Daniel 7:9-14

Daniel 7:9-14 - Daily Devotion - 22 July 2025

St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

9 As I continued to watch,
thrones were set in place,
and the Ancient of Days took His seat.
His clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of His head was like pure wool.
His throne was flaming with fire,
and its wheels were all ablaze.
10 A river of fire was flowing,
coming out from His presence.
Thousands upon thousands attended Him,
and myriads upon myriads stood before Him.
The court was convened,
and the books were opened.

11 Then I kept watching because of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued to watch, the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was removed, but they were granted an extension of life for a season and a time.

13 In my vision in the night I continued to watch,
and I saw One like the Son of Man
coming with the clouds of heaven.
He approached the Ancient of Days
and was led into His presence.
14 And He was given dominion,
glory, and kingship,
that the people of every nation and language
should serve Him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that will not pass away,
and His kingdom is one
that will never be destroyed.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Susan Duc

If Daniel’s dream was a feature film, what we get with today’s passage is a ‘cut’ or ‘scene transition’. We move from yesterday’s earthly scene of four beasts rising from the churning sea, all the way up to the heavenly realm where God’s courtroom is being prepared for the beasts to face judgment.

The first to take his seat is the Ancient of Days, that is, God, in all his pure and fiery majesty. Then, God’s people in their thousands upon thousands gather before Him. As the heavenly court begins its session, the books are opened (v10). The four beasts, who seemed so threatening a scene ago, are dealt with so efficiently they appear almost insignificant.

Then the spotlight shifts to a new character, “One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven” (v 13). Unlike the animal-like beasts which come from the waters below, this human-like figure comes from above. He is presented to the Ancient of Days and is given power forever and an everlasting kingdom. Unlike the earthly kingdoms, which are limited and fleeting, this one will continue into eternity.

In the New Testament, Jesus gives himself the title ‘the Son of Man’. He said that one day he will return in power and glory riding on clouds, in fulfilment of Daniel’s vision (Matt 24:27-30). When he returns, he will raise back to life believers who have fallen asleep and gather up those who are alive to set up God’s forever kingdom (1 Thess 4:14-17). That’s the end scene God has planned for the feature film that is all of human history.

I’ve been avoiding reading or watching the news over the past few months. It all feels so overwhelming – the horrific, endless wars in the Middle East, the corruption and ugliness of politics in the West, and the economic and social challenges we face in our own country. But this passage is such a comfort. It’s a call not to despair about the beast-like kings that reject God and rule the earth, but to look up in hope, to wait expectantly for the triumph of God’s perfect kingdom when Jesus returns.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Susan is one of our Assistant Ministers.

Daniel 7:1-8

Daniel 7:1-8 - Daily Devotion - 21 July 2025

St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

1 In the first year of the reign of Belshazzar over Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he lay on his bed. He wrote down the dream, and this is the summary of his account.

2 Daniel declared: “In my vision in the night I looked, and suddenly the four winds of heaven were churning up the great sea. 3 Then four great beasts came up out of the sea, each one different from the others:

4 The first beast was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and given the mind of a man.

5 Suddenly another beast appeared, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. So it was told, ‘Get up and gorge yourself on flesh!’

6 Next, as I watched, another beast appeared. It was like a leopard, and on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.

7 After this, as I watched in my vision in the night, suddenly a fourth beast appeared, and it was terrifying—dreadful and extremely strong—with large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed; then it trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had ten horns. 8 While I was contemplating the horns, suddenly another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like those of a man and a mouth that spoke words of arrogance.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Susan Duc

Do you dream when you sleep? I rarely do. However, a few nights ago, I dreamed. It wasn’t a long dream, but it was filled with strange images I couldn’t quite make out and fragments of odd conversations with people from long ago. I woke up feeling unsettled and disturbed.

In today’s passage, the prophet Daniel describes his own vivid dream. But this is no ordinary dream. Daniel sees four terrifying beasts emerging from the chaotic waters. The four beasts symbolise four kingdoms that arose to dominate and terrorise the nations around them: first Babylon, then Media, Persia and Greece. Each was worse than the one before it.

Greece, the fourth beast, was the most ferocious of all. In the Bible, ‘horns’ are symbols of strength and power, and the fourth beast has ten of them. And still it grows another brutal ‘little horn’, with eyes like a man and who spoke arrogant words. This was a prophecy of a cruel Greek ruler, a tyrant who feared neither the Jews nor their God.

As these four beasts rose up from the churning sea and terrorised Daniel in his sleep, how might he have comforted himself? As he pulled his sheets up a little higher, Daniel might have remembered that God, his God, is sovereign over every evil power. It was God who stilled the roaring of the seas, the pounding of their waves and the tumult of the nations (Ps 65:7).

We have an even greater comfort, supplied by another vision – from John in the book of Revelation. John saw the coming of Jesus, along with the final destruction of Satan and the making of a new heaven and earth. When Jesus returns, the sea of chaos and destruction will be no more. There will only be a holy city where there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things will have passed away and God will make all things new (Rev 21:1-7).

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Susan is one of our Assistant Ministers.

Daniel 6:24-28

Daniel 6:24-28 - Daily Devotion - 19 July 2025

St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

24 At the command of the king, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the den of lions—they and their children and wives. And before they had reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

25 Then King Darius wrote to the people of every nation and language throughout the land: “May your prosperity abound. 26 I hereby decree that in every part of my kingdom, men are to tremble in fear before the God of Daniel:

For He is the living God,
and He endures forever;
His kingdom will never be destroyed,
and His dominion will never end.

