Lesson for March 17, 2013: Gabriel Interprets Daniel’s Vision

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD.
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By Sam E. Stone
The type of prophecies that Daniel gave to the Jews are frequently called apocalyptic. Using a great deal of symbolic language and unusual pictures of animals and people, his messages—like those in Revelation—are often difficult to interpret. In today’s lesson we have a great advantage: God’s messenger explains what the vision means! The interpretation points to a future time, not the Babylonian Empire with which Daniel and his people were dealing when he wrote.

Tremper Longman III notes, “The connection of Daniel 8 with chapter 7 is obvious. The first verse associates the two by introducing the second vision as occurring after the one already given. It comes from approximately the same time period (Belshazzar’s third year). Both visions compare the leaders to animals, showing hostility between the earthly kingdoms and the divine realm.”

Meeting the Interpreter
Daniel 8:1, 15-19
In this chapter the author reverts to the Hebrew language. (Daniel had used Aramaic in 2:4-7:28.) James E. Smith observes, “This change was appropriate because from this point on God revealed to Daniel what would happen to his people in the more immediate future.” Daniel had felt “deeply troubled” by what he had seen (7:15, 28). During this time he continued to pray to the Lord.

In the vision he saw himself in the citadel of Susa, in the province of Elam, beside the Ulai Canal. This city later became one of the chief centers of the Persian Empire. Verses 3-14 record the vision itself. Our printed text explains its meaning. Daniel heard a man’s voice from the Ulai call, “Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of the vision.” Gabriel is the first angel to be named in the Bible. Later he appears in the New Testament to announce the great acts of redemption soon to take place (Luke 1:19, 26).

Daniel fell prostrate on the ground. Gabriel asked if he understood this vision. Then he raised Daniel to his feet and declared, “I am going to tell you what will happen later . . . because the vision concerns the appointed time of the end.”

Receiving the Interpretation
Daniel 8:20-26
Gabriel began to explain the vision to Daniel. The two-horned ram . . . represents the kings of Media and Persia. Two kingdoms combined into one when Cyrus conquered the Medes, took over their territory, and proclaimed himself king of Persia (modern Iran). He ruled over the Jews, later allowing them to return to their homeland and simply pay tribute to him.

This arrangement lasted for some time. Then Alexander the Great of Greece (the “large horn” or the “first king” in the vision) came into power, conquered the Persians, and ruled over Palestine. He was born about 194 years after Daniel’s vision. Next the vision shows four horns replacing the one that was broken off. When Alexander died at age 33 in 323 BC, his kingdom was eventually divided among four of his generals (called the Diadochi). No single one of them could match the power he had.

Next on the scene appears a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue. Antiochus IV (known as Epiphanes) started out small and grew large through his military success, expanding his influence into Egypt, Persia, Parthia, and Armenia, in addition to Palestine.

He is described as completely wicked. He could not be destroyed by human power, but he will be unable to stand against the Prince of princes (God). In the second century before Christ, the Lord allowed him to use his might and power to punish the Jews, because of their rebellion against God (Daniel 8:23). For a long period he will succeed in whatever he does and destroy those who are mighty, the holy people. He will be destroyed eventually, but not by human power.

“The angelic interpreter reaffirms the time frame of the suffering and its end,” points out Longman. The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true, but seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future. “Even in historical retrospect we cannot be dogmatic about the meaning of the 2,300 evenings and mornings (v. 14).

The number is given not so much so that those who read Daniel’s sixth-century prognostications in the second century could compute when the suffering would stop as much as to assure them that God had things under control.”

Lesson for March 17, 2013: Gabriel Interprets Daniel’s Vision

Daniel 8

King James Version (KJV)

8 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first.

 

² And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai.

³ Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.

⁴ I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.

⁵ And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.

⁶ And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power.

⁷ And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.

⁸ Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.

⁹ And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.

¹⁰ And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.

¹¹ Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of the sanctuary was cast down.

¹² And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.

¹³ Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?

¹⁴ And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

¹⁵ And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.

¹⁶ And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.

¹⁷ So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.

¹⁸ Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright.

¹⁹ And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be.

²⁰ The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.

²¹ And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.

²² Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.

²³ And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.

²⁴ And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.

²⁵ And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

²⁶ And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.

²⁷ And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.

Announcement: The Easter Play!

Announcement: The Easter Play!  

 

The play for the adults is a non speaking play and we will only have to act out the narration.  The youth play is very simple, plus they youth will have recitations.  

