Daniel 8 (7)

Introduction
Daniel is an important book for many reasons. Among these is what we can learn from it about the giving of divine revelation, and of our responsibility to whom that revelation is given. As we see from Daniel, God does not reveal His mysteries all at once; rather, He layers His revelation for His people, subsequent insights, visions, and teachings building on what has gone before. And, while it pleases Him for His people to gain a measure of understanding into what He reveals, He does not intend that we should understand it completely. Just enough so that we respond as we should.

Review Daniel 2.31-45 and Daniel 7.1-28.

Read and Meditate on Daniel 8.

Think it Through
1.  How did Daniel’s understanding of history grow through these three visions of coming kingdoms? Still, at the end of chapter 8, he did not understand all that he had seen, nor did anyone else. Why not? These revelations left Daniel “troubled” (Dan. 7.28), so that he “fainted and was sick for days” (Dan. 8.27). Should he not have been rejoicing, especially at what he saw in chapter 7? Why was he so upset? Meditate on Revelation 10.8-11. How does Daniel’s experience foreshadow John’s? Which aspects of the Lord’s revelation should trouble and sicken us? Which should be sweet, and cause us to rejoice? What if our reading of Scripture is producing neither of these results in us?

2.  Notice that while Daniel was “astonished” by the revelation of God, and even sickened for days, his primary response was to return to his calling and carry on in his work. We know from chapter 6 – which chronologically comes after chapters 7 and 8, remember – that Daniel was emboldened by these visions to resist Darius’ unjust order and continue serving the Lord. How should the revelation God opens to us each day affect our daily lives and work? Meditate on 1 Corinthians 2.12, 13. How does the Spirit do this comparing role in your time with the Lord and His Word?

Meditate
“Some spiritual truths are unclear and need to be interpreted, but this can be done only by comparing them with other spiritual things. For example, when I say that Christ rose again, I compare this to the deliverance of Jonah from the belly of the whale. And when I say that he was born of a virgin, I compare this to the miraculous childbearing of barren women like Sarah, Rebekah and so on.” John Chrysostom (344-407AD)

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 1 Corinthians 2.12, 13

O Lord, layer Your Word into my soul! Help me to be faithful each day to read and search Your Word, and then to…

Pray Psalm 2
Give thanks and praise to God for the sovereign rule of King Jesus, for the Gospel of the Kingdom, and for the privilege of being sent by Him to live and proclaim the Good News of repentance and faith. To whom will God send you today?

Psalm 2.1-12 (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!”

The Lord in heaven laughs in wrath
At all who embark on this cursèd path.
His angry Word to them is plain:
“Yet shall My King in Zion reign!”

Proclaim the message far and wide,
That God has exalted the Crucified!
From heav’n He sent us His only Son,
Who has for us salvation won!

To Christ the Lord be given all
Who humbly embrace Him and on Him call.
Be wise, be warned: His judgment comes
To break the prideful, sinful ones.

Rejoice with fear in Jesus’ grace,
And worship before His exalted face!
Beware His anger and judgment grim:
How blessed are all who rest in Him!

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).