Daniel 10 -- Hearing THIS From God!

One thing I can't get over is reading this over and over:  "Daniel, God loves you very much," -- because God has let me know that He says the same thing to me and to all of His children -- even those who are running away from Him and want nothing to do with Him.  It's just really unfortunate that often Satan stops up our ears.

Daniel was shown another vision.  The men around him knew something was happening, but they couldn't see it, and they ran away in fear.  Daniel lost his strength, went pale, and fell into a deep sleep.  It's only then that he hears it again... "Daniel, God loves you very much.  Stand up, because I have sent you ... Some time ago, you decided to get understanding and to humble yourself before Your God.  Since that time God has listened to you."

In other words, once he decided to get understanding and humble himself, God started listening to his prayers.  It was scary for Daniel.  He even said, "Master, how can I, Your servant, talk to You?  My strength is gone and it is hard for me to breathe!"  That's perhaps a very appropriate response when we are in God's very presence.

Father, I sensed Your presence strongly last night.  Please continue to move among the young men at my home for Disciple Now.  Move big, Father.  Let them encounter You as Daniel did.  Let them hear You say, "I love you."

 

Daniel 9 -- Hearing Gabriel Deliver God's Message

My commentary noted three steps in Daniel's experience with the message Gabriel delivered.

1)  Insight:  Learning God's Plan:  "Daniel started studying afresh the scroll of the prophet Jeremiah ... One of the beautiful things about the inspired Word of God is its constant freshness; no matter how often we read it, there is always something new to learn or something familiar to see in a new light."

2)  Intercession:  Praying for God's Mercy:  "When God showed Daniel visions of future events, the prophet wasn't satisfied until he had asked for an explanation.  Prayer was a vital part of Daniel's life ... He prepared himself to pray ... It would be his holy task to confess the sins of the Jewish nation, asking God to forgive His people and receive them back again.  He humbled himself in sackcloth and ashes; he fasted; and he directed his heart and mind to the Lord."

3)  Instruction:  Discovering God's timetable:  "The angel had come to explain to Daniel what God had planned for Jerusalem, the temple, and the Jewish people."  Gabriel described a 49-year period, a 483-year period, and a 7-year period.  "But Gabriel didn't tell Daniel what would happen between the 69th and 70th 'weeks'.  Between Daniel 9:26-27 there is a strange parenthesis which has to do with the church:  the body of Christ, which was a mystery God had hidden in Old Testament times and didn't reveal until the time of Christ and the apostles."

Father, thank You for Your revelations.  Your wisdom and planning are incredible and I can't wait to learn more!

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Daniel 8 -- More Visions From God

Chapter 8 through the end of the book was written in Hebrew, while the first seven chapters were written in Aramaic, my commentary said.  It is suggested that this indicates that the Gentiles were to understand the first seven chapters as relating mainly to them and the remaining chapters related to the Jews.

This time Daniel received a vision with the help of Gabriel.  My commentary said that the vision identified Cyrus as the one who would defeat the Babylonian army and eventually let the Jews return from captivity to the Holy Land.  It also identified Alexander the Great and his four commanders who divided his territory after his death, along with Antiochus Epiphanes (who was the little horn) who prevented the Jews from worshiping in the Temple and sacrificed a pig on the Temple altar.

The vision also described the Antichrist who would come later.

Father, I can see why Daniel became physically ill upon hearing all of this.  What's happening in the world today is having the same effect on Your children.  Please watch over us and protect us and come quickly.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Daniel 7: 9-28 What A Vision!

"In this dramatic vision, he'd seen the vast sweep of history, beginning with the Babylonian kingdom and closing with the thousand-year reign of Christ on earth ... How did Daniel respond to this great revelation?  He was deeply troubled and his face turned pale, but he didn't tell anyone what the Lord had shown him."