27 He delivers and rescues;
He performs signs and wonders
in the heavens and on the earth,
for He has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions.”

28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Matt Radloff

Darius’ declaration of praise for God finds its place at the very end of the first half of the book. Over and over again, God has proved that he is mighty. God has shown that while kingdoms rise and fall, he remains in control. The kingdom of Babylon was crushed by Persia. And Persia too will eventually crumble into dust. Unlike the kings of this world, God endures forever. Unlike the nations that stand strong for a time, God’s dominion will never end. Unlike the gods of the world, Daniel’s God, our God, is the living God. The only right response for all the people of the world is to tremble in fear before him. He is totally unopposed and completely sovereign. 

What’s more, the living, mighty God has shown that he actually cares for his people. Sometimes I think we can forget how amazing that really is. The eternal, all-powerful, fear-inducing God, cares about us. Throughout the book of Daniel, he’s shown that he can and he will save his people from the enemy. He shielded Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fire when they refused to bow to idols. He closed the lions' mouths when Daniel refused the king's law and persisted in only praying to God. He delivers and rescues. He performs signs and wonders to save. 

We can have real security knowing that the eternal, living God is with us. He delivered Daniel from the lions, and he has delivered us from sin and death through his son. One day, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that the Son, Jesus Christ, is lord. We can look forward to that day when the whole world will know that God alone saves. That he is the living God who has delivered his people. 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Matt is one of our Student Ministers.

Daniel 6:17-23

Daniel 6:17-23 - Daily Devotion - 18 July 2025

St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

17 A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that nothing concerning Daniel could be changed.

18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No entertainment was brought before him, and sleep fled from him.

19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the den of lions. 20 When he reached the den, he cried out in a voice of anguish, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”

21 Then Daniel replied, “O king, may you live forever! 22 My God sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, for I was found innocent in His sight, and I have done no wrong against you, O king.”

23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den, and when Daniel was lifted out of the den, no wounds whatsoever were found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Matt Radloff

“Has your God been able to save you?”. Darius’s question is an important one for all of us to grapple with. Is the God you serve powerful enough to rescue you? At the beginning of these verses, Daniel’s fate is apparently sealed as he’s locked in with the deadly lions. His situation is set by the heavy stone placed over what looks to be his permanent tomb. There’s no hope of an outside rescuer as the king's ring and the rings of his nobles outlaw any attempts to interfere. After the worst night of the king's life, he rushes to the den and asks, “Has your God been able to save you?!” As Darius hears Daniel’s reply, he learns about the power of Daniel’s God.  About the power of our God, who alone has the power to save. 

From God’s miraculous salvation of Daniel, we are reminded of the far greater salvation that God worked in raising his own son from the dead.  Just like Daniel, Jesus was an innocent man sentenced to death. He was thrown into a hole in the ground, and a heavy stone was set across to bar the way. The authorities in Jesus' day also took measures to make sure no one could interfere. And yet God’s salvation of his perfect Son Jesus eclipses Daniel’s as He saves his innocent one, not just from the jaws of the lion, but from the jaws of death itself.  

We can have confidence that the God who saves is on our side. The God who raises the dead to life is with us. And so, we have nothing to fear! Not even death. God answers Darius’ question, “has your God been able to save?” with a resounding “yes!” This is the confident hope that every one of us can have as God’s people. As the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:11, “…if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.”

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Matt is one of our Student Ministers.

Daniel 6:10-16

Daniel 6:10-16 - Daily Devotion - 17 July 2025

St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

10 Now when Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house, where the windows of his upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before. 11 Then these men went as a group and found Daniel petitioning and imploring his God. 12 So they approached the king and asked about his royal decree: “Did you not sign a decree that for thirty days any man who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions?”

The king replied, “According to the law of the Medes and Persians the order stands, and it cannot be repealed.”

13 Then they told the king, “Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, shows no regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed. He still makes his petition three times a day.”

14 As soon as the king heard this, he was deeply distressed and set his mind on delivering Daniel, and he labored until sundown to rescue him.

15 Then the men approached the king together and said to him, “Remember, O king, that by the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or ordinance established by the king can be changed.”

16 So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the den of lions.

The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!”

REFLECTIONS

Written by Andy Rowland

Daniel, a Jewish exile and one of the 120 satraps of the Median kingdom, has had a trap laid for him by the other satraps and administrators because of the favour he has found in the king's eyes. His opponents know that he devotedly serves the Lord, praying three times a day, and so they have deceitfully tricked the king into signing a decree outlawing prayer to any God or man, except the king himself, punishable by being cast into a den of lions.

I am so thankful to live in a country where being a Christian and living it out wholeheartedly is not outlawed and punishable. That is not the case for many of our Christian brothers and sisters around the world, where the threat of death is a near and present one. Even still, there are cultural and legal difficulties that we face, and there will always be pressure from the world to give up on our faith in God and to fear man over God.

It is striking that Daniel does nothing different in light of the king's decree. Given the temporary nature of the decree, 30 days, I would be tempted to let it pass or continue in a more hidden way to survive without causing trouble. But Daniel knows that the king is in the wrong, and so he continues to serve and fear the Lord first, praying as he always did and knowingly walking straight into their trap.

Like Daniel and us, our Lord Jesus knows this temptation. As he faced betrayal and judgment by the jealousy of the Pharisees and Sadducees, he did not deny himself or hide from them. He continually feared God and obeyed him even before those who would kill him. But unlike Daniel, as Jesus was crucified, there was no one to deliver him, for he went to face the wrath of God, not man. And he did so for our sake.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Andy is one of our Student Ministers.

