The remaining lessons in our study will focus on chapters 10-12. When we overviewed Daniel, it became obvious that these 3 chapters are linked together. This week we'll be closely observing chapter 10...and looking for that connection to the other 2 chapters. These can be difficult chapters to understand...so we'll take it one step at a time.
In the midst of some challenging chapters, I hope we'll keep in mind something that is becoming very clear in our study of Daniel. One of the phrases used to describe Daniel is 'highly esteemed'. 'Highly esteemed' can be translated: precious, greatly loved. God cared enough to reach out over and over again and share knowledge with this man. Today we hold in our hands the very words God shared with Daniel....because He wanted it preserved. Do you know what I think that means? You are precious to Him as well....and He wants you to know these same truths.
Listen to what Peter says about prophecy: But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. (1 Pet 1:20-21) When you sit down to study chapter 10 this week, remember that God moved Daniel to write these words...and as a result, you and I can read it today! We're not just 'doing Bible study'....God Himself is communicating with us!
What Daniel experienced in chapter 10 left him speechless and weak. But, God's messenger encouraged him, strengthened him, and then began to explain the message God wanted him to hear. We may feel a bit weak at the knees, too, as we dive into these chapters! But, let's keep in mind that God Almighty is talking to us....because He loves us! This is all about knowing Him!
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The Bible is the truth and perfect. There are no mistakes in it (if you find one let me know). Even though the writers of the Bible are imperfect like me-God has spoken to them through the Holy Spirit. When I have a problem and seek God's will the answer is ALWAYS the right thing to do. Thank you for the reinforcement of
ReplyDelete1 Pet 1:20-21.
"Why is God different in the OT than He is in the NT?" At the very heart of this lies a misunderstanding of what both the OT & NT reveal about the nature of God. “The God of the OT is a God of wrath while the God of the NT is a God of love.” The fact the Bible is God’s progressive revelation of Himself to us through history and His relationship with people throughout history might contribute
ReplyDeleteto misconceptions about what God is like in the OT as compared to the NT. However, if you read both the Old & NTs, it becomes evident that God is not different from one to another and that God’s wrath & love are revealed in both.
For example, throughout the OT, God is declared to be “compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,” (Ex 34:6;Num 14:18;Deu 4:31; Neh 9:17; Psalm 86:5, 15; 108:4; 145:8; Joel 2:13). Yet in the NT, God’s loving-kindness and mercy are manifested even more fully through the fact that “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Throughout the OT, we also see God dealing with Israel the same way a loving father deals with a child. When they willfully sinned against Him and began to worship idols, God would punish them. Yet, each time He would deliver them once they had repented of their idolatry. This is much the same way God deals with Christians in the NT. Example, Heb 12:6 says “the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”
In a similar way, throughout the OT we see God’s judgment and wrath poured out on sin. Likewise, in the NT we see that the wrath of God is still “being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness” (Romans 1:18). So, clearly, God is no different in the OT than He is in the NT. God by His very
nature is unchanging. While we might see one aspect of His nature revealed in certain passages of Scripture more than other aspects, God Himself does not change.
Because of God’s righteous and holy character, all sin—past, present, and future—must be judged. Yet God in His infinite love has provided a payment for sin and a way of reconciliation so that sinful man can escape His wrath. We see this wonderful truth in verses like 1 John 4:10: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” In the Old Testament, God provided a sacrificial system whereby atonement could be made for sin. However, this sacrificial system was only temporary and merely looked forward
to the coming of Jesus Christ who would die on the cross to make a complete substitutionary atonement for sin. The Savior who was promised in the OT is fully revealed in the NT. Only envisioned in the OT, the ultimate expression of God’s love, the sending of His Son Jesus Christ, is revealed in all its glory in the NT. Both the Old and the New Testaments were given “to make us wise unto salvation” (2 Timothy 3:15).
When we study the Testaments closely, it is evident that God “does not change like
shifting shadows” (James 1:17).
Note: The comment above are NOT my words, but from Knowing God by J.I. Packer. I couldn't site the reference on the original post because of character restraits.
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