Daniel 7 (7)

Introduction
The book of Daniel can be likened to a telescoping spyglass, like you can see in Captain Billy Bones’ hands in N. C. Wyeth’s famous illustrationfrom Treasure Island. Daniel is pointed at God’s sovereign rule over all things – His Kingdom. As we keep looking through the glass, and pulling out each section – chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 – the image we’re focusing on becomes increasingly clear. And what we’re seeing is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before.

Read Psalm 72.

Read and Meditate on Daniel 7.

Think it Through
1.  How can you see that Daniel 7 is an extending and elaborating of Daniel 2.31-45? Taking these two passages together, what do we learn about God’s Kingdom? Factoring in chapters 3-6, how would you describe the relationship between God’s Kingdom and the kingdoms of the world? What seems to be the place of the saints – believers like you and me – in that Kingdom?

2.  As we see consistently throughout Daniel 1-7, the exertion of God’s sovereign rule and the coming of His Kingdom have ramifications for things on earth. Explain. According to Daniel, when should we expect to begin seeing those ramifications? So, when we pray Matthew 6.10, and when we take Matthew 6.33 as the defining priority of our lives, what are we praying for and seeking? Is this the way you organize your life?

Meditate
“The divine word says that our God is ‘a consuming fire’ and that ‘he draws rivers of fire before him’; no, that he even enters in as ‘a refiner’s fire and as a fuller’s herb,’ to purify his own people. But when he is said to be a ‘consuming fire,’ we inquire what are the things that are appropriate to be consumed by God. And we assert that they are wickedness and the works that result from it and that, being figuratively called ‘wood, hay, stubble,’ God consumes as a fire.” Origen of Alexandria (185-254AD)

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and thatevery tongue should confess that Jesus Christ isLord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2.9-11

You are Lord, Lord Jesus, and You rule all things according to Your good pleasure. Let me know Your good pleasure at work in me today as I submit to Your rule and…

Pray 107
Give thanks for the many ways God’s sovereign grace reaches lost sinners and brings them into His Kingdom and pleasure. Rehearse your own testimony before the Lord with thanksgiving.

Psalm 107 (Faithfulness: Great is Thy Faithfulness)
Lord, You are good, we give thanks and we praise You!
Your steadfast love will forever endure.
Let the redeemed, who from trouble You rescue,
Gather and say that Your mercy is sure!
Refrain vv. 1-3
  Lord, for Your wondrous works, and for Your steadfast love,
  We give You thanks, we exalt Your great Name!
  We who from east and west, north and south gather,
  Boldly redemption in Christ we proclaim!

Wand’ring in deserts, no city, no dwelling,
Hungry and thirsty and faint in our soul –
Lord, when we cried, all our misery telling,
You brought us home and in grace made us whole!
Refrain

Though we in darkness of death and affliction,
Pris’ners of sin and rebellion were bound;
Though we Your Word denied, You brought conviction,
Crying to You we deliverance have found!
Refrain

Foolish and sinful, afflicted and dying,
All of our ways with iniquity fraught –
You hear our tears, our laments, and our crying,
You sent Your Word and to us mercy brought!
Refrain

You make the desert a river o’erflowing;
You make a wasted life fruitful and strong!
You bless the hungry with fields for the sowing;
Bless and increase us who to You belong!
Refrain

When we are low, are oppressed and in sorrow,
You pour contempt on our fierce, angry foes.
We will rejoice at the hope of tomorrow:
He shall be wise who Your steadfast love knows!
Refrain

T. M Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press).