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Daniel 8-9
Seventy Sevens
Psalm 104:1-35 Blessing Our Creator
1.“Bless Yahweh, my soul. Yahweh, my God, you are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty.2.He covers himself with light as with a garment. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain.3.He lays the beams of his rooms in the waters. He makes the clouds his chariot. He walks on the wings of the wind.4.He makes his messengers winds; his servants flames of fire.5.He laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be moved forever.6.You covered it with the deep as with a cloak. The waters stood above the mountains.7.At your rebuke they fled. At the voice of your thunder they hurried away.8.The mountains rose, the valleys sank down, to the place which you had assigned to them.9.You have set a boundary that they may not pass over; that they don’t turn again to cover the earth.10.He sends forth springs into the valleys. They run among the mountains.11.They give drink to every animal of the field. The wild donkeys quench their thirst.12.The birds of the sky nest by them. They sing among the branches.13.He waters the mountains from his rooms. The earth is filled with the fruit of your works.14.He causes the grass to grow for the livestock, and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food out of the earth:15.wine that makes glad the heart of man, oil to make his face to shine, and bread that strengthens man’s heart...23.Man goes forth to his work, to his labor until the evening.24.Yahweh, how many are your works! In wisdom have you made them all. The earth is full of your riches...27.These all wait for you, that you may give them their food in due season.28.You give to them; they gather. You open your hand; they are satisfied with good.29.You hide your face: they are troubled; you take away their breath: they die, and return to the dust.30.You send forth your Spirit: they are created. You renew the face of the ground.
31.Let the glory of Yahweh endure forever. Let Yahweh rejoice in his works.33.I will sing to Yahweh as long as I live. I will sing praise to my God while I have any being.34.Let your meditation be sweet to him. I will rejoice in Yahweh.35.Let sinners be consumed out of the earth. Let the wicked be no more. Bless Yahweh, my soul. Praise Yah!“
Observations
104:1-23.The majority of this psalm celebrates and blesses God for creating and sustaining the world, providing unique detail of His works. Creationist buffs should be able to find lots of “facts science has recently discovered” in the entire psalm.
104:24-30.
In His wisdom, God gives what's good, when it's good to satisfy His creatures.
104:31-35.
God should rejoice in His works rather than be grieved by them, and His people should rejoice in Him. Sinners and the wicked (those who don't submit to His word) will be consumed off the earth, and everyone else will be happy.
Application
The things we think about (meditations), and rejoice/sing about, should be sweet in God's sight.
Prayer
Blessed Creator, I praise You for Your wonderful creation and provision. I want to live so You can rejoice over me. Amen.
Proverbs 24:5-9 The Wisdom of Wise Guidance
5.A wise man has great power; and a knowledgeable man increases strength;6.for by wise guidance you wage your war; and victory is in many advisers.7.Wisdom is too high for a fool: he doesn’t open his mouth in the gate.8.One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.9.The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is an abomination/detested by men.Observation
24:5-9.A person who doesn't want wise counsel and guidance is a weak fool, who will swim in sin, and be detested by decent folk. It takes strength, wisdom and humility to seek the advice of others, qualities a fool lacks. As a result, the plans and practice of a fool are a sinful abomination to everyone except themselves. The gate was where the elders gathered to wisely decide community matters. Since independence is the essence of sin, God has set up the world so that those who live independently of others live in sin.
Application
Seeking wise counsel is smart and yields success. Foolishly doing what your unsanctified instincts tell you is stupid and yields sin.
Prayer
God keep me from the folly of not humbly seeking wise counsel. Amen.
Daniel 8-9 Seventy Sevens
These chapters contain two of the most specific prophecies of the future of God's people. The first of the ram and goat, references the powers following the Babylonian empire, and introduce a prefigure of the Antichrist. The second details the timetable for God's plan to redeem His people, the Messiah, the Antichrist, and events of the Tribulation. Chapter 9 lets us listen into one of Daniels great prayers, in which he intercedes for his people. Don't miss the main point in the midst of the details.
