September 7

Daniel 7:1-8:27, 5:1-31

God knows all truth, and the future, and sometimes chooses to reveal it to us. In Daniel 5, 7, and 8 God reveals the future, and thus his truth in three ways. First, Daniel sees four beasts and it takes the "son of man" (Daniel 7:13) (Jesus) to explain these are four kingdoms. The fourth kingdom will include a king that will oppose God and his people, but he will be overthrown. The second vision is of a ram and a goat. Daniel is told by Gabriel the vision is of multiple kingdoms that will be overthrown by one "fiercelooking king" (Daniel 8:23). He will then oppose the people of God but will ultimately "be destroyed, but not by human power" (Daniel 8:25). We will see similar imagery in Revelation. The third event is a hand writing four words on the wall of the palace in Babylon. Daniel, through God, interprets the writing as speaking of Babylon's demise at the hands of the Medes and Persians.

All these events required supernatural intervention to comprehend. God had to reveal their meaning. The same is true of our own study of the Scriptures. We need God's Spirit to help us understand. He is our guide and counselor, so we need to seek him. As we read, we need to ask God to help us understand, apply, and live out his truths. It is never enough to simply understand a passage, we need the Spirit to give us the power and wisdom to apply it to life.

Father God, may your Spirit help me to understand and live your truths today. Amen. 

How consistently do you invite the Holy Spirit to work through your time in the Bible?

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