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Dear Heavenly Father, Praise I’m reminded today of what Daniel said in his youth: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might” (Dan 2:20–23). Praise the Lord! Today in Your Word Today you told me about Daniel’s final vision of the future. Daniel had seen visions of the future before, but this vision was unique. The level of detail, especially about Egypt and Syria, was unprecedented. The vision began with an overview of the remaining kings of Medo-Persia, continued with a brief summary of the empire of Alexander the Great, and then focused on the struggle between Egypt and Syria for dominance in the Middle East. The Ptolemies (Egypt, “king of the south”) and the Seleucids (Syria, “king of the north”) vied with each other for political and military superiority, and Israel, which lay between the two great powers, was continually embroiled in that conflict. Various kings came and went until Antiochus IV Epiphanes rose to power in Syria. He was the worst of the Syrian rulers, and he defiled your sanctuary by setting up an idol inside the temple: the “abomination of desolation” (Dan 11:31). In this way, Antiochus was a type of the king who is to come, the antichrist who “will do as he pleases, and he will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will speak monstrous things against the Gods of gods” (Dan 11:36). The vision concluded with the destruction of the antichrist and the resurrection of the dead, some to “everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt” (Dan 12:2). This vision teaches me that the forces of evil will meet a final and inevitable defeat, and the kingdom of your Son, Jesus Christ, will one day reign supreme. As Peter said, “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness?” (2 Pet 3:11). You didn’t share this vision with me to satisfy my curiosity about the future; rather, you told me these things so that I would “be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace” (2 Pet 3:14). Knowledge of the future should always prompt me to reaffirm my commitment to keep striving to enter the kingdom! (Luke 13:23–24). Reflection Daniel’s prayer was heard the moment he first spoke to you, but it took 21 days for your answer to reach him. Your angel was resisted by “the prince of the kingdom of Persia,” a demon who exercised some measure of control over the empire of Medo-Persia. This teaches me to persevere in prayer and wait patiently for your answer, for there are great forces at work that I know little about. Request Father, help me to run my race with endurance and cross the finish line by faith! (Heb 12:1–3). May I, like Daniel, ‘go my way till the end’ (Dan 12:13). Thanksgiving Thank you for the life and prophecies of Daniel! May I honor his legacy by standing firm for the gospel! In Jesus’ name, Amen. Suggested Hymn: “The Golden Morning” — Daniel S. Warner. Meditation Verse: Daniel 12:13. |