Daniel 8 Ram and Goat
1.In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, even to me, Daniel, after that which appeared to me at the first.2.I saw in the vision; now it was so, that when I saw, I was in the citadel of Susa, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in the vision, and I was by the river Ulai.3.Then I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.4.I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; and no animals could stand before him, neither was there any who could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and magnified himself.5.As I was considering, behold, a male goat came from the west over the surface of the whole earth, and didn’t touch the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.6.He came to the ram that had the two horns, which I saw standing before the river, and ran on him in the fury of his power.7.I saw him come close to the ram, and he was moved with anger against him, and struck the ram, and broke his two horns; and there was no power in the ram to stand before him; but he cast him down to the ground, and trampled on him; and there was none who could deliver the ram out of his hand.8.The male goat magnified himself exceedingly: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and instead of it there came up four notable horns toward the four winds of the sky.9.Out of one of them came forth a little horn, which grew exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the glorious land.10.It grew great, even to the army of the sky; and some of the army and of the stars it cast down to the ground, and trampled on them.11.Yes, it magnified itself, even to the prince of the army; and it took away from him the continual burnt offering, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.12.The army was given over to it together with the continual burnt offering through disobedience; and it cast down truth to the ground, and it did its pleasure and prospered.13.Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who spoke, How long shall be the vision concerning the continual burnt offering, and the disobedience that makes desolate, to give both the sanctuary and the army to be trodden under foot?14.He said to me, To two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.15.It happened, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, that I sought to understand it; and behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.16.I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.17.So he came near where I stood; and when he came, I was frightened, and fell on my face: but he said to me, Understand, son of man; for the vision belongs to the time of the end.18.Now as he was speaking with me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face toward the ground; but he touched me, and set me upright.19.He said, Behold, I will make you know what shall be in the latter time of the indignation; for it belongs to the appointed time of the end.20.The ram which you saw, that had the two horns, they are the kings of Media and Persia.21.The rough male goat is the king of Greece: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.22.As for that which was broken, in the place where four stood up, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not with his power.23.In the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have come to the full, a king of fierce face, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.24.His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper and do his pleasure; and he shall destroy the mighty ones and the holy people.25.Through his policy he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and in their security shall he destroy many: he shall also stand up against the prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.26.The vision of the evenings and mornings which has been told is true: but seal up the vision; for it belongs to many days to come.27.I, Daniel, fainted, and was sick certain days; then I rose up, and did the king’s business: and I wondered at the vision, but none understood it.Observations
8:1-8.The book returns to the Hebrew language in this chaper. The ram represents Medo-Persia (8:20), the horns the kings of the Medes, and the Persians. This corresponds to the second beast of chapter 7 (bear), and the chest and arms of silver of chapter 2. The ram conquered the Babylonian territories.
The goat is identified as the king of Greece (8:20). This corresponds to the four winged leopard of chapter 7 and the body of brass in chapter 2. The speed with which he conquered would point to Alexander, although he is not mentioned by name. After his death the kingdom split into four factions. Although trained in Greek democratic ideals, Alexander increasingly ruled as a despot, without a constitution which would have specified a succession plan, so the empire became divided. Lysimachus ruled in the north (Asia Minor), Cassander in the west (Greece), Seleucus, in the east (Syria), and Ptolemy in the south (Egypt).
8:9-14.
Out of Seleucid line came an evil little horn, which is different from that in chapter 7 (the Antichrist which arose from the ten horned fourth beast) but serves as a type of the Antichrist. History identifies him as Antiochus IV Epiphanes. In 168 BC he seized Jerusalem, erected a statue of Zeus in the Temple, and sacrificed a pig on the altar (1 Macc 1:10; 6:16). This was called the “abomination of desolation” (11:31). In 164 BC, Judas Maccabaeus, reclaimed and cleansed the Temple, commemorated as Hanukkah. The stars of heaven that he casts down are thought by some to be the children of Israel (Gen 15:5), and by others to be angelic forces. There are a number of interpretations of the 2,300 mornings and evenings, none of which is compelling.
8:15-26.
Gabriel gives Daniel an interpretation of the vision, particularly elaborating the little horn's rebellion against God. Daniel is told to seal up the vision since it is for future times, and both Daniel and we are left wondering.
Application
God rules over kings and kingdoms and uses them to judge His people who are not loyal to him; but He will then judge the wickedness of those He uses.
Prayer
God, thanks for reminding me that You raise and destroy nations at will, so the most important thing is to be rightly related to You, above any nation. Amen.
