Scripture:
Daniel 9:24-27
Sat, 16 September 2023

A Historical Understanding of Daniel 9:24-27

Observation:

What can you learn about God from the text?

Deeper Reflection
Verses 24 to 27 are “a schematic sketch of history to come, not a detailed chronology within which we can dogmatically assign dates, persons and events,” and “even though the details may be hazy or open to differing plausible theories, there is enough overall shape to the scheme to help us see” “the main point of the text”28 .“Seven weeks”: When we fail God, even as unfaithful as Israel, such that God had to pour out on them His ultimate covenant curse – exile (Dan 9:11-12), God remains faithful. He will restore and rebuild us as He has promised in His “decree” (v.25; cf. Jer 30:18). “Sixty-two weeks”: Like Israel, having being restored and rebuilt, we will fail again. We see this up-and-down and up-and-down pattern in post-exilic Israel: Restoration (Ezr 1-8) followed by transgression (Ezr 9-10); and restoration (Neh 1-12) followed by transgression (Neh 13). Biblical discipleship is a redemptive three steps forward, two step back reality. This redemptive discipleship period consists of “times of distress” (v.25). “One week”: As history progresses, repeated terrible times and even climactic challenges lay ahead in the distant future for God’s people.29However, in all that happen in the seven weeks, sixty-two weeks and one week periods, God is at work in fulfilling His promises in verse 24, within the divinely “decreed” “seventy weeks” – “the complete and perfect time that God determines”30 . Note that all that happen are “decreed” by God (vv.24, 26, 27) and will have an “end” (vv.24, 26). So, with this prophetic-theological vision, we walk with God faithfully, watching vigilantly and waiting patiently with certainty and confidence.
28 Christopher J. H. Wright, 209-10 29 Christopher J. H. Wright, 210 30 Gordon Wong, 134
Application:

What aspect of God in the text is relevant to me in my discipleship journey?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for Church Board: To rest securely in the faithful sovereign God during tumultuous times
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self
 

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 10: 4-19
Sat, 30 September 2023

Strengthened by the Divine Touch

Observation:

What is the significance of the repetition of the terms “strength” and
“strengthen” in Daniel’s encounter with God (vv.8, 16, 17, 18, 19)?

Deeper Reflection
When God sent His Word to Daniel in a vision, it was he “alone saw” the “great vision” (vv.7-8). It was a special privilege of divine sovereign grace. The vision was also a vision of God’s holiness and glory manifested in the awesome appearance of a heavenly being (vv.5-6). Daniel was so utterly overwhelmed by the divine vision, that “no strength was left in me” (v.8). The description, “no strength”, is emphatically repeated four times in Daniel’s encounter with God (vv.8, 16, 17). We may not experience such an utterly overwhelming encounter with God like Daniel’s, but we do experience “no strength was left in me” in utterly overwhelming adversities like being “afflicted in every way” (2 Cor 1:8; 4:8-9).When we have “no strength”, we need the divine touch. God responded to Daniel’s fourfold “no strength” with a threefold divine touch (vv.10, 16, 18): He “touched me again and strengthened me”. When we are so greatly afflicted, that we feel no strength is left in us, and yet we persevere in faithfulness, it is because we are being “strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of great endurance and patience” (Col 1:11). Note the intensity and immensity of this divine power at work in us! This is the divine touch of “the surpassing greatness of power” from God (2 Cor 4:7-9). But we feel the physical and emotional pains more than the Spiritual power. The greater is our suffering, the greater will be the strength from God in us, and the greater will be our steadfastness in God.
Application:

What is my experience of the Word of God and spiritual warfare like in my
discipleship journey?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for Church Board: To know God’s power that is perfected in weaknesses
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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