The first of a series on Bible study and prayer using Psalm 111 and Daniel 9 as models

If it works out, I am going to spend two months going through a John MacArthur book, HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE.  Why, after years in church, would I do this?  The Bible answers that question in Psalm 111:  "I will praise the LORD!  I will give thanks to tthe LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.  Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them (v.v. 1-2.)"
Daniel was a student of Scripture.  In the opening verses of Daniel 9 we see this:  "In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of Median descent, who was made king over the Chaldeans--in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, observed in the books the number of the years which was revealed as the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolation of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.  So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplication, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. (v.v. 1-3)"
I will leave this blog entry with three points:
1. Daniel's study of Scripture led to his observation and that led to his prayer, supplication, etc. mentioned in verses 1-3.  How often do our studies of Scripture lead us to prayer, etc?
2. Daniel was a man of prayer but this seems to be only the second of his prayers recorded for us (remembering his prayer in chapter 2 after God answered his request.)  My intent is to spend the next weeks unpacking the prayer in Daniel 9.
3. Deuteromony 7:9 came to mind as I read Daniel 9:4:  "Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him  and keep his commandments to a thousand generations."

Daniel and Joshua and Joseph
Daniel was a young man when he was among dozens taken to Babylon and an old man at the end of the book which hears his name.  It was a challenge to summarize what I learned both of and from Daniel.
He had a commitment to God which we see from the beginning of the book when he requested permission to have a different diet to the end of the book when God had given him dreams and visions pertaining to prophetic events which Daniel desired to understand.
Daniel spent the greatest amount of his life in a pagan environment, so hostile to his faith that we know of at least one event when his life was sought.
God honored Daniel with promotion after promotion by three named kings, and perhaps by a fourth, because Daniel always honored God. 
Daniel established a life of diligence in both prayer and work, never seeking a higher position but always giving the one he had his best.
Passages to contemplate include the following:
1:2
And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into [Nebuchadnezzar's] hand, along with some of the vessels of the house of God; and he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasury of his god.
 1:8
But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king's choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself.
1:17
And as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams.
1:20
And as for every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and conjurors who were in all his realm.
2:20-23
Daniel answered and said, "Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him.  And it is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men, and knowledge to men of understanding.  It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him.  To Thee, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for Thou hast given me wisdom and power; even now Thou hast made known to me what we requested of Thee, for Thou hast made known to us the king's matter."
2:47
The king answered Daniel and said, "Surely your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, since you have been able to reveal this mystery."
3:28-29
Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king's command, and yielded up their bodies so as not to serve or worship any god except their own God.  Therefore, I make a decree that any people, nation or tongue that speaks anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses reduced to a rubbish heap, inasmuch as there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way."
4:1-3
Nebuchadnezzar the king to all peoples, nations, and men of every language that live in all the earth: "May your peace abound!  It has seemed good to me to declare the signs and wonders which the Most High God has done for me.  How great are His signs, and how mighty are His wonders!  His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion from generation to generation."
6:25-27
Then Dairus the king wrote to all the peoples, nations, and men of every language who were living in the land:  "May your peace abound! I make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men are to fear and tremble before the God of Daniel; for He is the living God and enduring forever, and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, and His dominion will be forever.  He delivers and rescues and performs signs and wonders in heaven and on earth; Who has also delivered Daniel from the power of the lions."
9:1-3
In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of Median descent, who was made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans--in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, observed in the books the number of the years which was revealed as the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolation of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.  So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplication, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.
Then verses 4-20 include Daniels prayer which could be a study all by itself.
Though the prophecies Daniel received in chapters 7-12 overwhelmed him physically, in each case he sought to understand the dream or vision--something we also ought to take as a model:  to  not let that which overwhelms us stop us from seeking to understand.  God will see to it that we receive strength as was the case with Daniel (see 10:18-19 for example.)

Joshua revisited
Like Moses, Joshua was born in Egypt. He would have experienced the same trials as the rest of the Hebrews and seen the same miracles prior to the Exodus.  Joshua assisted Moses from his youth. I think that both observation and participation prepared him during the years of learning for the years of leading.  But think about this:  Joshua began assisting Moses when a youth (before reaching the age of a man?) and served in that capacity until Moses died.  What a long internship that was!  We have nothing in Scripture indicating that Joshua was ever impatient with his position as number 2, only indications of his diligent service.
As I have reflected on Joshua--as well as Joseph and Daniel--I can only conclude that Joshua saw his service not only to Moses but as unto God, and a personal God who Joshua knew as faithful and powerful.
And  when God put Joshua into the leadership position for which He had groomed him, Joshua was never one to dawdle.  Whenever God revealed His will to Joshua, Joshua acted immediately.  I'm not saying Joshua was a perfect leader; we saw that in chapter 9 when the Gibeonites deceived him; but he was a man of God who sought to do God's will with a whole heart.  And he told God's words without changing them to suit his audience either.  Joshua was uncompromising, trusting in God's promising.  What an example to us all!