Daniel 9-11:1
These are two very interesting chapters in Daniel. Chapter nine not only contains the second greatest prayer (my opinion) in the Bible, but it has the prophesy of the 70 weeks. Chapter ten opens the curtain a little on the spiritual warfare going on behind the working of nations. Buckle up.
Daniel 9
V. 1 Notice that this prayer is in the first year of the change of government. That was probably the year that Daniel was thrown into the lion's den. Very few people see the association between chapters six and nine, but you do and it should make chapter six seem much more important and understandable. Just for trivia, let me ask you, what is the last visible, obviously supernatural, miraculous event God does in the OT. I think it might be Daniel chapter six.
V. 2 What does this mean Daniel had to have had? Even Daniel read the Bible everyday.
Vs. 3-19 As you read this, think of Daniel having been a teen when brought to Babylon and now, 70 years later, saying this prayer. What a heart he had for God and for his people.
I only have a couple of observations here.
First, notice that Daniel identifies with his people. He uses "we" and "us" quite often. Notice too that he identities with and confesses the sins of the fathers. In Ezekiel we read that Daniel was probably the most righteous lover of God on the planet at that time. Why would he identify with the sordid sins of his idolatrous countrymen? Well, I think it is because he was a humble guy. But not only that, he was an obedient man and knew his Bible. Read these two passages and you'll see that Daniel not only knew the Word, but he obeyed it.
1 Kings 8:46-53 This is Solomon's dedication of the temple.
Leviticus 26:33-45 This obscure passage will blow you away. I'm sure that Daniel knew these portions of the Bible and that his knowledge of what God commanded in these sections guided Daniel in his prayer.
Second, notice what Daniel's real concern was in verses 16-19. I wish I always had that concern guiding my heart and actions. Interestingly enough, it is the same thought as in the first line of the Lord's Prayer.
Vs. 20-23 Now I don't know if this was before or after the lion's den that Daniel was praying this and that Gabriel was sent to talk to him. Notice that Gabriel came flying. I wonder what that looked like. I don't know if you know this, but in the early Superman comics, Superman often flew standing. I wonder if that's what Gabriel looked like. Second, notice in verse 23 that Daniel is greatly loved. For most people, Daniel seems like a very insignificant character in the Bible. God didn't think so.
Vs. 24-27 Here is the interesting thing about the vision of the 70 weeks, this is an answer to the question Daniel was not asking. Daniel wanted to know when the Jews could return to Jerusalem, assuming that would end the desolations of Jerusalem. The answer given tells when Jerusalem will finally be restored forever in peace and when the Jews will enjoy the kingdom with their Messiah.
In short, the 70 weeks work out like this. Each week is seven years.
V. 25 The decree to rebuild Jerusalem, not the temple, begins the clock. This decree was given to Nehemiah.
From Nehemiah to Jesus' crucifixion was 69 weeks (7 + 62) or 483 years. There are all sorts of calendars and such, but when you work it out, it is right on the money. The Bible Knowledge Commentary, OT, has a chart of this on page 1363.
So, even though the walls went up with Nehemiah seven sevens, or 49 years, were needed to completely restore the houses and streets of Jerusalem. Then for the next 62 sevens (434 years) Jerusalem existed in very unsure times.
V. 26 Notice that the anointed one, Jesus, is cut off after the 62 weeks (or 69 weeks if you put them together). This is significant in that it shows there is a gap between the 69th week and the 70th week.
Notice also that the "people of the prince," not the prince himself, destroy Jerusalem. This is still in the gap and happened in 70 A.D. when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem.
V. 27 But that 70th week is the seven years of the tribulation. "He" is that prince of those people. Remember in chapter seven we saw that the last empire would have a king who would rise and war against the Jews. This is the Antichrist who will make a seven-year peace treaty with Israel and in the middle of that "week" the Antichrist will break the treaty, desecrate the temple and launch a worldwide persecution against the Jews.
So, the 70 weeks are for Israel, specifically for the city of Jerusalem. After the 69th week there has been a pause in the action for the church to be busy in the harvest. When that 70th week begins, it will be all about Jerusalem and about Israel fulfilling its role in this final chapter of their redemptive mission before the coming of Christ. There really won't be a need for the "church" in this 70th week for the city of Jerusalem or the people of Israel. This is the reason why the taking of the church at the beginning of the tribulation makes good sense. We'd just be in the way, and it won't be about us. It will be all about the city and people of God.
Daniel 10
Daniel 10 will actually continue to the end of the book. The angel who comes as a result of Daniel's prayer and fasting will give him the details of chapters 11 and 12. Note that Daniel 11:1 is a parenthetical note by the angel, saying that he was led by God to stand up and support Darius during his first year as ruler over this part of the Persian Empire, even though the "prince of Persia" would not have appreciated that help. We know why the angel strengthened Darius, right?
