Daniel 8 (1)

Introduction
Again, we are pushed back before Daniel 5, two years following the vision of Daniel 7, to a new and enlarged vision of events to come. The more clearly these visions are related, the more terrible they become. And the more our understanding of the greatness and power and majesty of God becomes clear, the more He should be magnified.

Review Daniel 6.

Read Daniel 8.1-4, 20.

Think it Through
1.  The kingdom of the Medes and Persians was likened to a bear in Daniel’s earlier vision (Dan. 7.5). Now it is a ram with two horns. What do the two horns represent? One horn was higher than the other, like one side of the bear was higher. This probably represents the Persians, who were the dominant power in the Medo-Persian Empire. How is this ram’s power depicted in Daniel’s vision? What do you suppose it would have been like to live in those times?

2.  In his vision, Daniel experienced a change of venue from his days serving the kings of Babylon. He is in Susa, the capital of the Persian Empire (modern Shush in Iran). How do you suppose Daniel interpreted this vision as applying to himself? Daniel is very much immersed in the world of Babylonian politics, life, and culture. But he remains a man to whom God opens the mysteries of His divine revelation. What does it take to be such a person? Should we aspire to be like Daniel, fully engaged with our times, but living by the revelation of God? Explain.

Meditate
“He signifies Darius the Persian by saying ‘it had two horns,’ as Darius ruled the Medes and the Persians. ‘Both horns were long, but one was longer than the other’: this is referred to the Persians, whose power was superior to that of the Medes and rose to a higher level. ‘And the longer one came up second’: this is said because the Persians, after the Medes, would have obtained the rule over the world.” Ephrem the Syrian (306-373 AD)

I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet Icertainly didnot meanwith the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person. 1 Corinthians 5.9-11

Heavenly Father, again today I will go out into the world and all its corruption and lies. Speak to me throughout this day, O Lord, that I might…

Pray Psalm 2.1-3.
Pray for the nations of the world, especially for people who despise God, reject His Word, and refuse to submit to them. Pray for any people like this you expect to see today.

Psalm 2.1-3 (Agincourt: O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High!)
Why do the nations vainly rage,
Conspiring together from age to age?
Earth’s kings and all of their counselors stand
Against the Lord and His Right Hand:

“Now let us cast His yoke below,
His Kingdom authority overthrow!
Throw off His Law, reject His Word;
No more be governed by this Lord!”

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, 2006.