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Devotional
Weekly Bible Devotion By Books
July 3-8, 2023
Enter the Presence of the Lord
(All) Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
(W) He alone does great wonders.
(M) He by understanding made the heaven and the earth,
(W) the sun, the moon and stars.
(M) He remembers us in our weakness.
(W) He rescues us from our oppressors
(M) He gives food to all flesh.
(All) Give thanks to the Lord, for his faithful love endures forever
(selections and adaption from Psalm 136)
Confession
Lord of our strength and our wisdom, we confess that we do not like trials in life and in our faith journey. But your word taught us that we can consider it pure joy. We fail to see that there are some important characters to be shaped through such moments. Help us, get through the trials, sustain our faith, give us wisdom just for our circumstances. We will learn perseverance, maturity and completeness. We will become wiser. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Scripture Reading Daniel 2:44 ; 7:17-18, 8:20-24, 11:40, 9:24, 26; 12:11-12
2:44 But throughout the history of these kingdoms, the God of heaven will be building a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will this kingdom ever fall under the domination of another. In the end it will crush the other kingdoms and finish them off and come through it all standing strong and eternal.
7:17-18 “‘These four huge animals,’ he said, ‘mean that four kingdoms will appear on earth. But eventually the holy people of the High God will be given the kingdom and have it ever after—yes, forever and ever.’
8: 20-24 The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia. 21 The shaggy goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between its eyes is the first king. 22 The four horns that replaced the one that was broken off represent four kingdoms that will emerge from his nation but will not have the same power.23 “In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue, will arise. 24 He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people.
11:40 “At the time of the end the king of the South will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood.
9:24, 26 24 “Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place. 26 After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed.
12:11-12 “From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.
Thoughts to share: Be strong! Be patient! Be faithful! Be hopeful!
The book of Daniel was not so much about Daniel as about the future of God’s chosen people during and after the fall of Jerusalem.
Modern war events and migration waves teach us the disturbances and multi-layered difficulties that the people went through those drastic changes. We do not know how Daniel, as a youth, handled his circumstances, how he had felt, and how he worked through all kinds of struggles. We do know that he fast held his faith and identify in God. He had a God as the center to turn whenever he encountered confusion and difficulties. In trials and persecutions, his faith became even purer, focused, denser. He was greatly shocked and saddened by the fact of the fall of Jerusalem. He was afraid and confused as many others. For sure, there was an urgent need to know what was stored in God’s plan for his chosen people.
There were many practical questions surrounding the fall of Jerusalem for those the captives of Jewish people. Is the fall of Jerusalem the end of the world? Can they sing songs again in foreign land and in foreign cultures? How will the world evolve in all ever-changing world affairs? Are there going to have hope amid all changes? Is still God with them? Does God have plans for them? What is their future as God’s chosen people in the world? How will they live with God, with themselves, with the world? Is there any instruction from God to them?
In such a difficult moment, a series of clear visions and their interpretations from God came to Daniel, a tested and faithful servant of God. In his early youthful years, Daniel had learned that the sovereignty of God was active in foreign palaces, foreign lands, foreign cultures. Now, in his elderly years, the visions and interpretations that Daniel received provided relevant understanding and guidance for the God’s chosen people who exiled already now. In summary, there are a few highlights:
Firstly, on the international stage, powers will evolve and change from one to another. God’s chosen people will experience all those changes and live through their lives in gentile lands and cultures. They will be opposed and persecuted. They will be in this real world. No fantasy! No escape!
Secondly, God has a future and a plan for his people no matter where they are. He will neither forsake nor abandon them. He will punish those who oppressed them. He will rescue and guide them through all turmoil and changes. He reigns forever. He knows and supervises those changes. His plan will be carried out through all these earthly changes.
Thirdly, there will be an eternal, un-destructible kingdom beyond all earth kingdoms. Someone everlasting sits on the throne. He has final judge power. He loves Son of man so much that he will give all power, authority, glory to him.
Fourthly, God has a salvation plan to solve the sin problem that led them into the exiles. He will come in God’s timing. He will bring in true righteousness.
Fifthly, the end of the Judah Kingdom is not the end of the world. At the end time in God’s plan, there will be Son of Man, resurrection, judgement, rest, everlasting blessings, eternal life, and eternal righteousness. There will be great war, great tribulation, and ultimate victory for the saints.
Sixthly, there is a way for God’s people to live at the present time. Be strong. Be patient! Be faithful! Be hopeful!
Knowing the future during uncertain times is a desire we as human will have. We need wisdom and understanding. God cares our such a need! For those God’s people during 400 years who no longer heard God’s prophecy after Daniel, the book of Daniel was so much precious and welcoming revelation from God. The word of God helped and sustained his people through those dark centuries! Daniel gave us a living example how to live through those turbulent times and circumstances.
Looking around our world affairs in the 21st century, we sense those questions in the book of Daniel can be understandable and related. The wisdom in those Daniel’s visions and interpretations are what we need too. It teaches how God’s chosen people are to live: Be strong. Be patient! Be faithful! Be hopeful! We may not live to see the consummation of the coming of that eternal kingdom. But we can be like Daniel- we will rest, and then at the end of the days we will rise to receive our allotted inheritance. For now, we will go about our business without fear and worry. We will faithfully and humbly walk in his teachings.
Prayer suggestions
Lord of vision for our future, how comforting it is that you did not intend to leave us as the blind and as the deaf. You surely know our future and where we are heading to. Thank you for your word! Yes, our world evolved so fast and so irrationally. We find an anchor and a lens in your Word to know what we are supposed to expect and how we are supposed to live out our identity in you in this world often beyond our understanding and controlling. Thank you, Jesus has come. He will come again. We are much nearer to that time you are back again. O. Lord, may you come. O Lord, keep us remain in you firmly now. Amen!
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