Daniel 6:1-9

Daniel 6:1-9 - Daily Devotion - 16 July 2025

St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

1 Now it pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, 2 and over them three administrators, including Daniel, to whom these satraps were accountable so that the king would not suffer loss. 3 Soon, by his extraordinary spirit, Daniel distinguished himself among the administrators and satraps. So the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.

4 Thus the administrators and satraps sought a charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they could find no charge or corruption, because he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him. 5 Finally these men said, “We will never find any charge against this Daniel, unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God.”

6 So the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said, “O King Darius, may you live forever! 7 All the royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce a decree that for thirty days anyone who petitions any god or man except you, O king, will be thrown into the den of lions. 8 Therefore, O king, establish the decree and sign the document so that it cannot be changed—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”

9 Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Andy Rowland

Here for the third time, Daniel, an exiled Jew, finds favour with the king who occupies his homeland, and is appointed as a ruler over the enemy kingdom. This could be an occasion for him to neglect God and his people, to make the most of this very privileged position. It would be all too easy for him to assimilate into the culture and people around him, reaping all the potential benefits, and yet Daniel remains devoted to the Lord God and to his people Israel, as we will see clearly in Chapter 9.

Another opportunity Daniel has is to work half-heartedly, undermining the man who continues the occupation of Israel and exile of the Israelites. In such a position, it is so easy to only do what is necessary, working begrudgingly and selfishly.

As I've studied and worked, these have been very present temptations throughout my life, and many I've spoken to. It does take an extraordinary spirit to overcome it, and God has provided us with his very own spirit to do so!

Yet, because Daniel fears the Lord, he works hard and diligently. There's no deceit, no corruption, and no negligence in all he does. He isn't working for his own benefit; rather, Daniel is working from a fear and honour of God above men, even as he serves an enemy king. Colossians 3:23-24 helps me understand his work more clearly, as it reveals explicitly that the efforts of our labour and their rewards are not ultimately earthly, but will be given by God in heaven!

As Daniel's work prospers, he angers those who are working out of selfish ambition, for their own deficiencies are exposed. And the only way that they can get to him is by pushing into what makes him distinct, his love for God.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Andy is one of our Student Ministers.

Daniel 5:18-31

Daniel 5:18-31 - Daily Devotion - 15 July 2025

St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

18 As for you, O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness, glory and honor. 19 Because of the greatness that He bestowed on him, the people of every nation and language trembled in fear before him. He killed whom he wished and kept alive whom he wished; he exalted whom he wished and humbled whom he wished.

20 But when his heart became arrogant and his spirit was hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne, and his glory was taken from him. 21 He was driven away from mankind, and his mind was like that of a beast. He lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like an ox, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until he acknowledged that the Most High God rules over the kingdom of mankind, setting over it whom He wishes.

22 But you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this. 23 Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. The vessels from His house were brought to you, and as you drank wine from them with your nobles, wives, and concubines, you praised your gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you have failed to glorify the God who holds in His hand your very breath and all your ways. 24 Therefore He sent the hand that wrote the inscription.
25 Now this is the inscription that was written:
MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN.
26 And this is the interpretation of the message:
MENE means that God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.
27 TEKEL means that you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient.
28 PERES means that your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians.”

29 Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel in purple, placed a gold chain around his neck, and proclaimed him the third highest ruler in the kingdom.

30 That very night Belshazzar king of the Chaldeans was slain, 31 and Darius the Mede received the kingdom at the age of sixty-two.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Vincent Chan

It’s hard to imagine what it would have been like to be the King of Babylon. Babylon was the greatest empire of its time—nations and kings literally bowed down to it. Its wealth was staggering, almost otherworldly. Its influence and power were on a scale that’s hard to grasp, even by today’s standards. And to be its king was to rule it all. A single word from your mouth could shape reality for those around you. Cities rose and fell at your command. The King of Babylon was, in earthly terms, all-powerful.

And yet, two kings of Babylon reached two very different endings.

King Nebuchadnezzar, for all his might, humbled himself. He came to recognize that there was a Most High God who ruled above him. And because of that, he was restored. He experienced mercy.

But how different the ending is for Belshazzar. As we reach the conclusion of this chapter, we see that Belshazzar never repented. The writing on the wall was God’s judgment: his days were numbered, his kingdom was divided, and his reign was coming to an end. Belshazzar is about to learn that his power was not absolute—it was given to him by God, and just as easily, it would be taken away. The chapter ends with a quiet but devastating sentence: the great Babylonian empire is handed over as Darius the Mede takes control.

Hebrews 9:27 reminds us: “People are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” No matter who we are—whether kings or commoners—we will all one day stand before the judgment throne of God.

Have you turned to Jesus yet? At the start of His ministry, Jesus declared: “The time has come. The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15). That invitation still stands today.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vinno is one of our Assistant Ministers.

Daniel 5:10-17

Daniel 5:10-17 - Daily Devotion - 14 July 2025

St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

10 Hearing the outcry of the king and his nobles, the queen entered the banquet hall. “O king, may you live forever!” she said. “Do not let your thoughts terrify you, or your face grow pale. 11 There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the days of your father he was found to have insight, intelligence, and wisdom like that of the gods.

Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners. Your own father, the king, 12 did this because Daniel, the one he named Belteshazzar, was found to have an extraordinary spirit, as well as knowledge, understanding, and the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems. Summon Daniel, therefore, and he will give you the interpretation.”

13 So Daniel was brought before the king, who asked him, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah? 14 I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that you have insight, intelligence, and extraordinary wisdom.

