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timewithgod.blog-city.com — September 2010
Ruth 4 -- Not A Duty, But Someone To Love
To understand what happened in chapter 4, it's necessary to understand the Jewish law regarding Levirate marriages. Families were bound to the land given to their tribe, and that land was passed on to succeeding generations. When a hu
To understand what happened in chapter 4, it's necessary to understand the Jewish law regarding Levirate marriages. Families were bound to the land given to their tribe, and that land was passed on to succeeding generations. When a husband died childless, there would be no descendant to inherit the land. Levirate marriage involved the closest male relative to the man who died becoming a kinsman redeemer. His duty was to purchase or redeem the land from mortgage and to marry the widow of his relative in order to produce a son who would then inherit his father's land. Many men had families of their own, and the added expense of administering land that would be given to another man's descendants often was a cost that reduced the inheritance of his own children by his wife.
My commentary said that when Boaz offered this duty to Ruth's closest relative and he declined to help for the reasons stated above, the holy writer of Ruth did not include his name because he shirked his duties, and in fact the Hebrew words for so-and-so were used instead. This man came close to eternal mention in the Bible, but robbed himself of it by his selfish actions.
Boaz had no such problems. He was older and unmarried and in fact in need of an heir. The son he would have with Ruth - Obed - would become an ancestor of King David and also of Jesus. Family trees can sometimes contain branches that make us wonder, and this one was no different. Here the son of the prostitute who aided the spies at Jericho married a woman from the country of Moab. Technically, there's a second dad involved as well - Ruth's first husband, Elimelech, due to the Levirate marriage. It just goes to show how God can use anyone for His purposes. He doesn't need our ability, only our availability.
Father, You chose in Your infinite wisdom to graft the sons of two Ukrainian fathers into my family tree, and I could not be more blessed! I did not know those men, just as Boaz did not know Elimelech, but I thank You for entrusting me with their sons. Thank You also for the opportunity to help others from those families as well. I thank You so much for giving me someone to love!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
My commentary said that when Boaz offered this duty to Ruth's closest relative and he declined to help for the reasons stated above, the holy writer of Ruth did not include his name because he shirked his duties, and in fact the Hebrew words for so-and-so were used instead. This man came close to eternal mention in the Bible, but robbed himself of it by his selfish actions.
Boaz had no such problems. He was older and unmarried and in fact in need of an heir. The son he would have with Ruth - Obed - would become an ancestor of King David and also of Jesus. Family trees can sometimes contain branches that make us wonder, and this one was no different. Here the son of the prostitute who aided the spies at Jericho married a woman from the country of Moab. Technically, there's a second dad involved as well - Ruth's first husband, Elimelech, due to the Levirate marriage. It just goes to show how God can use anyone for His purposes. He doesn't need our ability, only our availability.
Father, You chose in Your infinite wisdom to graft the sons of two Ukrainian fathers into my family tree, and I could not be more blessed! I did not know those men, just as Boaz did not know Elimelech, but I thank You for entrusting me with their sons. Thank You also for the opportunity to help others from those families as well. I thank You so much for giving me someone to love!
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Daniel 1 -- Character Shining Through
The start of the book of Daniel reminded me of the start of the movie Red Dawn, where America's heartland was suddenly overwhelmed by Soviet invaders, and life as we know it ceased to exist in America. Young men saw their dreams dashed. &
The start of the book of Daniel reminded me of the start of the movie Red Dawn, where America's heartland was suddenly overwhelmed by Soviet invaders, and life as we know it ceased to exist in America. Young men saw their dreams dashed.
Here we find Daniel and his three buddies taken as prisoners of war from their homes in Jerusalem into exile in Babylon. Because they were smart and handsome, they caught the eye of the king, who singled them out for diplomatic training. In Red Dawn, they would have been called collaborators, but here it was all in God's will.
"God made Ashpenaz, the chief officer, want to be kind and merciful to Daniel." The enemy would be overruled by the sovereign Lord. Daniel had been raised under Jewish dietary laws. In Babylon, he faced the opportunity to throw all that out the window and participate in state-sponsored gluttony and drunkenness. In his mind, he was probably being given permission to sin, and that can be a heady thing for a 20-something.
But Daniel didn't cave. His character was noble and he wasn't about to trade it for anything. In fact, after a trial period, the rest of the young men being trained may have groaned when their own plates began to look like Daniel's - only vegetables and water. (Perhaps the meats had been sacrificed to idols.)
