2002-01-01
Good Morning Dear Ones,
For quite awhile now, God has been prompting me to write about a short, but often difficult to understand passage in the book of Daniel, DN 9: 24-27. Daniel is an OT book of prophecy. To really appreciate it, one needs to understand that it takes place during the time the Jews of the southern kingdom of Judah were in exile in Babylonia. This is the period commonly known as the Babylonian Captivity. Jews were actually taken captive in three waves, the first one in 605 BC in which Daniel was taken at the age of 15. The second one in 597 BC, and the third one in which the city of Jerusalem was sacked in 586 BC.
At such a tender age, Daniel and this three friends (Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (who later had their names changed to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego by their captors) were pressed into service in King Nebuchadnezzar’s court. The first six chapters of Daniel tell stories of how Daniel and his three friends triumph over their captors by demonstrations of faith and obedience to God. The second six chapters give a series of visions that Daniel has which have great significance to the Jews and also to us. I have mentioned in previous devotions how Daniel, due to his faithful obedience, became a “man of high esteem” [see DN 9: 23] in God’s opinion. While Daniel never won his freedom from his captors, he earned their respect and eventually held high office in the royal court. In this respect, he was much like Joseph long before him, beginning his association with the Egyptians as a slave and eventually becoming second in command under the Pharaoh. It is my belief that just as Joseph was a archetype of Christ, Daniel was also in many ways.
The real significance to us of God’s esteem for Daniel was the Deity’s willingness to trust and reward Daniel by allowing him to see into not only the near future of the Jewish people, but even into our future. Like any other privilege, this came with an equal load of responsibility. I have often thought that I’m grateful I don’t know all the details of my individual future. Perhaps, that’s because it would take the sense of adventure out of my life, or perhaps it’s because my faith isn’t strong enough to endure knowing that there may be some pain ahead for me. However, God knew that Daniel could handle knowing what He chose to reveal and felt that it was crucial that this information be made available to us too. One interesting question for each of us to ponder is how would I feel if I were told the details of my own future? Another one is how responsible would I be with this information? With whom, if anyone, would I share this information? For what reasons? How would this impact my faith? I don’t pretend to have answers for these questions, but rather raise them for all of us to consider. I can only tell you that God entrusted this information to the right person, because Daniel remained faithful and obedient throughout his entire life.
Now, let me cite the passage to be discussed with the understanding that it is likely to take more than one message to fully understand it. DN 9: 24-27, (24) “Seven times seventy years is the length of time God has set for freeing your people and your holy city from sin and evil. Sin will be forgiven and eternal justice established, so that the vision and the prophecy will come true, and the holy Temple will be rededicated. (25) Note this and understand it: From the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until God’s chosen leader comes, seven times seven years will pass. Jerusalem will be rebuilt with streets and strong defenses, and will stand for seven times sixty-two years, but this will be a time of troubles. (26) And at the end of that time God’s chosen leader will be killed unjustly. The city and the Temple will be destroyed by the invading army of a powerful ruler. The end will come like a flood, bringing the war and destruction which God has prepared. (27) That ruler will have a firm agreement with many people for seven years, and when half this time is past, he will put an end to sacrifices and offerings. The Abomination of Desolation will be placed on the highest point of the Temple and will remain there until the one who put it there meets the end which God has prepared for him.”
This remarkable revelation to Daniel was made after Daniel had spent twenty-one days in intercessory prayer for the Jewish people and himself. He knew his people had sinned and had the humility to include himself in with them as he approached God. His endurance was remarkable when you think of that. How many of us would keep on praying steadily wearing sackcloth and sitting in ashes? DN 9: 3-4, “And I prayed earnestly to the Lord, God, pleading with him, fasting, wearing sackcloth, and sitting in ashes. I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed the sins of my people.” The delay in getting his answer was later explained by the angel, Gabriel, who reveals to us more clearly than almost anywhere else in the Scriptures the unseen spiritual warfare that is going on between the forces of evil and those of God. DN 10: 13-14, “The angel prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then, Michael, one of the chief angels, came to help me, because I had been left there alone in Persia. I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the future. This is a vision about the future.” It should be remembered that Michael is the guardian angel of Israel and an archangel of very high rank.
Tomorrow, we will begin looking at DN 9: 24-27 more closely, so don’t feel that I’m leaving you hanging. In the meanwhile, please join me in this prayer.
PRAYER: O Lord, throughout the Scriptures You have made us aware that no privilege comes without responsibility to balance it. People such as Daniel and Joseph are examples of men of faith that You want us to appreciate. You called them to tasks so enormous that neither of them was ever able to totally comprehend the complete importance of what they were to do in their own lifetimes on earth. That is Your way, a way we need to understand. By studying the Scriptures, something You want us to do, You are giving us the opportunity to see the enormity of Your righteous and loving agenda for us. Yet, at the same time, You are not revealing so much that it might damage our faith. The example of humility, faithfulness, obedience, and spiritual responsibility that Daniel and Joseph set for us is Your way of letting us know what pleases You. We thank and praise You for bringing that to our attention. We dedicate ourselves to following these examples. Thank You for allowing us the privilege of salvation through the death of Christ and of sharing in the hope of the resurrection that He gave us. We honor, glorify, magnify, worship, and adore You, Dear Lord. In Christ’s name, amen.
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn