July 11, Daniel 11
He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. And the wise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder. - Daniel 11:32-33
Predictive prophecy really is history written before it happens. Daniel's angelic helper showed him the rise and fall of powerful kingdoms through the centuries that would pass between Daniel's lifetime and the advent of Messiah. These nations and their warrior kings would shape the world and impact the lives of God's people during those years. God was in complete control, and would use them all to accomplish his purpose.
The sweeping overview of coming events in Daniel 11 referred to real people, battles, wars and empires that were to come. The prophecy reveals precise details of events to come with stunning accuracy. No human could possibly know, imagine or predict the chain of events that would lead to the rise of Antiochus Epiphanes. This infamous enemy of the Jews would arise in the second century before Christ. He would be the most serious threat to the people of God and the knowledge of God in the period between the time of Daniel and the coming of Christ. The famous Maccabean revolt saved the Jews from the fate of extinction at the hand of Antiochus Epiphanes in the mid second century B.C.
These events unfolded just as the angel told Daniel they would. But Jesus gave these fulfilled prophecies new significance by using the images from Daniel to warn his disciples to flee before the Romans destroyed Jerusalem. The Lord and his apostles also used these images to describe how wicked the world would become before the Second Advent, the end of the world and the final judgment. They explained how Jesus would rescue his people and destroy Satan and his followers with images and echoes from the book of Daniel.
Our text verses for this chapter explain how the people who knew God would be strong and take action when they were threatened by such a fierce enemy. These words remind us that knowledge of God is the foundation of our spiritual lives. Knowledge fuels faith. It's impossible to believe in something or someone if you do not even know that they exist. Knowledge is also the basis for our hope. Again, it's impossible to intelligently hope without knowing something about why such hope is possible. And isn't knowledge the basis of our love as well? How can we love someone we know nothing about? It's what we know about people that draws us to love them.
Can you see how knowing God gives us power and understanding to live a God-honoring life in the face of adversity? When we know God from what he has revealed to us in his word, we find clear direction and comfort in the face of threats and afflictions. Our hope for deliverance is grounded in our knowledge of God. Our confidence rests on the trust that comes from knowing and believing God's promises.
We must never take for granted our knowledge of God. We should never stop growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. The world is hostile to God and his people. It will not be easy to live for the Lord in a world that grows worse and darker as time goes by. But strong faith in God, vibrant hope in him and fervent love for him will sustain us in adverse circumstances. These graces, all grounded in our knowledge of God, will make us strong and guide our actions.
Copyright © 2024 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today in God's Word—July 2024
East Tallassee Church of Christ
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