Daniel's outlook was long-term, too. He suffered no illusions about returning to his homeland. He determined that God had placed him where he was for a reason, and he sought God's will for each day as it came, making the most of his circumstances.
Father, help me to have the integrity and character of Daniel, especially when I'm away from home and from everyone I know. Let me be content with seeking out Your will daily and help me to trust You with my future. I want to be right where You want me to be.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Here we find Daniel and his three buddies taken as prisoners of war from their homes in Jerusalem into exile in Babylon. Because they were smart and handsome, they caught the eye of the king, who singled them out for diplomatic training. In Red Dawn, they would have been called collaborators, but here it was all in God's will.
"God made Ashpenaz, the chief officer, want to be kind and merciful to Daniel." The enemy would be overruled by the sovereign Lord. Daniel had been raised under Jewish dietary laws. In Babylon, he faced the opportunity to throw all that out the window and participate in state-sponsored gluttony and drunkenness. In his mind, he was probably being given permission to sin, and that can be a heady thing for a 20-something.
But Daniel didn't cave. His character was noble and he wasn't about to trade it for anything. In fact, after a trial period, the rest of the young men being trained may have groaned when their own plates began to look like Daniel's - only vegetables and water. (Perhaps the meats had been sacrificed to idols.)
Daniel's outlook was long-term, too. He suffered no illusions about returning to his homeland. He determined that God had placed him where he was for a reason, and he sought God's will for each day as it came, making the most of his circumstances.
Father, help me to have the integrity and character of Daniel, especially when I'm away from home and from everyone I know. Let me be content with seeking out Your will daily and help me to trust You with my future. I want to be right where You want me to be.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Daniel 2 -- God KNOWS
I've got a few tasks at work right now that are pretty tough, but I've got to agree that Daniel and all the other wise men in Babylon faced a much tougher task. The king had been troubled by a dream, and he didn't want a bunch of ye
I've got a few tasks at work right now that are pretty tough, but I've got to agree that Daniel and all the other wise men in Babylon faced a much tougher task. The king had been troubled by a dream, and he didn't want a bunch of yes men telling him what he wanted to hear, so he refused to even reveal the content of the dream. When no one came forward with answers for him, he ordered all of the wise men killed.
Faced with such an ultimatum, Daniel first requested a meeting with the king for the next day, and then he asked his friends to pray that God would provide the answers he needed. That sure shows his level of trust in God! Most people would have reversed the order of those events!
God rewarded his faithfulness, answering as Daniel had requested. Before the king, Daniel was asked if he could tell the king the dream and what it meant. Daniel answered, "No man can answer ... But there is a God in heaven who explains secret things." Daniel never sought praise for himself but only for God.
After delivering God's message, Daniel was probably amazed when the king fell face-down on the ground in front of him, saying, "Truly I know YOUR God is the greatest of all gods - the Lord of all kings."
My sidebar said Daniel's words would have been an affront to the idol-worshiping king at first. But God's omniscience bowled the king over. The king knew that God even knew what was inside his mind!
He knows our minds, too, whether we know Him or not. He knows our thoughts, our desires, and our weaknesses. Nothing about us surprises Him. Because He knows our weaknesses, He desires to help us avoid people, places, and situations that can tempt us to sin. He also offers us an escape route if we'll only take it. We can openly and honestly pray to him about things in our minds that, like King Nebuchadnezzar, no other human knows. He won't be shocked. He knows. He understands that we are but clay. Yet He loves us anyway and desires the best for us. That's my kind of God!
Father, thank You for knowing me better than I know myself. Help me to trust You with the things inside that no one else may know. Use Your skill as my spiritual Surgeon to remove what doesn't resemble You. Make me more like You. Point out even those things which I may not even want to discuss, and lead me to let You have control over every part of my life, so that I can love You with all my heart, all my soul, and all my mind.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Faced with such an ultimatum, Daniel first requested a meeting with the king for the next day, and then he asked his friends to pray that God would provide the answers he needed. That sure shows his level of trust in God! Most people would have reversed the order of those events!
God rewarded his faithfulness, answering as Daniel had requested. Before the king, Daniel was asked if he could tell the king the dream and what it meant. Daniel answered, "No man can answer ... But there is a God in heaven who explains secret things." Daniel never sought praise for himself but only for God.
After delivering God's message, Daniel was probably amazed when the king fell face-down on the ground in front of him, saying, "Truly I know YOUR God is the greatest of all gods - the Lord of all kings."
My sidebar said Daniel's words would have been an affront to the idol-worshiping king at first. But God's omniscience bowled the king over. The king knew that God even knew what was inside his mind!
He knows our minds, too, whether we know Him or not. He knows our thoughts, our desires, and our weaknesses. Nothing about us surprises Him. Because He knows our weaknesses, He desires to help us avoid people, places, and situations that can tempt us to sin. He also offers us an escape route if we'll only take it. We can openly and honestly pray to him about things in our minds that, like King Nebuchadnezzar, no other human knows. He won't be shocked. He knows. He understands that we are but clay. Yet He loves us anyway and desires the best for us. That's my kind of God!
Father, thank You for knowing me better than I know myself. Help me to trust You with the things inside that no one else may know. Use Your skill as my spiritual Surgeon to remove what doesn't resemble You. Make me more like You. Point out even those things which I may not even want to discuss, and lead me to let You have control over every part of my life, so that I can love You with all my heart, all my soul, and all my mind.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Daniel 3 -- Faith Despite The Consequences
I imagine that when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had originally been placed in the diplomatic training program with Daniel, they'd probably thought that things were going their way in this country so foreign to them. They were eating wel
I imagine that when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had originally been placed in the diplomatic training program with Daniel, they'd probably thought that things were going their way in this country so foreign to them. They were eating well, living well, and still able to worship their God. Daniel's interpretation of the king's dream and the king's subsequent praise of God for enabling Daniel to do what no man could possibly do surely led those three guys to think that their remaining time in captivity would be a cakewalk.
But the king just couldn't resist his own pride, and he built a statue 90' tall, covered in gold, and insisted that all of his leaders worship it.
There were tattlers hoping to gain favor with the king, and they were all too happy to report that these three Jewish me refused the king's order. Threatening them with death in a fiery furnace, the king asked, "What god will be able to save you from my power then?" They answered, "We do not need to defend ourselves to you. If you throw us into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from the furnace. He will save us from your power, O king. But even if God does not save us, we want you, O king, to know this: We will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up."
In the immortal words of Jed Clampett, "Them's fightin' words!" The king stoked the furnace seven times hotter, ordered their hands bound, and had them thrown in. The fire was so hot that the soldiers whose job it was to toss them in were burned to death. As for our three guys, only the ropes that bound them were burned. They didn't even smell like smoke! A fourth man, the pre-incarnate Christ, was with them in the fire, yet no mention of his leaving it with them was recorded. Once again, the king gave honor to God but he stubbornly refused to give up his idolatry.
The three guys had admitted that God was able to save them, yet they did not declare that He would, for they did not know His will. Yet they did know Him. Still, as Oswald Chambers said, "They smilingly washed their hands of the consequences."
J.I. Packer was quoted in my sidebar as saying, "It is the spirit of all who know God. They may find the determination of the right course to take agonizingly difficult, but once they are clear on it, they embrace it boldly, and without hesitation. It does not worry them that others of God's people see the matter differently, and do not stand with them ... They were clear as to what they personally had to do, and that was enough for them. By this test also we may measure our own knowledge of God."
Father, I remember so very well that same feeling in my heart as I waited out the Ukrainian government in those dark days before Josh's adoption. I'd heard from You, and that was all that mattered. I knew what You had decided would happen, and they could only lead, follow, or get out of the way. Thank You for allowing me to know You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
But the king just couldn't resist his own pride, and he built a statue 90' tall, covered in gold, and insisted that all of his leaders worship it.
There were tattlers hoping to gain favor with the king, and they were all too happy to report that these three Jewish me refused the king's order. Threatening them with death in a fiery furnace, the king asked, "What god will be able to save you from my power then?" They answered, "We do not need to defend ourselves to you. If you throw us into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from the furnace. He will save us from your power, O king. But even if God does not save us, we want you, O king, to know this: We will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up."
In the immortal words of Jed Clampett, "Them's fightin' words!" The king stoked the furnace seven times hotter, ordered their hands bound, and had them thrown in. The fire was so hot that the soldiers whose job it was to toss them in were burned to death. As for our three guys, only the ropes that bound them were burned. They didn't even smell like smoke! A fourth man, the pre-incarnate Christ, was with them in the fire, yet no mention of his leaving it with them was recorded. Once again, the king gave honor to God but he stubbornly refused to give up his idolatry.