15 Now the wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this inscription and interpret it for me, but they could not give its interpretation. 16 But I have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and solve difficult problems. Therefore, if you can read this inscription and give me its interpretation, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”

17 In response, Daniel said to the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the inscription for the king and interpret it for him.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Vincent Chan

Two things really stand out in today’s passage.

Firstly, I was struck by Daniel’s situation. In the previous chapter, under King Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel was one of the most trusted advisors in the kingdom. But now, many years later, he’s older—and forgotten. It takes the Queen (likely the Queen Mother) to remind Belshazzar of who Daniel is. What a powerful reminder of how quickly human achievements and status can fade! Yet even when people forget, God does not change. God is still at work, and He will provide the answer Daniel needs. Our position in this life may rise and fall like shifting sand, but the wonderful promise of Scripture is this: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

The second thing that stands out is Belshazzar’s offer of rewards. He promises Daniel royal clothing, a gold chain, and a position as the third highest ruler in the kingdom if he can interpret the writing on the wall. These were powerful symbols of status and authority. But Daniel’s response is striking: “You may keep your gifts… but I will read the inscription anyway.” I’d like to think I would have the same resolve as Daniel—to say no to the rewards and riches of this world. But the truth is, worldly treasures are often deeply enticing. Even though we know the treasures of this world will rust, I often find it very hard not to store and invest in it.

And in light of that struggle, isn’t it good news that Jesus is the true and better Daniel? When Satan tempted Jesus with all the kingdoms of the world (Matthew 4:9), He didn’t give in. He rejected the offer and submitted to His Father alone. Jesus chose faithfulness over fortune. He gave up the glory of this world so that we could be part of His eternal kingdom. That’s how I can keep living for the kingdom of heaven—not by trying to be strong on my own, but by remembering my King. King Jesus gave up everything, so I could have everything in Him.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vinno is one of our Assistant Ministers.

Daniel 5:1-9

Daniel 5:1-9 - Daily Devotion - 12 July 2025

St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

1 Later, King Belshazzar held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he drank wine with them. 2 Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver vessels that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king could drink from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines.

3 Thus they brought in the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king drank from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines. 4 As they drank the wine, they praised their gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.

5 At that moment the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. As the king watched the hand that was writing, 6 his face grew pale and his thoughts so alarmed him that his hips gave way and his knees knocked together.

7 The king called out for the enchanters, astrologers, and diviners to be brought in, and he said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this inscription and tells me its interpretation will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”

8 So all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the inscription or interpret it for him. 9 Then King Belshazzar became even more terrified, his face grew even more pale, and his nobles were bewildered.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Vincent Chan

Today we meet a new king—King Belshazzar. In verse 2, we’re told that Nebuchadnezzar was his father, though this likely means he was a descendant, not his direct son. Still, like Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar is marked by power and pride.

The chapter opens with Belshazzar hosting a feast for “a thousand nobles”—a way of saying there were more guests than you could count. But it’s not the size of the feast that reveals his pride. It’s the moment he orders the sacred vessels from God’s temple in Jerusalem to be brought out and used for drinking, all while praising gods of gold and silver. Belshazzar isn’t short on cups—he’s making a statement. He’s shaking his fist at heaven and telling God to shove off.

But Belshazzar’s arrogance quickly turns to fear when the famous incident of the handwriting on the wall occurs. That phrase—“the writing on the wall”—has become part of everyday language, describing a clear sign that trouble is coming. And in Belshazzar’s case, that’s exactly right. The writing reveals God’s judgment on his pride.

And pride really is the heart of the issue here, isn’t it?As I reflect on this passage, I’m reminded how deceptive pride can be. Sometimes it’s blatant—like Belshazzar’s feast. But more often, at least in my own life, it’s subtle and hidden. It can show up in how easily I look down on others. Or in how quickly I act as though I don’t need God’s help.

How are you managing pride in your own life? Let’s take a moment today to remember the cross—the place where all our pride is put to shame. And let’s ask God to help us pour contempt on every trace of it.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vinno is one of our Assistant Ministers.

Daniel 4:34-37

Daniel 4:34-37 - Daily Devotion - 11 July 2025

St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

34 But at the end of those days I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity was restored to me. Then I praised the Most High, and I honored and glorified Him who lives forever:

“For His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and His kingdom endures from generation to generation.
35 All the peoples of the earth
are counted as nothing,
and He does as He pleases
with the army of heaven
and the peoples of the earth.
There is no one who can restrain His hand
or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”

36 At the same time my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne, and surpassing greatness was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all His works are true and all His ways are just. And He is able to humble those who walk in pride.

REFLECTIONS

Written by James Davidson

The letter to the Hebrews in the New Testament tells us that ‘the Lord disciplines the one he loves’ and ‘God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time.’ (Hebrews 12:6,10,11) God’s discipline of Nebuchadnezzar is a good example of this. God could have removed him from the throne forever or even taken his life, but, in his kindness, he chose to discipline him and restore him to the throne a changed man, a humbled man. But it was not pleasant – it took a long period of insanity and humiliation. In God’s love for us today he also disciplines us. Hebrews encourages us to see all suffering as discipline, as part of God’s training program designed to make us more holy. God is in control of all our circumstances, and he is using them to make us more like Jesus.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

James is one of our Assistant Ministers.

Daniel 4:28-33

Daniel 4:28-33 - Daily Devotion - 10 July 2025

St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

28 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Twelve months later, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built by the might of my power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?”

31 While the words were still in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven: “It is decreed to you, King Nebuchadnezzar, that the kingdom has departed from you. 32 You will be driven away from mankind to live with the beasts of the field, and you will feed on grass like an ox. And seven times will pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes.”

