In the first chapter of Daniel, we heard how Daniel, Hananiah, `Mishael, and Azariah were faithful to God in not wanting to be defiled by the king’s food, and later they were found better than their companions and chosen for service to King Nebuchadnezzar.
Yesterday we heard two dramatic messages. One was about the failure of Jerusalem to appropriately respond to God’s impending judgment (which was remarkably like Nero fiddling while Rome burned). Then there was the message to Shebna, the palace administrator. Eliakim would take his place and be like a nail firmly driven in a wall, and the holder of the key to David’s house.
Remember the greater glory of the new covenant at the end of yesterday’s reading:
12 Since this new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory [reflected there was continually fading away//, even though it was destined to fade away.] 14 But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is [0/being] read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. [That veil is//And this veil can be] removed only by believing in Christ. 15 Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, [it is as if] their hearts are [still] covered with that veil, and they do not understand.
16 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.
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