The three guys had admitted that God was able to save them, yet they did not declare that He would, for they did not know His will. Yet they did know Him. Still, as Oswald Chambers said, "They smilingly washed their hands of the consequences."
J.I. Packer was quoted in my sidebar as saying, "It is the spirit of all who know God. They may find the determination of the right course to take agonizingly difficult, but once they are clear on it, they embrace it boldly, and without hesitation. It does not worry them that others of God's people see the matter differently, and do not stand with them ... They were clear as to what they personally had to do, and that was enough for them. By this test also we may measure our own knowledge of God."
Father, I remember so very well that same feeling in my heart as I waited out the Ukrainian government in those dark days before Josh's adoption. I'd heard from You, and that was all that mattered. I knew what You had decided would happen, and they could only lead, follow, or get out of the way. Thank You for allowing me to know You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Daniel 4 -- Lessons Every Leader Should Learn
Daniel included a letter sent out by King Nebuchadnezzar which told about what God had done to get the king's attention. It shows that God is a God of mercy and the extent to which He'll go to bring us to Himself. The king was ful
Daniel included a letter sent out by King Nebuchadnezzar which told about what God had done to get the king's attention. It shows that God is a God of mercy and the extent to which He'll go to bring us to Himself. The king was full of pride in himself and what he'd accomplished. This pride was the root of all his other sins, and he was failing to give God the glory for all he'd accomplished. Through a dream, God warned him about the consequences if his behavior continued. God held back His judgment for a year, waiting on the king to change, but the king had let pride take root and flourish. So for seven years, God removed his ability to reason and think as a human.
Verse 34 was so telling: "At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up toward heaven, and I could think normally again! Then I gave praise to the Most High God; I gave honor and glory to Him who lives forever!" The king didn't blame God for his forced exile from the throne, either. He said, "Everything He does is right and fair, and He is able to make proud people humble."
What also struck me was Daniel's attitude when telling the king the meaning of his dream and describing what those seven years would be like. Daniel's heart was broken for his friend. He showed true concern and pointed out the consequences with mercy, my sidebar noted. That's the Christian love we are to show the world. It's the best way to "love the sinner yet hate the sin."
One thing was very evident from the king's letter, for he repeated it four times: "The Most High God rules over every kingdom on earth. God gives those kingdoms to anyone He wants, and He chooses people to rule them who are not proud." Those words coming from one who once ruled all the known world and who suffered greatly from pride in self probably should be tattooed onto the chests of all who would seek to rule, so that when they look at themselves in the mirror each morning and night, they can be reminded about who the real ruler is. What a different world we might have!
Father, there are still countries today that could benefit from what You did to this king. Even through Your consequences Your mercy shows through and Your intentions are made clear - to love and not to harm. Guide every leader in this world. Call out to them to acknowledge You as the only God. Take them where You must until they do. Please also keep me humble and help me to always give You and You alone the glory.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Verse 34 was so telling: "At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up toward heaven, and I could think normally again! Then I gave praise to the Most High God; I gave honor and glory to Him who lives forever!" The king didn't blame God for his forced exile from the throne, either. He said, "Everything He does is right and fair, and He is able to make proud people humble."
What also struck me was Daniel's attitude when telling the king the meaning of his dream and describing what those seven years would be like. Daniel's heart was broken for his friend. He showed true concern and pointed out the consequences with mercy, my sidebar noted. That's the Christian love we are to show the world. It's the best way to "love the sinner yet hate the sin."
One thing was very evident from the king's letter, for he repeated it four times: "The Most High God rules over every kingdom on earth. God gives those kingdoms to anyone He wants, and He chooses people to rule them who are not proud." Those words coming from one who once ruled all the known world and who suffered greatly from pride in self probably should be tattooed onto the chests of all who would seek to rule, so that when they look at themselves in the mirror each morning and night, they can be reminded about who the real ruler is. What a different world we might have!