33 At that moment the sentence against Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from mankind. He ate grass like an ox, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.

REFLECTIONS

Written by James Davidson

God gave Nebuchadnezzar a year to repent of his arrogance, but he did not. Because he refused to humble himself; God humbled him. In the New Testament book of Acts we see God bringing worse judgement on another ruler, Herod. We read, ‘because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.’ (Acts 12:23) Paul in his first letter to Timothy urges us to pray for kings and all those in authority. One good thing we can pray for them is that they will acknowledge God as ruler over all and as the One who has given them authority. It’s also good to ask that they will use their authority for the good of those they govern, especially the needy and the vulnerable. It’s not for nothing that we call the Prime Minister the Prime Minister, meaning the First Servant. Not only is he or she the first servant of the monarch, but he or she is also called to be the first servant of the people.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

James is one of our Assistant Ministers.

Daniel 4:19-27

Daniel 4:19-27 - Daily Devotion - 9 July 2025

St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

19 For a time, Daniel, who was also known as Belteshazzar, was perplexed, and his thoughts alarmed him.

So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.”

“My lord,” replied Belteshazzar, “may the dream apply to those who hate you, and its interpretation to your enemies!

20 The tree you saw that grew large and strong, whose top reached the sky and was visible to all the earth, 21 whose foliage was beautiful and whose fruit was abundant, providing food for all, under which the beasts of the field lived, and in whose branches the birds of the air nested— 22 you, O king, are that tree! For you have become great and strong; your greatness has grown to reach the sky, and your dominion extends to the ends of the earth.

23 And you, O king, saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying:
‘Cut down the tree and destroy it,
but leave the stump with its roots in the ground,
and a band of iron and bronze around it,
in the tender grass of the field.
Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven,
and graze with the beasts of the field
till seven times pass him by.’

24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree that the Most High has issued against my lord the king:

25 You will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling will be with the beasts of the field. You will feed on grass like an ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes.

26 As for the command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots, your kingdom will be restored to you as soon as you acknowledge that Heaven rules. 27 Therefore, may my advice be pleasing to you, O king. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed. Perhaps there will be an extension of your prosperity.”

REFLECTIONS

Written by James Davidson

God warned Nebuchadnezzar that if he did not repent of his arrogance, he would humble him. He would spend a time not ruling but rather wandering the fields like an animal. He needed to humble himself and acknowledge God as the ultimate Ruler and to accept that he only ruled because God had appointed him. He needed to break away from his sins by doing what is right, and from his iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed. We can become like Nebuchadnezzar. Arrogance can easily creep in, particularly if we are given any sort of leadership. We can begin to think that there is something special about us.  We start taking pride in our abilities as if they were self-generated, not God-given. We can even kid ourselves that our salvation was partly our doing and that our transformation was partly our work. This can lead to all sorts of sin, for example, looking down on others and not caring for those in need or those under us. In that case, we need to heed Daniel’s warning to Nebuchadnezzar. We need to humble ourselves before God, confess our sins and acknowledge that our salvation and our transformation are all from him. We need to recognize that any gifts or abilities we possess are gracious gifts from God. We need to commit ourselves again to humbly serving others for Jesus’ sake.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

James is one of our Assistant Ministers.

Daniel 4:1-18

Daniel 4:1-18 - Daily Devotion - 8 July 2025

St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

1 King Nebuchadnezzar,

To the people of every nation and language who dwell in all the earth:

May your prosperity be multiplied. 2 I am pleased to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.
3 How great are His signs,
how mighty His wonders!
His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;
His dominion endures from generation to generation.

4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace. 5 I had a dream, and it frightened me; while in my bed, the images and visions in my mind alarmed me. 6 So I issued a decree that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me. 7 When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners came in, I told them the dream, and they could not interpret it for me.

8 But at last, into my presence came Daniel (whose name is Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods). And I told him the dream: 9 “O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery baffles you. So explain to me the visions I saw in my dream, and their interpretation. 10 In these visions of my mind as I was lying in bed, I saw this come to pass:

There was a tree in the midst of the land,
and its height was great.
11 The tree grew large and strong;
its top reached the sky,
and it was visible
to the ends of the earth.
12 Its leaves were beautiful,
its fruit was abundant,
and upon it was food for all.
Under it the beasts of the field found shelter,
in its branches the birds of the air nested,
and from it every creature was fed.

13 As I lay on my bed, I also saw in the visions of my mind a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven. 14 He called out in a loud voice:
‘Cut down the tree and chop off its branches;
strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit.
Let the beasts flee from under it,
and the birds from its branches.
15 But leave the stump with its roots in the ground,
and a band of iron and bronze around it,
in the tender grass of the field.

Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven
and graze with the beasts on the grass of the earth.
16 Let his mind be changed from that of a man,
and let him be given the mind of a beast
till seven times pass him by.
17 This decision is the decree of the watchers,
the verdict declared by the holy ones,
so that the living will know
that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind
and gives it to whom He wishes,
setting over it the lowliest of men.’

18 This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because none of the wise men of my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you are able, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”

REFLECTIONS

Written by James Davidson

We will have to read on to discover the meaning of the dream, but we have already been told its purpose in v17: ‘so that the living will know that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes, setting over it the lowliest of men.’

God had appointed Nebuchadnezzar to rule but he was arrogant. God was about to humble him. For God’s desire is to set over mankind ‘the lowliest of men’. The ultimate expression of this desire is God placing his own Son over mankind. Jesus is ‘the lowliest of men.’ As Paul wrote to the Philippians, Jesus,
‘existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross. Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place …’ The lowliest of men now rules over the kingdom of mankind. If we aspire to any sort of leadership among God’s people we are also called to humble ourselves under God. We are his servants appointed by him to serve his people for Jesus’ sake.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

James is one of our Assistant Ministers.

Daniel 3:26-30

Daniel 3:26-30 - Daily Devotion - 7 July 2025

St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the door of the blazing fiery furnace and called out, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out!”

So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and when the satraps, prefects, governors, and royal advisers had gathered around, they saw that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men. Not a hair of their heads was singed, their robes were unaffected, and there was no smell of fire on them.

28 Nebuchadnezzar declared, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him. They violated the king’s command and risked their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be cut into pieces and their houses reduced to rubble. For there is no other god who can deliver in this way.”

30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Alex Chen

This is the victory of God’s people in a foreign land. Nebuchadnezzar finally acknowledges that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego serve the one true God. In light of God’s miraculous rescue, Nebuchadnezzar praises God. God’s people are praised for worshipping only the one God at the risk of their lives. Blessings fall upon these servants. God’s deliverance is a great testimony to Nebuchadnezzar.

Even the proud are humbled. The highest human power is shown God’s power and recognises it here. God’s saving power, and his exclusivity are on show here. Time and time again, he rescues his people. We see this ultimately done at the cross through Jesus, as God rescues his people from sin and death. Even in light of powerful human rulers – the God of the Bible is the only God to be known and praised.

We can rejoice that the all-powerful God knows us. Even anyone we think that is “beyond saving” – can be known and saved by God. But we are saved to a life of knowing God rightly and living lives for him. Jesus is both Saviour and Lord. We must be willing to let go of what is most valuable to us in an earthly way for the sake of following Jesus. Our whole lives are living sacrifices to God. The things which impede us knowing Jesus better – we must consider giving them up. The materialism of our society, chasing novelty in the latest fad or fun experience. We particularly live now in a society that is rejecting Christian values – how will we not get sucked into them? Is our time on social media or our phones replacing our time in our Bibles? Pursue God and the blessing of knowing him rightly. We know God’s deliverance already – we should live in light of the end, proclaiming God’s graciousness with as much of our lives as we can.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alex is one of our Student Ministers.

Daniel 3:19-25

Daniel 3:19-25 - Daily Devotion - 5 July 2025

St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

19 At this, Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He gave orders to heat the furnace seven times hotter than usual, 20 and he commanded some mighty men of valor in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing fiery furnace.

21 So they were tied up, wearing robes, trousers, turbans, and other clothes, and they were thrown into the blazing fiery furnace.

22 The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the fiery flames killed the men who carried up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, firmly bound, fell into the blazing fiery furnace.

24 Suddenly King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and asked his advisers, “Did we not throw three men, firmly bound, into the fire?”

“Certainly, O king,” they replied.

25 “Look!” he exclaimed. “I see four men, unbound and unharmed, walking around in the fire—and the fourth looks like a son of the gods!”

REFLECTIONS

Written by Alex Chen

This is the moment the enemies of God should be triumphing over God’s faithful people in a foreign place. The blazing fire sounds terrifying, but we don’t learn what Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego thought after their bold stance of worshipping only the one true God. The faithful are given the death sentence by the earthly ruler and his soldiers. But the enemy does not prevail here. There is divine intervention – one like a son of the gods appears. God protects his people, the faithful few in a foreign land. These are the people through whom he is going to save people throughout the world.

Deciding to stand up and declare allegiance to God here has its consequences, and we see it in full force here. We see here that God is faithful to his people Israel, that human rulers do not mean that God is not in control, or acting, or caring. Even at the lowest point of God’s people – his power and love are seen.

We may not often face the furnace for our faith. We know that Jesus has done that at an even greater scale for us at the cross – and God was faithful in raising him from the dead. We have deep assurance that in our unity with Jesus, we too are kept by God. The last enemy of death has been defeated. But we must also be encouraged that in knowing God’s faithfulness to us already in Jesus – we can stand up and boldly proclaim Jesus’ name, even in hostile environments. Family, friends, work, strangers – we must show that we are known by our God, and so we live differently to what the world chases, what it worships. Security in money, job security, relationships; man’s praise for aligning with them – we must pray for a readiness to stand firm.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alex is one of our Student Ministers.

Daniel 3:13-18

Daniel 3:13-18 - Daily Devotion - 4 July 2025

St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, furious with rage, summoned Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is it true that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden statue I have set up? 15 Now, if you are ready, as soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the statue I have made. But if you refuse to worship, you will be thrown at once into the blazing fiery furnace. Then what god will be able to deliver you from my hands?”

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If the God whom we serve exists, then He is able to deliver us from the blazing fiery furnace and from your hand, O king. 18 But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.”

REFLECTIONS

Written by Susan Everett

After being dobbed in by the Astrologers, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are brought before Nebuchadnezzar. He is furious, and doubles down on his threat to throw them into the furnace if they won’t worship his statue. 

 But how incredible is their response? There’s no boasting or bravado, no fawning or begging, no attacks or insults. Instead, they just show that they really know their God, and they trust him.

 They know that they don’t need to answer Nebuchadnezzar in this matter – they are accountable to God alone. 

They know that the God they serve IS able to rescue them. He’s all powerful. He can split a sea, destroy an army, and stop a raging fire from burning a single hair on their heads. 

They know that their God is sovereign – he does whatever pleases him. His wisdom is far greater than theirs. So they know he may choose not to rescue them. 

But Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego still know that their God is the only one worth worshipping. 

 I know that our culture is becoming increasingly hostile towards Christians. Laws are being passed to limit prayer, scripture, and even the sanctity of life. I wouldn’t be surprised if Christians start being imprisoned or heavily fined for following Jesus in the coming years. 

 But Daniel 3 encourages me to have a bigger vision of God amidst this. My God is the one I’m really answerable too. My God is able to rescue me from any danger or persecution. My God is sovereign, and controlling every event of history, even if I don’t understand it all. My God is still the only one worth worshipping. He’s the defeater of death, the king of kings. 

 So when the world becomes more hostile to Christians, we don’t need to respond with insults, or give in. We can calmly declare that our God is the risen Lord, and trust him to bring us home safely. Let’s pray for a bigger vision of our God, and for the strength to trust in him no matter what comes. 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Susan is one of our Student Ministers.

Daniel 3:1-12

Daniel 3:1-12 - Daily Devotion - 3 July 2025

St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

1 King Nebuchadnezzar made a golden statue sixty cubits high and six cubits wide, and he set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to assemble the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the other officials of the provinces to attend the dedication of the statue he had set up.

3 So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the rulers of the provinces assembled for the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it.

4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “O people of every nation and language, this is what you are commanded: 5 As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 And whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into the blazing fiery furnace.”

7 Therefore, as soon as all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, and all kinds of music, the people of every nation and language would fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

8 At this time some astrologers came forward and maliciously accused the Jews, 9 saying to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, may you live forever! 10 You, O king, have issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the golden statue, 11 and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into the blazing fiery furnace. 12 But there are some Jews you have appointed to manage the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—who have ignored you, O king, and have refused to serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up.”

REFLECTIONS

Written by Susan Everett

Nebuchadnezzar has a short memory. Yesterday, he declared that Daniel’s God was, “truly the God of gods and Lord of kings.” (2:47). But in our passage today, Nebuchadnezzar sets up a golden statue for people to worship. And he really does want everyone to worship it – from the satraps to the magistrates, people from every nation and language. His command is clear: worship, or burn. And sure enough, everyone bows down in verse 7.

Well, everyone except Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Even when threatened with death, they won’t bow down to this idol. We’ll see why in tomorrow’s passage. 

But what stood out to me in this passage was the way Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego weren’t swayed by what everyone else was doing. Everyone else caved to Nebuchadnezzar’s pressure; everyone else worshipped the statue. But these three men went against the grain to stay faithful to God. 

I find it hard not to follow what everyone else is doing. I see everyone constantly scrolling, and streaming on their phones. And I start to think it’s fine for me to spend hours on my phone because that’s what everyone is doing. I hear complaining and gossip constantly, and I start to think it’s fine for me to speak like that because everyone does it. Even in the car, its easy to think it’s fine to do 5km over the limit because everyone does it. Do you justify any of your actions based on what everyone else is doing? 

This passage helped me realise I’ve been doing that, and I need to repent.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego weren’t concerned with pleasing Nebuchadnezzar, or going along with what everyone else was doing. They were concerned with pleasing the God of gods and Lord of kings. How much more should we aim to please the one who redeemed us with his own blood! 

Why not take some time now to see if you need to repent too. And pray that as a church, we would be offering our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, not conforming to the pattern of this world (Rom 12:1-2).

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Susan is one of our Student Ministers.

Daniel 2:44-49

Daniel 2:44-49 - Daily Devotion - 2 July 2025

St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

44 In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will shatter all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, but will itself stand forever. 45 And just as you saw a stone being cut out of the mountain without human hands, and it shattered the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold, so the great God has told the king what will happen in the future.

The dream is true, and its interpretation is trustworthy.”

46 At this, King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, paid homage to Daniel, and ordered that an offering of incense be presented to him. 47 The king said to Daniel, “Your God is truly the God of gods and Lord of kings, the Revealer of Mysteries, since you were able to reveal this mystery.”

48 Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many generous gifts. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 And at Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to manage the province of Babylon, while Daniel remained in the king’s court.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Vincent Chan

If you remember, Daniel chapter 2 began with Nebuchadnezzar deeply troubled—he couldn’t sleep because of a disturbing dream. That dream has been the focus of the whole chapter, and now, as we come to the end, he finally gets an answer. The interpretation brings him relief. In his joy, he promotes Daniel and his friends to positions of great authority over the province of Babylon.

But here’s the irony: the comfort of the dream isn’t really for Nebuchadnezzar—it’s for Daniel and his friends. As we’re told, the dream is all about God’s eternal kingdom—a kingdom that will never be destroyed and will shatter all others.

Imagine how hard that must have been for Daniel to believe at the time. God’s people had been crushed. Daniel was living in exile under a foreign and oppressive king. Jerusalem had been ransacked. And yet, God gives Daniel this vision to strengthen him. God is saying: Keep trusting me. Stay faithful. My kingdom is still coming.

As I reflect on this final part of the chapter, I’m reminded of the very first words of Jesus in Mark’s Gospel: “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15)

Throughout the Gospels, we get glimpses of this kingdom. But in Jesus’ death and resurrection, we see God’s eternal kingdom breaking into the world. And more than that—we see that Jesus is the true king of this kingdom.

Today, it’s worth remembering where Jesus is right now:
He ascended to heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

This is the kingdom that will not fall and this is the King we follow.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vinno is one of our Assistant Ministers.

Daniel 2:24-43

Daniel 2:24-43 - Daily Devotion - 1 July 2025

St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

24 Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, “Do not execute the wise men of Babylon! Bring me before the king, and I will give him the interpretation.”

25 Arioch hastily brought Daniel before the king and said to him, “I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who will tell the king the interpretation.”

