December 12 (Daniel 6–7; Psalm 132; Hebrews 11)

Summary

Episode Overview

Theme:
This episode of Through the ESV Bible in a Year with Jackie Hill Perry (December 12, 2025) focuses on central biblical themes of faithfulness, divine deliverance, and the enduring nature of God’s promises. The readings include Daniel 6–7 (Daniel in the lions’ den and Daniel’s prophetic visions), Psalm 132 (a song reflecting on God’s covenant with David and Zion), and Hebrews 11 (the famed “hall of faith” recounting Old Testament figures’ enduring trust in God).

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Daniel 6: Integrity, Persecution, and Deliverance

(00:01 – 04:38)

• Daniel’s Promotion and Integrity:

  • Daniel rises above the other officials because “an excellent spirit was in him” (00:41).
  • Other officials seek grounds for complaint but find none, except in connection “with the law of his God” (01:17).

• Plot Against Daniel:

  • Daniel’s rivals manipulate King Darius to pass a law prohibiting petition to anyone but the king for 30 days, knowing Daniel’s devotion (01:34).

• Daniel’s Response:

  • Despite knowing the consequences, Daniel continues his regular prayer routine:
    • “He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.” (02:02)

• The Lions’ Den:

  • Daniel is cast into the den. King Darius is distressed and wishes to rescue him but is powerless due to the irrevocable law (02:44-03:13).
  • Darius says, “May your God whom you serve continually deliver you” (03:02).

• Divine Intervention:

  • Daniel is protected: “My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths…because I was found blameless before him” (03:34).
  • Darius rejoices and Daniel is unharmed “because he had trusted in his God” (03:54).

• Justice and Proclamation:

  • Daniel’s accusers are punished.
  • Darius issues a royal decree recognizing Daniel’s God:
    “For he is the living God, enduring forever, and his kingdom shall never be destroyed…” (04:04).

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2. Daniel 7: Apocalyptic Visions and God’s Everlasting Kingdom

(04:39 – 09:25)

• Prophetic Dream:

  • Daniel dreams of four beasts from the sea, each symbolizing different kingdoms (04:45-05:18).

• The Little Horn and Judgment:

  • “I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one…in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth speaking great things.” (05:28)
  • “The Ancient of Days took his seat…his throne was fiery flames…” (05:48)
  • Judgment is rendered; the beast is destroyed while the “little horn” is judged (06:13).

• The Son of Man:

  • An exalted figure is given eternal dominion:
    “And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion…” (07:00)

• Interpretation and Reassurance:

  • The four beasts represent four earthly kings, but “the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.” (07:21)
  • The last beast will persecute the saints, “until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was given for the saints…” (08:07)
  • The vision troubles Daniel:
    “My thoughts greatly alarmed me and my color changed, but I kept the matter in my heart.” (09:22)

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3. Psalm 132: Remembering God’s Covenant with David

(09:25 – 10:37)

• David’s Devotion:

  • The psalm recalls David’s vow to find a dwelling place for God:
    “I will not enter my house or get into my bed…I will not give sleep to my eyes…until I find a place for the Lord…” (09:26-09:30)

• God’s Oath to David:

  • “The Lord swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back.” (09:54)
  • God chooses Zion for His dwelling and promises abundant blessings, salvation, and a lasting royal line (10:10-10:32).

• Enduring Promise:

  • “There I will make a horn to sprout for David…his enemies I will clothe with shame, but on him his crown will shine.” (10:32-10:37)

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4. Hebrews 11: The Hall of Faith

(10:40 – 14:02)

• Definition of Faith:

  • “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (10:41)
  • Vital for relationship with God: “Without faith it is impossible to please him…” (11:13)

• Examples of Faith:

  • Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and Rahab are highlighted for their acts of faith even amidst uncertainty and trial (10:43-13:50).
  • Endurance and trust: “These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.” (12:26)

• Suffering and Triumph:

  • Heroes undergo hardship but persevere, “of whom the world was not worthy…” (13:45)
  • Their faith looks beyond present realities to future, divine fulfillment (13:51-14:02).

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Daniel’s Fidelity:

  • “He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.” (Daniel 6:10, 02:02)

• King Darius’ Blessing:

  • “May your God whom you serve continually deliver you.” (03:02)

• Daniel’s Testimony:

  • “My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths…and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him.” (03:34)

• Darius’ Decree:

  • “For he is the living God, enduring forever, and his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues, he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth…” (04:04)

• Vision of the Son of Man:

  • “And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away…” (07:00)

• Faith Defined:

  • “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1, 10:41)

• Ultimate Faith:

  • “These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar…” (Hebrews 11:13, 12:26)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Daniel in the Lions’ Den: 00:01 – 04:39
• Daniel’s Apocalyptic Vision: 04:39 – 09:25
• Psalm 132 (David’s Covenant): 09:25 – 10:37
• Hebrews 11 (Examples of Faith): 10:40 – 14:02

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Conclusion

This episode weaves together Old Testament narrative, prophecy, poetic worship, and New Testament exhortation around the central theme of unwavering faith in God’s promises and power. From Daniel’s deliverance in the lions’ den to the ancient visions of God’s eternal kingdom, and culminating in the chronicles of faith in Hebrews 11, listeners are encouraged to persist in faith regardless of circumstances, holding fast to God’s enduring word and ultimate plan for His people.