Father, there are still countries today that could benefit from what You did to this king. Even through Your consequences Your mercy shows through and Your intentions are made clear - to love and not to harm. Guide every leader in this world. Call out to them to acknowledge You as the only God. Take them where You must until they do. Please also keep me humble and help me to always give You and You alone the glory.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Daniel 5 -- The Consequences Of Our Actions
Quite a bit of time had passed since the last chapter. Nebuchadnezzar's grandson was now the king, and it seems that Daniel may have retired and been almost forgotten. Belshazzar, the new king, had never learned respect for God from h
Quite a bit of time had passed since the last chapter. Nebuchadnezzar's grandson was now the king, and it seems that Daniel may have retired and been almost forgotten. Belshazzar, the new king, had never learned respect for God from his grandfather, who'd come to understand God's power over his life. This king, on a night of riotous excess, ordered his attendants to bring out all of the gold and silver cups which his grandfather had taken from the Temple in Jerusalem. These were filled with wine and used to toast idols - totally disrespecting God and His glory. As the king and his 1,000 guests watched, a man's hand appeared out of thin air and wrote four words on the plaster walls of the palace.
This alone would have struck fear into most anyone's heart, but when Daniel was summoned as the only one in the kingdom who could interpret the message, the king's face took on an even whiter shade of pale, for the message was: "God has counted the days until your kingdom will end. You have been weighed on the scales and found not good enough. Your kingdom is BEING divided and will be given to the Medes and Persians."
God wasted no time in fulfilling the prophecy, for that very night the Medo-Persian army invaded the capital city and King Belshazzar was murdered. Daniel had plainly told him before his death that he knew what his grandfather had suffered as a result of choosing not to honor God, yet the king did not stop sinning and repent. "You did not honor God, who has power over your life and everything you do."
I think the most important take here is that in this instance, God did not apparently give out any warnings. He also did not give any grace or mercy. Instead, He simply identified the king as a sinner and brought justice that very night.
We endanger our earthly existence when we presume on God. After all, He is the Sovereign of the Universe. We cannot take Him lightly. He is always totally within His rights to take any action He desires, and we are left with no excuse and no plea except that we have trusted in His Son's work on Calvary on our behalf.
Father, presuming on Your grace is much the same as the mocking of You that this king tried. He paid dearly for it. I know that You are not mocked. I'm sorry that I let my sin nature get the best of me at times. It causes me to not honor You. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit who produces a godly sorrow in my soul when I do sin, for it is that sorrow that leads me to repentance.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
This alone would have struck fear into most anyone's heart, but when Daniel was summoned as the only one in the kingdom who could interpret the message, the king's face took on an even whiter shade of pale, for the message was: "God has counted the days until your kingdom will end. You have been weighed on the scales and found not good enough. Your kingdom is BEING divided and will be given to the Medes and Persians."
God wasted no time in fulfilling the prophecy, for that very night the Medo-Persian army invaded the capital city and King Belshazzar was murdered. Daniel had plainly told him before his death that he knew what his grandfather had suffered as a result of choosing not to honor God, yet the king did not stop sinning and repent. "You did not honor God, who has power over your life and everything you do."
I think the most important take here is that in this instance, God did not apparently give out any warnings. He also did not give any grace or mercy. Instead, He simply identified the king as a sinner and brought justice that very night.
We endanger our earthly existence when we presume on God. After all, He is the Sovereign of the Universe. We cannot take Him lightly. He is always totally within His rights to take any action He desires, and we are left with no excuse and no plea except that we have trusted in His Son's work on Calvary on our behalf.
Father, presuming on Your grace is much the same as the mocking of You that this king tried. He paid dearly for it. I know that You are not mocked. I'm sorry that I let my sin nature get the best of me at times. It causes me to not honor You. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit who produces a godly sorrow in my soul when I do sin, for it is that sorrow that leads me to repentance.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Daniel 6 -- It Wasn't The Lions That Caused The Lump In My Throat
Here's the classic story of Daniel in the lions' den. As a kid, I remember always seeing Daniel as being my age, but he was well over 80 years old when this happened, having served four kings in captivity. I was humbled by the
Here's the classic story of Daniel in the lions' den. As a kid, I remember always seeing Daniel as being my age, but he was well over 80 years old when this happened, having served four kings in captivity.
I was humbled by the part of this story that caught my attention today. It wasn't the part about Daniel's possible promotion to a spot just below the king in rank, nor about his praying in spite of the law, nor of his miraculous rescue from the lions' den by God. Instead, it came from part of the letter which King Darius wrote "to all people and all nations, to those who spoke every language in the world." It read:
"I am making a new law for people in every part of my kingdom. All of you must fear and respect the God of DANIEL. Daniel's God is the living God; He lives forever ..."