"Verses 18, 22, and 27 describe the saints as victorious over their enemies, while verses 21 and 25 inform us that the Lord permits them to be defeated before their enemies.  The saints receive the kingdom, possess the kingdom, and the kingdom is given to them.  All of this is the work of the Most High God.  He permits Antichrist to rise to power and rule the world and even allows him to make war on the saints and temporarily win the victory.  The phrase 'wear out the saints' describes Antichrist's continual oppression of God's people and his blasphemous words against the Lord and His people."

"No matter what Satan and the Antichrist do on earth, God is still on the throne and He executes judgment."

Father, the world sure seems to be spinning toward this.  I am so thankful that You have a plan and also have the power and ability and desire to protect us.  Thank You for being sovereign over all!

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Daniel 7:1-8 God Knows And Directs The Future

Daniel's terrifying vision was given by God as proof that God knows and directs the future.  My commentary said the events in chapters 7 and 8 preceded those in chapters 5 and 6.  Daniel learned about "4 kingdoms of this world, one of them the kingdom of Satan, and the last one the kingdom of Messiah."

The four kingdoms were the same sequence that Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream -- The Lion with the wings represented Babylon, my commentary said.  The bear represented the Medes and Persians.  The leopard represented Alexander the Great, with the four heads and horns explaining the four leaders who split up his kingdom after his death.  The dreadful and terrible beast represented the Roman Empire and paralleled the legs of iron in Nebuchadnezzar's dream.

"The two visions made it clear that God knows the future and controls the rise and fall of nations and rulers ... Prophecy is history written beforehand."

Father, thank You for Your knowledge of the future and Your sovereignty over it.  We have nothing to fear because You are in control and know the outcome.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Daniel 6: 12-28 A Hard Time Meant To Glorify God

"Daniel had a copy of the prophecy of Jeremiah, so he must have read, 'Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is there anything too hard for Me?'  He knew the answer and didn't fear the lion's den," my commentary said.

The king was boxed in by Daniel's enemies, and though he explored every possible legal maneuver, nothing he could do could save Daniel.  "Before Daniel was lowered into the pit, the king offered a prayer that Daniel's God would deliver him because Daniel was faithful to serve Him continually ... The king had a bad night ... He spent a sleepless night and even fasted! ... He arose with the first light and hastened to the lion's den ... Daniel's faith brought him peace and assurance ... God saved Daniel because He still had more work to do.  God's servants are immortal until their work is done ... God could have prevented Daniel from going into the lion's den, but by allowing him to go in and bringing him out unhurt, the Lord received greater glory ... The report of Daniel's deliverance from the lion's den must have brought great encouragement to the Jews in exile."

Father God, the trials I've been experiencing are mild by comparison, but I ask You to help me approach them as Daniel did his -- confident in You.  I too often find myself responding as the world does, in my frustration, and I want to represent You well instead.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Daniel 5:13-31 Not Ready For Retirement And Changing Employers

Daniel was likely over 80 years old when he was pressed into service again to interpret the message from God.  Anyone reading the words would have only believed they were describing units of money in Babylon, but God gave Daniel the wisdom to understand the true meaning.

The first as "numbered".  My commentary said, "God had determined and established the end of the kingdom and it would happen shortly."

The second was "weighed".  "The king had been weighed by God and found wanting, so the king's days were numbered."

The third was "divided" or "Persia".  Babylon would be divided between the Medes and the Persians, whose armies were at the gates of the city that very night."

"When Daniel confronted Belshazzar, he offered him no way of escape ... the city would fall that very night ... the head of gold was replaced by the arms and chest of silver ...  The Medo-Persian army found a way into the city.  The Euphrates River flowed through Babylon, and by diverting the stream, the army was able to go under the city gates and into the city ... the Most High God still reigns in heaven and on the earth and accomplishes His purposes.  No nation, leader, or individual citizen can long resist Almighty God and win the battle ... Belshazzar forgot the Word of God and the lessons of history and lost his kingdom and his life.  May we not make the same mistakes today!"

Father, I so need Your wisdom in dealing with this life.  Please keep me close to Your heart so that I may hear what You are saying to me.  Guide me with Your Word.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford