Two-Minute Manna

Although Daniel was a seer, he was still a student. Although he was a prophet, he was still a pupil. That is, he was one who read the Word regularly and studied it carefully. Now, if Daniel was one given to reading and researching the Scriptures, how much more do I need to do the same.

Here, Daniel comes to the 25th chapter of Jeremiah and sees that Jeremiah foretold that Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians would carry the Jews into captivity. God allowed this because not only had they embraced idolatry but they had ignored God’s Word continually - specifically as it related to the Sabbath year.

You see, according to Leviticus 25, every seventh year, God’s people were to do no plowing or tilling of the ground. The land was to rest. We now know agriculturally and scientifically why this would be important. But they were simply to take it on faith. On the sixth year, the Lord would give them twice as much in order to see them through the seventh year. But for four hundred ninety years, they ignored that commandment. In other words, the land missed out on seventy years of rest. Therefore, the Lord told Jeremiah that His people would be carried away captive for seventy years. And while they were gone, the land would indeed rest.

Now the seventy years was up. So what did Daniel do? Jeremiah’s writings didn’t simply stimulate his curiosity but they moved him to activity - and that’s always the purpose of prophecy. After reading Jeremiah’s prophecy, Daniel was prompted to pray.

Many times, people don’t pray because they’re not studying or meditating on the Word. When they try to pray, they don’t know what to talk about. I have news for you: God is a great conversationalist and He initiates the conversation through His Word. That’s why reading the Bible is important and studying it is essential. As I read the Scriptures, I discover the things I should talk about in prayer.