The book of Daniel begins its pages at a time when Israel enters under the chastening hand of God. Under the reign of Jehoiakim, King of Judah, there was a ruthless ruler of the Gentile nations known as Nebuchadnezzar. This king of the Babylonian regime brought a sweeping blow to the Nation of Israel, carrying her captive to a nation known as Babylon. This melting pot of creeds, cultures, and characters was the ideal setting for Satan to desensitize the people of God from following their traditional convictions that separated them from a paganistic world which bowed down to the stock of trees. Babylon’s leaders and followers had a tendency to formulate doctrines of vanity, of which ignorance God once “winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30).

Unto God Israel was not likened unto the nations. The portion of Jacob was not like the doctrine of vanities that Babylon worshipped. For their God was and is “the former of all things: and Israel (was and) is the rod of God’s inheritance: the LORD of hosts is his name” (Jeremiah 51:19). God had called Israel out of the nations, and had given them the privilege of being His witnesses, by making known the one true and living God, that is the Savior of all men, especially to them that believe. But they failed in their endeavor to do so; and the only thing left for a disobedient child is the chastening hand of a loving Father – thus bringing us to the Book of Daniel, in a land of strange speech, even in Babylon of the Chaldeans.

Babylon was a nation of sensuous pleasure. As the modern day saying goes, “If it feels good do it.” But not so with a people of Courage Abounding in Conviction. As we will see throughout the book of Daniel, God always has a remnant that will stand for truth, in spite of the vehement opposition. Tested in every way – from their diets, prayers, and worship of the One True God; to the furnace of affliction, the lion’s mouth, and a furious, power-hungry, mad man – the true Israel of God stands with her loins girt about with truth.

Their devotion to God is motivating, encouraging, and edifying. And as inmates held captive in a Babylonian environment, it is the prayer of “The House of Hope Prison Ministry” that you will find inspiration to stand for the Name of Jesus. This ministry desires that you grow in the quickening power of the Holy Ghost; which is the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)