Transcript

[Narrator]

A reading from the Book of Daniel. It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps to be throughout the whole kingdom, and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account so that the king might suffer no loss. Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. And then the high officials in the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom. But they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. Then these men said, we shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God. Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, o King Darius, live forever. All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors, are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction that whoever makes petition to any God or man for 30 days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked. Therefore King Darius signed the document, an injunction. When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house, where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God. Then they came near and said before the king concerning the injunction, O king, did you not sign an injunction that anyone who makes petition to any God or man within 30 days, except to you, O King, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, the thing stands fast according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked. Then they answered and said before the king Daniel, who was one of the exiles from Judah, and pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day. Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel, and he labored till the sun went down to rescue him. Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, know, O king, that it is a.

[Reader]

Law of the Medes and Persians, that.

[Narrator]

No injunction or ordinance that the king established can be changed. Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, may your God whom you serve continually deliver you. And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den. And the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lord's, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting. No diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him. Then at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, o Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God whom you serve continually been able to deliver you from the lions? Then Daniel said to the king, O king, live forever. My God sent his angel and shut the lions mouths. And they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him and also before you, O king, I have done no harm. Then the king was exceedingly glad and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him because he had.

[Reader]

Trusted in his God.

[Narrator]

And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions, and they their children and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces. Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and languages that dwell in all the earth, peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever, and his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues, he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth. He who has saved Daniel from the.

[Reader]

Power of the lions.

[Narrator]

So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian. In the first year of Belshazzar, king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter. And Daniel declared, I saw in my vision by night. And behold the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. The first was like a lion and had eagle's wings. Then As I looked, his wings were plucked off and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man. And the mind of a man was given to it. And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear, it was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And it was told, arise, devour much flesh. After this I looked, and behold another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads. And dominion was given to it. After this I saw in the night visions. And behold a fourth beast. Terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. And it was different from all the beasts that were before it. And it had 10 horns. I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth speaking great things. As I looked, thrones were placed and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was white as snow and the hair of his head like pure wool. His throne was fiery flames. Its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and came out from before them. A thousand thousand served him, and 10,000 times 10,000 stood before him. The court sat in judgment and the books were opened. I looked then, because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. As for the rest of the beast, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. I saw in the night visions. And behold, were the clouds of heaven. There came one like a son of Man. And he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom that all peoples.

[Reader]

Nations and languages should serve him.

[Narrator]

His dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away. And his kingdom, one that shall not be destroyed. As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious and the visions of my head alarmed me. I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things. These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the Earth. But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, Forever and ever. Then I desired to know the truth about the fourth beast. Which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet and about the 10 horns that were on its head, and the other horn that came up, and before which three of them fell, the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke great things and that seemed greater than its companions. As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them until the ancient of days came and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High. And the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom. Thus he said, as for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth which shall be different from all the kingdoms, and it shall devour the whole earth and trample it down and break it to pieces. As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them. He shall be different from the former ones and shall put down three kings. He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High and shall think to change the times and the law, and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times and half a time. But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end. And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High. His kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominion shall serve and obey him. Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me and my color changed, But I kept the matter in my heart. A reading from the Book of Psalms, a song of ascents. Remember, O Lord, in David's favor all the hardships he endured, how he swore to the Lord and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob. I will not enter my house or.

[Reader]

Get into my bed.

[Narrator]

I will not give sleep to my.

[Reader]

Eyes or slumber to my eyelids until.

[Narrator]

I find a place for the Lord, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob. Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah. We found it in the fields of Jair. Let us go to his dwelling place. Let us worship at his footstool. Arise, O Lord, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let your saints shout for joy. For the sake of your servant David, do not turn away the face of your anointed one.

[Reader]

The Lord swore to David a sure.

[Narrator]

Oath from which he will not turn back. One of the sons of your body.

[Reader]

I will set on your throne.

[Narrator]

If your sons keep my covenant and.

[Reader]

My testimonies, that I shall teach them their sons also forever shall sit on your throne. For the Lord has chosen Zion he.

[Narrator]

Has desired it for his dwelling place. This is my resting place forever here I will dwell, for I have desired it.

[Reader]

I will abundantly bless her provisions, I.

[Narrator]

Will satisfy her poor with bread, her priests I will clothe with salvation, and her saints will shout for joy There I will make a horn to sprout. For David I have prepared a lamp for my anointed his enemies I will.

[Reader]

Clothe with shame, but on him his crown will shine.

[Narrator]

A Reading from the Book of Hebrews.

[Reader]

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous God, commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks by faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now, before he was taken, he was commended as having pleased God, and without faith it is impossible to please him. For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists, and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen in reverent fear, constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise, for he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. By faith, Sarah herself received power to conceive, and even when she was past the age since she considered him faithful, who had promised, therefore from one man and him as good as dead, were born descendants, as many as the stars of heaven, and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen.

[Narrator]

Them and greeted them from afar, and.

[Reader]

Having acknowledged that they were strangers and.

[Narrator]

Exiles on the earth.

[Reader]

For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.

[Narrator]

But as it is, they desire a.

[Reader]

Better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be.

[Narrator]

Called their God, for he has prepared.

[Reader]

For them a city. By faith, Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, through Isaac, shall your offspring be named. He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. By faith, Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. By faith, Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. By faith, Joseph, at the end of his life, now made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones. By faith, Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful and they were not afraid of the king's edict. By faith, Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.

[Narrator]

He considered the reproach of Christ greater.

[Reader]

Wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith, he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. By faith, he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood so that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. By faith, the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land. But the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. By faith. The walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith, Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel, and the prophets who, through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging and even chains and imprisonment they were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with a sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated, of whom the world was not worthy, wandering about in deserts and mountains and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us, they should not be made perfect.