Habakkuk and Daniel
The Septuagint translation contains some extra material not in the Hebrew text of Daniel. Daniel Chapter 14 of the LXX (see link below) has a story about a very brief meeting of Daniel and Habakkuk while Daniel is in the lion's den.Suppose Habukkuk really did have a chance to visit Daniel very briefly--long enough only to leave him a verse or two as advice. Cite a couple of verses from Habakkuk that might have been particularly good for Daniel to hear while he was in the Lion's den. Explain why these verses would be good for Daniel, or for others in similar difficulties.
http://www.hope.edu/bandstra/BIBLE/BEL/BEL1.HTM
posted by Ancient Art at 7:48 PM
8 Comments:
Two verses i picked are in chapter three of Habakkuk. The first one is verse 13 and is part of a prayer that Habakkuk is praying, "You come forth to save your people, to save your annoited one. You crush the heads of the wicked, you lay bare the bases of their neck." The next one is verse 19 "God, my Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet swift as those of hinds and enables me to go upon the heights." These two verses bring some words of encouragement to people and especially someone in Daniel's situation. Daniel is a prophet chosen by God and is mistreated by those who hate him and want him dead. These verses say that God will protect his servant. This is especially encouraging to a person that has been thrown into a lion's den so that the lions will eat him alive. These are good verses for Daniel to remember, and God does protect him, always.
The verse that Habukkuk would say to Daniel would be 2:3 "For there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end, and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay." Part of the message in this verse is that while good people suffer, God will deliver His people because "the righteous live by their faith" (2:4)
Habakkuk 3:17-18 is another verse that would part wisdom to Daniel. Although the temporal things of this world will waste away and everything goes wrong, a person should praise the Lord for their salvation. It reminds me of Job in that even though he lost everything he still proclaimed the glory of the Lord. That is what Habakkuk would want Daniel to do in the bottom of the lion's den.
The only verse I think could be used as "advice" is Habakkuk 3:16 "The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed insrtuments." The best advice Daniel could follow would be to trust in God.
In the first chapter of Habakkuk, verse five states, "Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told."
I think that if I were a prophet like Daniel, I would want to have this verse as a comfort. It helps me to understand all of the crazy junk that goes on around me. In truth, I don't HAVE to understand... it does not have to be in my logical grasp to believe that God is working around me.
A second verse I would want to have in store is from chapter two, verse eighteen. "Of what value is an idol, since a man has carved it? Or an image that teaches lies?
For he who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak."
This verse is a reminder of what we create and how far it will get us. Daniel, as a prophet, needs to keep focused on above instead of on earth. Whatever we create will never get above us. David knows this. He needs encouragement to know that his abilities won't get far, but God's ability will.
I like the verse 2:16 it says, "You are filled with shame instead of glory; drink, you too, and stagger! On you shall revert the cup from the Lord's right hand, and utter shame on your glory." I think this is just a good all around verse.
A verse that would be good advice for me if i was in Daniels shoes would be chapter 3:16 I heard my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet i will wait patiently for the day of calmamity to come on the nation invading us. It sounds like when Daniel was in the lions den that this would have been good advice...to be patient and calm and good things will come...like not getting eaten by the lions.
I like verse 2:14 "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD." In this chapter, he states that even though times may look bleak, the LORD will show his glory. The wicked will not get away with what they are doing, they will know the LORD's wrath.
i would have to pick 2:14 the violence you have done to lebanon will overwhelm you, and your distruction of the animals will terrify you. For you have shed man's blood; you have destroyed lands and citties and everyone in them. i choce this one because if daniel would have been tould this he wouldn't have to be worried about getting eaten by the lions becuase they would have been scared of them.
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