What caused my throat to choke up was Daniel's steadfastness that had led him to pray despite the law, and that subsequently led a pagan king to point others to Daniel's God. Do I remain steadfast enough and do I openly honor God enough that a pagan world could be pointed to Gary's God as the living God? Would my faith be so easily seen and recognized that it would point others to God?
Father, I don't want to fall short in this area. Give me boldness in stating my faith in You, yet help me to never cause others to take away Your Glory by assigning it to me. I pray that everything I do points them solely to You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
I was humbled by the part of this story that caught my attention today. It wasn't the part about Daniel's possible promotion to a spot just below the king in rank, nor about his praying in spite of the law, nor of his miraculous rescue from the lions' den by God. Instead, it came from part of the letter which King Darius wrote "to all people and all nations, to those who spoke every language in the world." It read:
"I am making a new law for people in every part of my kingdom. All of you must fear and respect the God of DANIEL. Daniel's God is the living God; He lives forever ..."
What caused my throat to choke up was Daniel's steadfastness that had led him to pray despite the law, and that subsequently led a pagan king to point others to Daniel's God. Do I remain steadfast enough and do I openly honor God enough that a pagan world could be pointed to Gary's God as the living God? Would my faith be so easily seen and recognized that it would point others to God?
Father, I don't want to fall short in this area. Give me boldness in stating my faith in You, yet help me to never cause others to take away Your Glory by assigning it to me. I pray that everything I do points them solely to You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Daniel 7 -- The Dreams (Nightmares?) Begin
Without a program, it's hard to identify all the players in this chapter. God gives Daniel a dream about the future. My commentary identifies the four beasts he sees as: 1) Lion - Babylon 2)
Without a program, it's hard to identify all the players in this chapter. God gives Daniel a dream about the future. My commentary identifies the four beasts he sees as:
1) Lion - Babylon
2) Bear - Medo-Persia
3) Leopard - Greece
4) Beast with iron teeth - Roman Empire
We are supposedly in a parenthesis right now after the 10 Roman rulers were destroyed, awaiting the arrival of the little horn - the future head of the Revived Roman Empire. Following the Great Tribulation, the fifth and final world empire will come - "The glorious kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ."
All of this "ancient history" plus some that is still future was shown to Daniel in just one night. How overwhelming that must have been! God has brought most all of it about, and I have no doubts that He will bring about the remaining prophecies as well, for He is outside of time and participates in tomorrow while still working in the here and now.
According to my Bible, we won't have to worry about that next kingdom, because Jesus will rapture His church to heaven before the tribulation. Our sole worry should be to worry about the souls that yet need to hear about Christ's salvation, so that those we love and those who don't know Him will join us on that day and not have to endure the Great Tribulation and eternal damnation.
Father, thanks for renewing our sense of urgency lately. Show me those who need to accept Your Son as their Savior, and give me a part in decreasing the number of people who will remain on earth rather than being taken out of this mess that Daniel saw.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
1) Lion - Babylon
2) Bear - Medo-Persia
3) Leopard - Greece
4) Beast with iron teeth - Roman Empire
We are supposedly in a parenthesis right now after the 10 Roman rulers were destroyed, awaiting the arrival of the little horn - the future head of the Revived Roman Empire. Following the Great Tribulation, the fifth and final world empire will come - "The glorious kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ."
All of this "ancient history" plus some that is still future was shown to Daniel in just one night. How overwhelming that must have been! God has brought most all of it about, and I have no doubts that He will bring about the remaining prophecies as well, for He is outside of time and participates in tomorrow while still working in the here and now.
According to my Bible, we won't have to worry about that next kingdom, because Jesus will rapture His church to heaven before the tribulation. Our sole worry should be to worry about the souls that yet need to hear about Christ's salvation, so that those we love and those who don't know Him will join us on that day and not have to endure the Great Tribulation and eternal damnation.
Father, thanks for renewing our sense of urgency lately. Show me those who need to accept Your Son as their Savior, and give me a part in decreasing the number of people who will remain on earth rather than being taken out of this mess that Daniel saw.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Daniel 8&9 -- THAT's How To Pray
Daniel receives the visions of what will happen up to the first coming of Christ, including the rebuilding of Jerusalem, then Christ's death and the sacking of Jerusalem by the Romans. He also is given a vision of the seven years before Chr
Daniel receives the visions of what will happen up to the first coming of Christ, including the rebuilding of Jerusalem, then Christ's death and the sacking of Jerusalem by the Romans. He also is given a vision of the seven years before Christ's triumphant return - the tribulation and the Great Tribulation.