V. 1 Daniel was given a word about a conflict involving his people and he didn't understand it.
Vs. 2-9 As a result of not fully understanding the word he received, he went before the Lord, fasting and praying for 21 days.
Vs. 10-14 This is interesting news. This angel was sent to Daniel the first day of his praying, but was held off by "the prince of Persia" for 21 days. This prince was one of Satan's angels. Satan has been given the authority over nations, as he told Jesus. I think this was part of Satan's guardianship to help humans. Now that humans are in rebellion and under God's judgment, Satan's authority defaulted to a place of controlling.
How do angels fight with each other? How was this angel neutralized for 21 days? What difference did it make that Michael helped him? Did Michael have a trick move or bigger biceps?
Vs. 15-19 It seems to me that the normal state of man in the presence of an angel is debilitation. Notice how often the angel has mentioned that Daniel is greatly loved.
Vs. 20-21 More interesting information. This angel has to go back and fight with the prince of Persia and when that's done, the prince of Greece is coming. Apparently every nation has a "prince" assigned over it. According to Deuteronomy 32:8-9, "When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of men, he fixed the bounds of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God. For the LORD's portion is his people, Jacob his allotted heritage." Those sons of God are angels. God only kept one nation for Himself to further His redemption of mankind and that nation was Israel. Therefore, God assigned His own "prince" for Israel, the archangel Michael. We don't know who the unnamed angel is, but only Michael fights with him.
Daniel 11:1 As mentioned above, this seems like a parenthetical thought, that this angel began giving spiritual support to Darius back in the first year of his reign. Since this angel fights for Israel, he needed to strengthen Darius for the events surrounding the lion's den, the making of that decree allowing the Jews to only worship Yahweh, and for Cyrus to make the decree for the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple.
It seems to me, that for us to do our work in the harvest, there must be unseen forces protecting and strengthening us too.
1 John 2:18-3:6
1 John 2:18-29
Vs. 18-20 John is now directly addressing the issue of false teachers. It seems that what John is saying is that now that we are in the last times, and that the Antichrist is coming, little antichrists will arise. Notice that these came from within the church, but John says they were not believers, or they would have stayed in the church.
The anointing by the holy one is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at rebirth.
Vs. 21-25 This is the key issue here. People were denying that Jesus was the Messiah. I don't know if this was a Jewish influence, but obviously you can't have the Father without the Son. The Jews would have been pressing to have the Father, but not Jesus. Though a believer can still be a child of God in disobedience and rebellion to his Father, a person who is religious, but doesn't believe that Jesus is the Christ and Savior, was never in the family.
Vs. 26-29 Notice that everyone is being spoken to as little children. I think John is calling on them to live in simplicity of faith and devotion. We have read many encouragements to Christians to hold fast to their confession. In both Galatians and Hebrews, there was a call to people to remember that they began in Christ and received salvation through faith in Him. Having begun that way, they needed to hold fast to the teaching they were given at the beginning.
1 John 3:1-6
Vs. 1-3 This is the key to true salvation and following as disciples, knowing the love of God. Of course, this love is seen in and defined by Jesus and the plan of God. John has just called them little children and now he is talking about how they became children, by the love of God.
V. 3 This is the yearning as children to be with Christ. I was reading this morning that Jesus told, even warned, His disciples to have their loins girded and their lamps burning and to be like men waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast that they might open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. There should be that yearning and excitement born out of love.
Vs. 4-6 This gets into the gray areas of who is and who isn't saved, but God knows. Paul told Timothy, "The Lord knows those who are His and let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity." Paul and Timothy struggled with this too. The sure indicator is that a believer loves Christ and though they sin, they keep coming back and asking for forgiveness.
In all we are reading here, you understand the need for good, godly elders in a church who are themselves following Christ in the harvest, who are shepherds and protectors of the flock. When Paul says they need to be able to teach, it is not just for making disciples, but for protecting the church.
Psalm 121
In this song of ascents, as the pilgrims were traveling to Jerusalem, because of Jerusalem's height, all roads led up to Jerusalem. In this sense, looking up to the hills was looking toward Jerusalem, to the house and throne of God.
V. 2 This is easy to say, but trusting it in the storm proves our hearts.
Vs. 3-4 I was reading this morning about what Jesus said concerning the sparrows, "and not one of them is forgotten before God." And we are of more value to God than many sparrows.
Vs. 5-8 God is not only our "sunscreen" but also our shield and defender. It's good to know this truth in our heads, but even better when it is in our souls and hearts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5W-XKHwS-A
Proverbs 28:27-28
V. 27 Jesus said that disciples were to give to everyone who begs of them. A disciple shouldn't have an emotional hang-up here.
V. 28 Amen!
If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”
I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.
I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it. Send comment or feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment