point to the fact that even after the Temple was built, there was opposition against the people.

Personal InsightThe key word that jumped out to me was the resolving that Daniel and his friends made. In a world where compromise is everywhere, even in the church, these men set an example of standing firm in the faith. This is a command that is repeated continually in the New Testament, that we are not to be swayed by the waves of culture and society, but that we are to stand firm on the Word of Truth. This makes me check my own heart, and wonder where in my life there might be areas that I am compromising. We see that Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were rewarded for standing firm. This wasn’t for lack of effort on the enemies part, but because God is in control and rewards those who are faithful to Him. Our victory may not come in the form of the fire not touching us, or the lion’s mouth being shut, but we are guaranteed that it comes in the form of those things not holding any power over our eternity, because what He has guaranteed us is that the power of sin and the sting of death are no more!
Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, WHO GIVES US VICTORY THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST! (1 Corinthians 15:54-57)

Prayer:God, I thank you for the victory found in Jesus! Thank you for giving me that assurance that no matter what this world brings, it can never separate me from your love. But God, this world is full of struggles. There is an enemy out there that wants to try and force me to compromise. Help me resolve to not defile myself by the things of this world, but to live a holy life for you!

This week’s devotion was prepared by Andy Peterman

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