Daniel 9 Prayer and Prophecy of Seventy Sevens
1.In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans,2.in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years about which the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah the prophet, for the accomplishing of the desolations of Jerusalem, even seventy years.3.I set my face to the Lord God, to seek by prayer and petitions, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.4.I prayed to Yahweh my God, and made confession, and said, Oh, Lord, the great and dreadful God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness with those who love him and keep his commandments,5.we have sinned, and have dealt perversely, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even turning aside from your precepts and from your ordinances;6.neither have we listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.7.Lord, righteousness belongs to you, but to us confusion of face, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, who are near, and who are far off, through all the countries where you have driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against you.8.Lord, to us belongs confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you.9.To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgiveness; for we have rebelled against him;10.neither have we obeyed the voice of Yahweh our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.11.Yes, all Israel have transgressed your law, turning aside, that they should not obey your voice: therefore the curse and the oath written in the law of Moses the servant of God has been poured out on us; for we have sinned against him.12.He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us, and against our judges who judged us, by bringing on us a great evil; for under the whole sky, such has not been done as has been done to Jerusalem.13.As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil has come on us: yet have we not entreated the favour of Yahweh our God, that we should turn from our iniquities, and have discernment in your truth.14.Therefore has Yahweh watched over the evil, and brought it on us; for Yahweh our God is righteous in all his works which he does, and we have not obeyed his voice.15.Now, Lord our God, who has brought your people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have gotten yourself renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly.16.Lord, according to all your righteousness, let your anger and please let your wrath be turned away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a reproach to all who are around us.17.Now therefore, our God, listen to the prayer of your servant, and to his petitions, and cause your face to shine on your sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake.18.My God, turn your ear, and hear; open your eyes, and see our desolations, and the city which is called by your name: for we do not present our petitions before you for our righteousness, but for your great mercies’ sake.19.Lord, hear; Lord, forgive; Lord, listen and do; don’t defer, for your own sake, my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.20.While I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before Yahweh my God for the holy mountain of my God;21.yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening offering.22.He instructed me, and talked with me, and said, Daniel, I am now come forth to give you wisdom and understanding.23.At the beginning of your petitions the commandment went forth, and I have come to tell you; for you are greatly beloved: therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision.24.Seventy weeks are decreed on your people and on your holy city, to finish disobedience, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy.25.Know therefore and discern, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem to the Anointed one, the prince, shall be seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks: it shall be built again, with street and moat, even in troubled times.26.After the sixty-two weeks the Anointed one shall be cut off, and shall have nothing: and the people of the prince who shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and its end shall be with a flood, and even to the end shall be war; desolations are determined.27.He shall make a firm covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease; and on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate; and even to the full end, and that determined, shall wrath be poured out on the desolate.Observations
9:1-19.Daniel understands from Jeremiah's writing (25:11-12; 29:10) that Israel will be in captivity for seventy years. He confess the sins of his people in a great prayer that rehearses God's promises to curse, and Israel's refusal to hear and seek Him. Note that entreating His favor means turning from sin (9:13). He appeals to God on the basis of His name and glory, for the people have no standing of righteousness before Him.
9:20-27.
This is the famous prophecy of 70 weeks/sevens. See charts. Weeks correspond to periods of seven years. The purposes of the prophecy are given in verse 24: an end of sin, a reconciliation (literally “atonement”) for sin, a bringing in of everlasting righteousness, a completion of vision and prophecy, and anointing of the most holy place or person.
After 69 “weeks” (62+7= 69, times seven years per week = 483 years) from the issuing of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem to the Anointed One/Messiah would come to Jerusalem and be cut-off, and have nothing. The 69 weeks/sevens matches the exact date of the Palm Sunday entrance of Jesus on the colt to Jerusalem to present Himself as the Messiah, which was followed by His crucifixion (cut off) the following Friday (see chart).
After that the people/soldiers of a prince would destroy the city, and the prince would make a covenant for one “week” (the final seventieth week). He would break that covenant after three and a half years (middle of the seven year period), and abolish sacrifice, and like Antiochus, set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the consummation of God's predetermined judgment is poured out. This corresponds to the seven year Tribulation in the pre-millennial perspective.
Application
Sin causes separation, but God has a perfect solution and timetable for its implementation, therefore we can trust Him to bring about what's best, when it's best.
Prayer
God, You are never early or late in the fulfillment of Your promises; thanks that I can trust You to work out all the details of my life, just as I can trust You to save and deliver me from sin. Amen.
Digging Deeper
God in a nutshell: God rules over kingdoms and orders them according to His purposes to bless righteousness, and punish wickedness. He justly allows, uses and judges evil in His grand purposes. He has a perfect timetable to bring about deliverance for His people, and nothing takes Him by surprise. He acts for the sake of His righteousness, and name/glory on the behalf of His people.Us in a nutshell: When we find ourselves separated from God and experiencing discipline, the wisest thing to do is confess our sins, repent (change our mind about it), and cast ourselves upon God's mercy. Since God has a perfect timetable, we can trust Him to bring about what's best, when it's best, and not stress over the things outside our control, but focus on what He wants us to do (which He is perfectly capable of communicating if we're listening).