Tough As Nails: DanielSample

Daniel 3 describes one of the iconic scenes in the Bible. Daniel’s friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to bow to the golden image of Nebuchadnezzar. Because this was deemed idolatry they could never surrender to the Kings demands. Because of their faithfulness over years and decades in exile, there was always a hope for their people to return to their homeland. That hope was realized under the leadership of Ezra. In today’s reading, we will fast-forward to the end of the exile in the year 536 BC to pick up the story of God’s people returning home. The book of Ezra describes the religious revival and rebuilding of the temple. A few short years later the story of Nehemiah will tell of the political revival and the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem.