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Daniel 12 - Day 856 (link to reading)
Scripture: Daniel 12:1-3 Commentary (workingpreacher.org): ...(Daniel 12:2) promises resurrection for some of those who have died. Two fates await those who wake from dusty earth. One group will wake to life eternal. Another group will wake to reproaches and eternal horror. This word “horror” or “abhorrence” occurs only one other time in the Old Testament, in the final verse of the book of Isaiah (Isaiah 66:24). The scroll of Isaiah culminates in a vision of new heavens and new earth, a promise that God’s people will endure forever, and a final warning: those who come to worship the Lord will see the corpses of the ones who have rebelled against God. Of these rebels God says, “their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh” (Isaiah 66:24). In both passages, God’s radical intervention does not erase the legacy of those who rebel against God, but offers them as an eternal sign. Among those who wake to eternal life, another group is singled out: “those who are wise,” who have “made many righteous” (Daniel 12:3). The angel told Daniel of these “wise” ones in 11:33-35. In the midst of persecution they will give their lives in nonviolent witness to God’s revelation. They are teachers and martyrs. By their courage and truth they will help others to remain faithful to the covenant. Their reward will be to shine like the stars of the firmament. These wise teachers will counter eternal reproach with eternal witness to the light of truth. Application: The hope the Israelites had is the hope we hold onto. Be wise, obedient, and courageous as you seek Jesus with all of your heart, mind, body, and soul. Prayer: Lord Jesus, have your way in me...
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Daniel 11 - Day 855
Scripture: Daniel 11 Commentary (gotquestions.org): In the chapters leading up to Daniel 11, God reveals that Israel will be restored; however, He also tells Daniel of a time of great trouble for Israel. The time predicted in Daniel 11 took place during what is known as the Intertestamental Period—the roughly 400 years between the close of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New. There were no canonical books written during this period, but the apocryphal books of 1 and 2 Maccabees record the history of the time period. The information in Daniel 11 is so accurate that secular scholars insist that it must be prophecy ex eventu, that is, prophecy “after the fact,” which is not really prophecy at all. Indeed, apart from God’s omniscience and His ability to reveal the future to His prophets, this would be the only rational conclusion. Application: Many Christians, seemingly with good intentions, devote their lives to deciphering the cryptic prophecies in the bible. We can follow their example, or we can make disciples/apprentices of Jesus who make disciples/apprentices of Jesus. Prayer: Lord, thy will be done... Daniel 10 - Day 854 (link to reading)
Scripture: Daniel 10 Commentary (thewarehouse.blog): Today, prayer is endorsed as a personal remedy. Although this is true to an extent, it doesn’t capture the big picture. A common misconception about prayer is that it’s only for us. Daniel was mourning for his people. He passed by the delicacies in order to seek God. Here, we read an amazing truth. An angelic being appears to Daniel and says… Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. Daniel 10:12 ESV So let us consider, God not only hears our prayers but will dispatch angelic beings to us based on our words! It is another fantastic reminder that prayer matters. From there, Daniel gets a rare look into the spiritual realm. As events were taking place on Earth, and kingdoms were rising and falling, the battle was fierce in the spiritual realm. We read that this angelic being was held up for three weeks fighting an evil spirit called the Prince of Persia. Application: There are many thoughts surrounding this chapter in the book of Daniel, but for me today, I'm reminded of the war we are fighting against this present darkness. We may not see it with our eyes, but it is certainly felt. As Paul instructed us in the book of Ephesians, put on the full armor of God to prepare ourselves for battle. Prayer: Lord Jesus, send me... Daniel 9 - Day 853 (link to reading)
Scripture: Daniel 9 Commentary (thewarehouse.blog): Daniel’s mind was drawn toward and then investigated the prophecies of Jeremiah. He had prophesied that Israel would be in captivity for 70 years and knowing this timeframe was coming to end he sought God on behalf of the people. Realizing their own rebellion had led to this state they found themselves in, he asked for mercy. Through prayer, fasting, confession of their sin, he begged for God to reveal His will. Asking for the next step for them as a people so they would be contrite and humble of heart before Him, he asked for revelation. He pleaded for a complete surrender of their hearts individually and corporately as a people. In this beautiful and challenging prayer, he recognized the current disaster they were in was an act of discipline but also an act to draw the people back to Him. Terribly even though they stood in the wreckage of their decisions they still were obstinate in obedience. Application: leaders take ownership of the situation and do whatever is necessary to help their people/group/organization prosper. Daniel could have easily blamed his fellow Israelites for their circumstances, but he didn't. Instead, he pleaded for God's mercy to save them, even though it wasn't his fault. Daniel was wise enough to include himself because no one if faultless before God. Prayer: Lord Jesus, have mercy on us… Daniel 8 - Day 852 (link to reading)
Scripture: Daniel 8 Commentary (lifehopeandtruth.com): The vision recorded in Daniel 8 came to the prophet in the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar of Babylon (553-554 B.C.). This was just two years after Daniel’s vision of four beasts and a little horn recorded in Daniel 7. As was the case with the previous vision, Daniel didn’t fully understand the significance of what he was seeing (Daniel 7:19, 28). This vision concludes with Daniel saying, “I was astonished by the vision, but no one understood it” (Daniel 8:27)… …Jesus’ only reference to the book of Daniel is to a future “abomination of desolation” (Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14). But beginning in Daniel 8:9 we have a prophecy of an abomination of desolation that was historically fulfilled in the 160s B.C. Clearly, there was to be more than one abomination of desolation and the prophetic descriptions given in Daniel were meant to have a dual meaning. Application: The prophetic books remind us that we live in the "end times.” We do not have to fear what is happening or will come to pass. Instead, we can live victoriously and share our hope in Jesus. Prayer: Lord, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done... |
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