Reading: Daniel 7-9
And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king’s business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it (Dan. 8:27).
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works (II Tim. 3:16-17). As Christians, we know the solemn truth of Paul’s words to Timothy. We understand that God’s Word is a precious gift meant to be prayerfully studied and applied to our lives as we live and work in the body of Christ. Most of the time, this is a fairly straightforward process, but occasionally we come up against a passage that we cannot seem to decipher, even through the filter of the Holy Spirit. The harder we try to understand the ‘meaning’ behind the words, the more frustrated we grow until we finally give into temptation and skip ahead to more easily understandable Scripture.
Sometimes, though, the message that a passage holds for us is not the one that we thought we were looking for. Daniel was a much-beloved servant of God, and he had been blessed with an extraordinary ability. As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams (Dan. 1:17). Throughout his life in Babylon, he had efficiently interpreted the dreams of kings and princes. He had himself received numerous visions from the Lord. Up until the point of today’s reading, the Lord had enabled Daniel to discern the meanings of dreams and visions, no matter how obscure they appeared at first glance. I thank Thee, and praise Thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter (2:23). Yet he had no effective interpretation of the visions he received in today’s reading. Even when the Lord sent the angel Gabriel to clarify the message, Daniel was still unable to understand. The vision left him feeling sick, shaken, and confused.
Why, we might wonder, would the Lord give Daniel visions that he would be unable to interpret? God Himself gives us the answer to that question with how he closes his communication with Daniel. And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days (8:26). God gave this vision to Daniel, and by extension, to all readers of His Word, so that it might be preserved and, in some as yet to be recognized time, bear witness to Him. These words constitute a promise from God, not a warning. There will come a day when all those living upon the earth will be able to look upon these passages of Scripture with understanding and will marvel at the omniscient nature of God, much as we do now when we read Isaiah’s words that so accurately foretold the first coming of Jesus Christ. In the meantime, it is our responsibility and privilege to prayerfully read and remember the words, trusting that God will make their meaning clear at the proper time.
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known (I Cor. 13:12).
Thought for Today: True faith accepts the direction of God even in the face of the unknown.
Christ Revealed: As the Son of Man (Dan. 7:13-14). The truth of this vision was confirmed by our Lord as He spoke of His promised return. They shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (Matt. 24:30).
Word Studies: 7:25 wear out = to persecute with purpose of entire annihilation; 7:28 cogitations much troubled = bewildered thoughts; 8:7 choler = brutal rage; 8:24 wonderfully = astonishingly successful; 9:7 confusion of faces = look of shame; 9:25 wall = moat; 9:26 cut off = put to death.
Pray in memory of: Angie Stone • Government Officials: Sen. Chuck Grassley (IA) Gov. Mke Parson (MO) • Country: Burundi (10,395,931) East-central Africa • Major Languages: Kirundi, French • Religious Freedom • 62.1% Roman Catholic; 23.9% Protestant; 2.5% Muslim; 3.6% Other; 7.9% Unspecified • Prayer Suggestion: God wants to be exalted through you (Ps. 46:10).
Optional Readings: Revelation 22