The great key, according to my commentary, is that the weeks mentioned don't refer to weeks consisting of days, but of years - seven years for each week. And there is a gap between the first 69 weeks and the 70th week. This parenthesis in time amounts to the Church Age, from Pentecost to the Rapture, according to my commentary, and it was never mentioned in the Old Testament, but was revealed by the New Testament apostles and prophets. It also mentioned what Jesus Himself said in Luke 4:18-19. He'd been quoting Isaiah 61:1-2a, (up to the Acceptable Day Of The Lord) and he cut it short, leaving off 61:2b (the day of vengeance), as if He were inserting a pause specifically to highlight this gap.
All that is great, but what really spoke to me was the message God sent to Daniel through Gabriel: "Daniel, I have come to give you wisdom and to help you understand. When you first started praying, an answer was given, and I came to tell you, because God loves you VERY MUCH."
That's my God saying that. Daniel, like we must, became penitent before praying, admitting to God both his sins and the sins of Israel as a nation. He declared that God was right and men were wrong. He begged God, "Hear ... Listen ... Pay attention ... Open Your eyes and see ... See..." then he said something important: "We do not ask because we are good. We ask because of Your mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear us and do something. For Your sake, don't wait ..."
Father, Daniel knew how to pray. He knew how to recognize his own sinfulness and Your holiness. More importantly, he asked for his requests because they would glorify You, not for his own selfish purposes. Help me to pray like that, Father. Thank You for loving me VERY MUCH.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
The great key, according to my commentary, is that the weeks mentioned don't refer to weeks consisting of days, but of years - seven years for each week. And there is a gap between the first 69 weeks and the 70th week. This parenthesis in time amounts to the Church Age, from Pentecost to the Rapture, according to my commentary, and it was never mentioned in the Old Testament, but was revealed by the New Testament apostles and prophets. It also mentioned what Jesus Himself said in Luke 4:18-19. He'd been quoting Isaiah 61:1-2a, (up to the Acceptable Day Of The Lord) and he cut it short, leaving off 61:2b (the day of vengeance), as if He were inserting a pause specifically to highlight this gap.
All that is great, but what really spoke to me was the message God sent to Daniel through Gabriel: "Daniel, I have come to give you wisdom and to help you understand. When you first started praying, an answer was given, and I came to tell you, because God loves you VERY MUCH."
That's my God saying that. Daniel, like we must, became penitent before praying, admitting to God both his sins and the sins of Israel as a nation. He declared that God was right and men were wrong. He begged God, "Hear ... Listen ... Pay attention ... Open Your eyes and see ... See..." then he said something important: "We do not ask because we are good. We ask because of Your mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear us and do something. For Your sake, don't wait ..."
Father, Daniel knew how to pray. He knew how to recognize his own sinfulness and Your holiness. More importantly, he asked for his requests because they would glorify You, not for his own selfish purposes. Help me to pray like that, Father. Thank You for loving me VERY MUCH.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Daniel 10-12 The Rest Of The Story Is Still To Come
It is way too tempting when reading about Daniel's visions to try and assign roles to current players on the world scene! My commentary described in detail how the events up to 11:35 have already played out on the world scene. What th
It is way too tempting when reading about Daniel's visions to try and assign roles to current players on the world scene! My commentary described in detail how the events up to 11:35 have already played out on the world scene. What the angel described was an exact match with what happened.
Again, what I like the most was hearing what the angel (or the Lord) said to Daniel personally: "Daniel, God loves you very much ... I have been sent to you ... Do not be afraid. Some time ago you decided to get understanding and to humble yourself before your God. Since that time, God has listened to you, and I have come because of your prayers."
Father, please help me to get understanding from You. Help me to humble myself before You. Listen to my prayers and help me to pray in Your will.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Again, what I like the most was hearing what the angel (or the Lord) said to Daniel personally: "Daniel, God loves you very much ... I have been sent to you ... Do not be afraid. Some time ago you decided to get understanding and to humble yourself before your God. Since that time, God has listened to you, and I have come because of your prayers."
Father, please help me to get understanding from You. Help me to humble myself before You. Listen to my prayers and help me to pray in Your will.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
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