December 1, 2016
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Keep On Keeping On

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Coming Lord, draw me closer to You this Advent. Occupy my life in a new way so the Your honor will be lifted high.

Read Daniel 7:15-28

[15] “I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me. [16] I approached one of those standing there and asked him the meaning of all this. “So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things: [17] ‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. [18] But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever-yes, for ever and ever.’ [19] “Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws-the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. [20] I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell-the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully. [21] As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, [22] until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom. [23] “He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. [24] The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. [25] He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time. [26] “‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. [27] Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’ [28] “This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.”

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

Never forget, the final word lies with God. We need to keep on trusting God when there seems little to trust about.

 

Some parts of the church give undue attention to the second half of Daniel and speak with great authority about its meaning. As for the rest of us, we are not left to walk totally in the dark. Images here are taken up in the New Testament and, in the text itself, explanation is given to reassure a troubled Daniel, who knew from the inside how power works. This is the time of Belshazzar, who has no redeeming features in Scripture but only arrogant self-regard.
The angel confirms the parallels with chapter 2 in its broad brush strokes—four empires emerging one after the other but all in the end replaced by the kingdom of God. People of faith need a long view. The reassurance is that, whatever they are called to face, the final word lies with God and his victory is secure. Each empire will flout human rights, trample on the poor and oppress its people. The fourth, however, will be worse than the rest, challenging God directly and singling out God’s people for special treatment. Even then, as the gospels put it in older versions, we read that “it came to pass” (e.g., Luke 2:1, KJV).
This is not a message to make you cheerful, for there is little cheer about. We are not talking about a bad day or even a horrible year, but about a whole life lived under unpredictable, irrational, hostile forces. When it looks as if things can never change, they will. When it looks as if evil has triumphed, it won’t. When common sense says “despair,” then don’t. God will win through and his Son will rule. Until then we must trust in God, wait with patience, be on our guard, show resolute courage and stick to our task. That takes daily faith and obedience.

Some parts of the church give undue attention to the second half of Daniel and speak with great authority about its meaning. As for the rest of us, we are not left to walk totally in the dark. Images here are taken up in the New Testament and, in the text itself, explanation is given to reassure a troubled Daniel, who knew from the inside how power works. This is the time of Belshazzar, who has no redeeming features in Scripture but only arrogant self-regard.

The angel confirms the parallels with chapter 2 in its broad brush strokes—four empires emerging one after the other but all in the end replaced by the kingdom of God. People of faith need a long view. The reassurance is that, whatever they are called to face, the final word lies with God and his victory is secure. Each empire will flout human rights, trample on the poor and oppress its people. The fourth, however, will be worse than the rest, challenging God directly and singling out God’s people for special treatment. Even then, as the gospels put it in older versions, we read that “it came to pass” (e.g., Luke 2:1, KJV).

This is not a message to make you cheerful, for there is little cheer about. We are not talking about a bad day or even a horrible year, but about a whole life lived under unpredictable, irrational, hostile forces. When it looks as if things can never change, they will. When it looks as if evil has triumphed, it won’t. When common sense says “despair,” then don’t. God will win through and his Son will rule. Until then we must trust in God, wait with patience, be on our guard, show resolute courage and stick to our task. That takes daily faith and obedience.

 

Apply

What encouragement and hope have you taken from this passage?

Closing prayer

Mighty Lord, even though the world and my world can be an unpredictable, irrational place, keep me centered on You. You are my Rock!

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