All in Daniel today!  That’s simple.  Let’s read Daniel chapters 7, 8, and 5 together.  Here’s what stands out to me in reading today:  

“But as for me, Daniel, I was disturbed. All these dream-visions had me agitated. So I went up to one of those standing by and asked him the meaning of all this. And he told me” (Daniel 7:15 MSG)

“I, Daniel, walked around in a daze, unwell for days. Then I got a grip on myself and went back to work taking care of the king’s affairs. But I continued to be upset by the vision. I couldn’t make sense of it” (Daniel 8:27 MSG)

It’s interesting to me that some of these visions were immediately interpreted for Daniel, and others were for the “far future” and Daniel received them but didn’t fully understand. God doesn’t have to tell us everything at once – He gives us what we need when we need it (and there’s the gap again – between knowing and unknowing).

“Daniel answered the king, ‘You can keep your gifts, or give them to someone else. But I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means’ ” (Daniel 5:17 MSG)

In chapter 5: how terrifying, the hand on the wall! I try to imagine seeing it myself, what would I feel? I like Daniel’s response – he didn’t want the gifts, but he would share the truth. Motivation is important – and Daniel was motivated by faithfulness to God.