The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, ‘Have courage! For as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so it is necessary for you to testify in Rome.’
But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that I might fully preach the word and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.
My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths; and they haven’t harmed me, for I was found innocent before him. And also before you, Your Majesty, I have not done harm.’
So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, ‘May your God, whom you continually serve, rescue you! ’
But now, since you have been set free from sin and have become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification #– #and the outcome is eternal life!
‘They will be mine,’ says the Lord of Armies, ‘my own possession on the day I am preparing. I will have compassion on them as a man has compassion on his son who serves him.
I will put this third through the fire; I will refine them as silver is refined and test them as gold is tested. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, “They are my people,” and they will say, “The Lord is our God.” ’
When he reached the den, he cried out in anguish to Daniel. ‘Daniel, servant of the living God,’ the king said, ‘has your God, whom you continually serve, been able to rescue you from the lions? ’
Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, ‘Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel , and rescued 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.
Nebuchadnezzar then approached the door of the furnace of blazing fire and called, ‘Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you servants of the Most High God #– #come out! ’ So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire.
So the ruined cities will be filled with a flock of people, just as Jerusalem is filled with a flock of sheep for sacrifice during its appointed festivals. Then they will know that I am the Lord.” ’
‘Instead, this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days’ #– #the Lord’s declaration. ‘I will put my teaching within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
This one will say, “I am the Lord’s”; another will use the name of Jacob; still another will write on his hand, “The Lord’s”, and take on the name of Israel.’