 

On Sunday, the youth will receive their recitations. 

 

This is the first of 4 we want to put on in 2013 - Remember St. Augusta Play Members, you are on CONTRACT!   :-)

The rehearsal dates will be as follows:
Thurs. 3/14  @ 6:30 p. .m.
Sat. 3/16 @ 10 a.m.
Tues. 3/18 @ 6:30 p.m.
Thurs. 3/21 @ 6:30 p.m.

Lesson for March 10, 2013: Daniel’s Prayer (Daniel 9)

Daniel 9:4-17

King James Version (KJV)

⁴ And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;
⁵ We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:
⁶ Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.
⁷ O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.
⁸ O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.
⁹ To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;
¹⁰ Neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.
¹¹ Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.
¹² And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.
¹³ As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth.
¹⁴ Therefore hath the Lord watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice.
¹⁵ And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly.
¹⁶ O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us.
¹⁷ Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake.

This treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson is written by Sam E. Stone, former editor of CHRISTIAN STANDARD.

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By Sam E. Stone

“The events of Daniel 9 were triggered by the reading of Scripture,” explains James E. Smith. “Daniel had access to a collection of prophetic literature which included the scroll of Jeremiah. He noted in Jeremiah 25:11 that the desolations of Jerusalem were to end after the termination of the seventy years of Babylonian world rule.”

This is the background for Daniel’s prayer that we study today. It is surely one of the most heartfelt pleas to God found anywhere in the Bible. Daniel knew well that the captivity came because of the disobedience of his people. He admits this freely. They needed to repent and receive God’s mercy.

When God brought the Israelites back into the promised land from their Egyptian bondage, he told them that their well-being depended upon their obedience to his law. If they proved unfaithful, they would be given into the hands of their enemies (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). That happened. But God had also assured them that if they would repent and return to him again, he would restore them (Deuteronomy 30:1-10). It is this assurance that prompted Daniel to pray for his people.

Confession
Daniel 9:4-6
When Daniel came before the Lord, he was well aware of what God had already done for his people. He had prompted Cyrus to issue a decree in favor of the Jews (Ezra 1). Although the Jews themselves were responsible for the exile, even so God’s mercy had not changed. None could say that God had not kept his covenant of love with those who . . . keep his commandments. The Jews had brought the punishment of captivity on themselves. We have been wicked and have rebelled, Daniel admitted.

God had permitted the godless Babylonians to conquer the Jews as punishment for their turning away(his) servants the prophets to warn the people. from his commands. He had warned them about this long before (Deuteronomy 28:1-14; 64-68). Daniel lived centuries after those words were written, when Israel was suffering for having broken the covenant. They experienced the curses connected with disobedience. Even though this happened, God used

Realization
Daniel 9:7-14
Over and over Daniel reminded the people of their wrongdoing—using words like shame, unfaithfulness, rebellion, and sin. Moreover, he is careful to include everyone in his confession of the nation’s sin. It involved Jerusalem, as well as both Judah and Israel. It included all of the groups within the land—we and our kings, our princes, and our ancestors. No one could claim that he or she was innocent.

Over the years God had sent his prophets faithfully and frequently in his continuing effort to get the nation to repent and return to him. Daniel prayed that the captivity not be prolonged, but that God grant mercy now to the Jews. Paul Butler wrote, “That Daniel was in earnest is indicated by the fact that he fasted and humbled himself in sackcloth and ashes—the customary attire for a Jew who wished to subdue the flesh in order to concentrate on the spiritual.”

It is as if Daniel told God, “You are right and we are wrong!” Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth. Even when God executes judgment on his disobedient children, he is completely in the right. The Lord our God is righteous in everything he does. The prophets spoke truth when they faithfully delivered their messages of warning and called for repentance. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and many others were sent by God, but still the people would not listen.

Appeal
Daniel 9:17
The printed text does not include vv. 15 and 16. There Daniel asked God, “In keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem.” He added, Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. His prayer continues through v. 19, but v. 17 summarizes his final appeal. The nations have profaned the Lord’s name, his city of Jerusalem, his temple, and his people (see Ezekiel 36:21-23). Daniel prayed in effect, “Don’t let them tarnish your name, God! Not for the sake of the people, but for your sake, God, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary.”

Daniel’s Vision of Change

Matthew Henry Commentary /Daniel.7.1-Dan.7.28