26 The king responded to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to tell me what I saw in the dream, as well as its interpretation?”

27 Daniel answered the king, “No wise man, enchanter, medium, or magician can explain to the king the mystery of which he inquires. 28 But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the latter days. Your dream and the visions that came into your mind as you lay on your bed were these:

29 As you lay on your bed, O king, your thoughts turned to the future, and the Revealer of Mysteries made known to you what will happen. 30 And to me this mystery has been revealed, not because I have more wisdom than any man alive, but in order that the interpretation might be made known to the king, and that you may understand the thoughts of your mind.

31 As you, O king, were watching, a great statue appeared. A great and dazzling statue stood before you, and its form was awesome. 32 The head of the statue was pure gold, its chest and arms were silver, its belly and thighs were bronze, 33 its legs were iron, and its feet were part iron and part clay.

34 As you watched, a stone was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, and crushed them. 35 Then the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold were shattered and became like chaff on the threshing floor in summer. The wind carried them away, and not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that had struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

36 This was the dream; now we will tell the king its interpretation.

37 You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given sovereignty, power, strength, and glory. 38 Wherever the sons of men or beasts of the field or birds of the air dwell, He has given them into your hand and has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.

39 But after you, there will arise another kingdom, inferior to yours.

Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule the whole earth.

40 Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom as strong as iron; for iron shatters and crushes all things, and like iron that crushes all things, it will shatter and crush all the others. 41 And just as you saw that the feet and toes were made partly of fired clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom, yet some of the strength of iron will be in it—just as you saw the iron mixed with clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 As you saw the iron mixed with clay, so the peoples will mix with one another, but will not hold together any more than iron mixes with clay.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Vincent Chan

When I visited China last year, one of the highlights was exploring its deep history. I remember walking through sites that were hundreds of years old. It was striking to see ancient ruins standing next to electric cars zooming by! But more than that, it was humbling. These once-bustling homes and lives had faded into history. The names and stories of those who lived there were long forgotten—only the crumbling walls remained. And in just a few generations, the same will be true of us. Our names and stories, too, will pass away.

I was reminded of that as I read today’s passage. Daniel not only tells Nebuchadnezzar what his dream was—he also explains what it means. At the time, it must have felt like Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom was unbeatable. But the dream revealed something different: his kingdom was just one in a series to come.

History confirms this. After Babylon came the Median Empire, then the Persians, then the Greeks, then the Romans. No matter how powerful Nebuchadnezzar seemed, his kingdom wouldn’t last.

Like the statue in the dream, our world sees earthly power as impressive and permanent. It defines strength by might and dominance. The bigger the army or economy, the greater the influence. But Daniel’s interpretation hints at something else. Though the statue looked strong, its feet were made of iron and clay—materials that are fragile and easily broken.

If we are going to put our trust in something, we need to put our trust in the Kingdom of Jesus that will never be shaken (Hebrews 12:28). As you read the news today, and see the powers at play in our world, it’s worth remembering that they will not last. And it’s worth praying the words from the Anglican Prayer Book:

“God of the nations, whose kingdom rules over all, have mercy on our broken and divided world.”

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vinno is one of our Assistant Ministers.

Daniel 2:14-23

Daniel 2:14-23 - Daily Devotion - 30 June 2025

St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

14 When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon, Daniel replied with discretion and tact. 15 “Why is the decree from the king so harsh?” he asked.

At this time Arioch explained the situation to Daniel. 16 So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him some time, so that he could give him the interpretation.

17 Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 18 urging them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his friends would not be killed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

19 During the night, the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision, and he blessed the God of heaven 20 and declared:

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
for wisdom and power belong to Him.
21 He changes the times and seasons;
He removes kings and establishes them.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.
22 He reveals the deep and hidden things;
He knows what lies in darkness,
and light dwells with Him.
23 To You, O God of my fathers,
I give thanks and praise,
because You have given me
wisdom and power.
And now You have made known to me
what we have requested,
for You have made known to us
the dream of the king.”

REFLECTIONS

Written by Vincent Chan

The crisis from yesterday now reaches Daniel and his friends. He hears about the king’s decree and, like the Babylonian wise men, he knows there’s no escape. But unlike the other wise men, Daniel does something different—he prays. He knows the answer won’t come from within himself (and certainly not by making up the dream!). Instead, Daniel humbles himself and urges his friends to do the same—to pray. Wonderfully, God answers their prayer.

This passage encouraged me in two ways.

First, I was struck by how natural it is for Daniel to pray in the face of crisis. Prayer isn’t a magic trick—it’s a relational act. When we pray, we’re turning to depend on and delight in our Heavenly Father. It’s an expression of faith that says, “I will trust the One who is in control and who cares for me.” Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the same could be said of us? That our first instinct, when faced with a challenge, would be to turn to the God who listens?

I’ve had a number of people tell me that they often intend to pray for someone, but later forget. A simple practice we can take up is to pray then and there—right after a conversation with someone, rather than leaving it for later.

Second, this passage helped me think about how to pray. If you have time, I encourage you to read Daniel’s prayer again. Read it slowly, and notice the deep and majestic view he has of God. There’s a clear sense of God’s ‘otherness’—His greatness beyond us. He is the one who removes and establishes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise. He knows what is hidden in the dark.

When I watch the news each day, it can feel like the world is spinning out of control. There are literally missiles being fired, and instability feels like the norm. But Daniel’s prayer reminds me that no power sits outside of God’s rule. Work through Daniel’s prayer of praise and let it shape your heart and mind.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vinno is one of our Assistant Ministers.