THE LORD SPOKE (December 05)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Daniel 9-10

Daniel’s prayer (Dan. 9:4-19) was generated from the Word of God and governed by the will of God.

It was generated by the Word of God as he was studying Jeremiah’s prophecy (9:2) and Moses’ Law (9:11,13). Jeremiah had written 50+ years earlier and Moses 900+ years. By comparing Scripture with Scripture, Daniel had come to some clear insights and some strong convictions. His prayer is characterized by humility (9:3), worship (9:4), confession (9:5-15; notice the frequent use of “we”), and petition (9:16-19). That his prayer was governed by the will of God is seen in 9:3 where he tells us that he “turned to the Lord God” to plead Israel’s case. He recognizes that her own sin had brought about the current disaster (9:12) in fulfillment of God’s word but he reminds God of His “covenant of love” (9:4) and then pleads for God’s mercy (9:18). Daniel’s prayer begins with a right perspective, is saturated with reverent praise, and concludes with a righteous petition - that God’s honor would be restored in Jerusalem (9:16).

What follows is one of the greatest dispensational prophecies of the entire Bible. It is replete with a timeline that invites you to draw it out in chart form, with details of beginning and ending events for each phase, with covenants and identifiable people (s) to whom they apply, even with a gap that awaits a specific event to restart the prophetic clock ticking. Those who say it has already been fulfilled, foolishly ignore Christ’s own reference to this yet-future prophecy (Mat. 24:15). Those who try to “redefine” (and explain away) every messianic prophecy of the Old Testament will have a hard time squirming out of this one since it specifically mentions Messiah, “the Anointed One” (9:26). Those who want to lump together all the end time events into one general resurrection and amorphous return of the Lord will have to bury their heads a little deeper in the sand and ignore (again) the clear words of Scripture.

Does prophecy confuse you? It shouldn’t. Its purpose is to reveal. Try a little harder and dig a little deeper. One of the Holy Spirit’s main jobs is to “guide you into all truth”, particularly with regard to “what is yet to come” (Jn. 16:13). The result will be that, like Daniel (10:18,19), you will be strengthened and encouraged. Yes, he was initially left speechless and feeling helpless (10:15-16). It can take your breath away (10:17). But when we seek God’s help in the spirit and with the dedication of Daniel, He will answer our prayers (9:23; 10:12).


Proverbs 5

When it comes to the temptations of sexual sin, we need all the help we can get and this chapter and the next (Prov. 5 & 6) provides it.

1. To start with, we must pay attention to wisdom (Prov. 5:1-2). That begins right here with this book. Read Proverbs regularly until you begin to think God’s thoughts. If you “bind them on your heart” they will guide you, watch over you, and speak continuously to you (Prov. 6:21-22).
2. Don’t listen to the world’s advice and philosophy in this area (Prov. 5:3-4). It “drips honey” but is “bitter as gall”. It presents itself as smooth but it will cut you deeply and then leave you alone and bleeding. In contrast, “the corrections of discipline” received from Scripture will keep you from sin and are the way to know and experience real life (Prov. 6:23).
3. Keep out of those paths (Prov. 5:5-6). Just don’t go there! It’s a crooked trail and doesn’t lead anywhere good. Don’t let yourself go that direction - it will destroy you. In the end it will reduce you to a worthless crust of bread - not even the birds will pick at it (Prov. 6:26).
4. Think carefully of how much you’ll lose (Prov. 5:7-14). You’ll come to the end of your life bankrupt. Your wealth will be gone, your health will be broken, and your reputation will be worthless. Chances are better than good that you’ll have an STD to go with it. It’s a fire and it will burn you - be sure of it (Prov. 6:27-29).
5. Be content with what God has given you (Prov. 5:15-20). In fact, develop and delight in that. It’s pure and properly measured out exactly right for you. It will bring deep and lasting satisfaction if you will cultivate it as God intended. It’s all the difference between lust and love (Prov. 6:32).
6. Remember always that God is watching you (Prov. 5:21-23). He loves you and cares deeply that you follow His way. Don’t let sin trap you, bind you, and destroy you. Keep your Fathers commands (Prov. 6:20).

To do otherwise is “a great folly”!