But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.

Daniel 12

But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days. Daniel 12:13

I continue my study of Daniel in conjunction with a disciple/small group study with my church's men's wake up call. This morning my focus is Daniel 12:5-13 as I lean on my commentary for this text.  The commentary starts by sharing how in v5, Daniel's vision pivots to describe how "two other angels join Gabriel on the bank of the Tigris" (see also Daniel 10:4). It then shares how Jesus is described starting in v6 as the "man in linen" (see also Daniel 10:5-6).  "Someone," presumably one of the angels who joined Gabriel, asks of Jesus in v6 "how long shall it be till the end of these wonders?"  Jesus responds but in a way that is incomplete; in v7 Jesus responds that the end of these wonders would be "for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished."  The commentary refers to this period as "[w]hen evil has done its worst and the hopes of the people of God seem shattered, then God will act." Daniel is still confused - as should be all believers - in v8.  In v9, Jesus continues to respond to Daniel by sharing that the fullness of Daniel's vision and a more complete understanding of what will occur at the end will remain a mystery and be "sealed." The commentary shares: "[t]he word is protected, and it will be preserved. Everything will happen as God intends at the right time. Be faithful. Trust him. Be patient...there are things we know and things we don’t know and can’t know because God has chosen not to reveal them to us. However, one thing we can know with certainty is how we are to live in light of the Son of Man’s coming at the time of the end." In v10-13 there is a call for believers to endure and persevere the suffering and persecution that will occur as we will be refined as the commentary shares "our Lord promises to bless those who endure and persevere through these difficult and troubling times of opposition and persecution...God says, but I still have work for you to do. When it is time for you to retire from my work, then I will bring you home. Then “you will rest” because you will be with me. Then, as promised in verse 2, you will “stand to receive your allotted inheritance” (v. 13; ESV, “allotted place”), your destiny, your reward. This will happen “at the end of the days.” So do your duty, make disciples, proclaim my Word, and endure. Something wonderful is on the horizon at the end." Persevere and endure!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are great and I am grateful for how You reveal Yourself through Your Word and the Holy Spirit - thank You Jesus for providing great words of comfort and assurance so that I can endure and persevere.  I am not deserving of how You reveal Yourself to me nor for my salvation.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”...After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.

Matthew 2

“Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”...After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. Matthew 2:2,9

This morning, my focus is DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, where John Piper seeks for believers to prepare our hearts for Christmas.  Today's Solid Joys daily devotion marks day 8 of Advent, and today Piper pauses on the Magi's visit to Jesus in the manger (see post yesterday) and how some become overly fascinated (i.e. how did it move and guide the Magi, how did is rest over the manger, etc.) with the star in v2 and 9.  He warns us that we should not become overly fascinated these details because, first of all, we do not know.  He shares that "[t]here are numerous efforts to explain it in terms of conjunctions of planets or comets or supernovas or miraculous lights. We just don’t know. And I want to exhort you not to become preoccupied — not to become fixated — on theories that are only tentative in the end and have very little spiritual significance."  He then goes on to extend this warning out to other natural phenomena in the Bible: "I risk a generalization to warn you: People who are exercised and preoccupied with such things, as how the star worked and how the Red Sea split and how the manna fell and how Jonah survived the fish and how the moon turns to blood, are generally people who have what I call a mentality for the marginal." For such matters, believers should focus on what is known to be true: "[the star] is guiding magi to the Son of God to worship him....There is only one Person in biblical thinking that can be behind that intentionality in the stars: God himself. So, the lesson is plain: God is guiding foreigners to Christ to worship him. And he is doing it by exerting global — probably even universal — influence and power to get it done."  This is the central theme of Piper's book Providence - which is the "all-encompassing reality of God’s purposeful sovereignty over all of creation and all of history." We should avoid getting caught up in how God works (He is a mystery - Isaiah 55:8).  Instead, believers should rest in knowing God is in control (Colossians 1) of all things, big and small, and He loves us.   

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who created the Heavens and Earth, everything in it, You are in all the details, and You love me and all Your children!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings and love.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For no word from God will ever fail.

Job 38-42

For no word from God will ever fail. Luke 1:37

Day 260 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with my study of Job as God takes His turn to address Job. Ultimately, Job responds, repents, as does his friends Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar.  Job prays to God and is not just simply restored, but God "blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part" (Job 42:12). 

While my commentary* acknowledges the mystery of of why Job suffers as he does, it aptly summarizes key takeaways for us: "[f]irst, although it is not always readily noticeable, the wicked will one day come to judgment. Second, the notion that suffering is always the result of sin is totally destroyed. And finally, man is in no position to justify his own situation by accusing God of injustice. As Job himself points out, these theological niceties are not likely to stop the tears of one who is languishing in captivity, or suffering persecution, or writhing in pain from a cruel disease. But they do challenge God’s people in exile to recognize with humility the sovereignty of God, and to trust that in his wisdom there truly is a time and purpose for all things, including adversity and suffering. Whether or not it is apparent, God is working in the life of each individual, as well as in the lives of nations, to bring his people into a closer relationship with him, and thereby into greater harmony within themselves and with each other."

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

Indeed, Isaiah similarly acknowledges that God's thoughts and ways are a mystery to us.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

Yet in the midst of mystery, God is a God of promises, of certainty, as He is Our Rock and our firm foundation. John Piper offers this post on how we can know the Gospel is true.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me, who is always with me, and One who is my firm foundation - my rock.  I know I can build my life and faith on You.  I am grateful for the faith You have provided.  I am not deserving.  My sin continues.  Harsh words, actions, pride, worry, etc. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help my love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.

Psalm 45, 47, 48, 87, 110

Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. Psalm 45:6

Day 128 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues my focus on 112 of David's psalms which my study has not already covered or will not cover through other daily devotions as part of a broader study within their historical context. This study of these 112 psalms groups the psalms into five major topical areas, and today I start a new grouping "Psalms of the Messiah".  My commentary* indicates that the while the authors of the eight psalms presented in this grouping "probably believe that the messianic psalms refer primarily to a great political king to come, later events will show that the Messiah comes as the spiritual leader of his people".

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) . Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

Today's psalms focus on majesty of the eternal King and the beauty of his kingdom, exaltation of the King of kings, the glory of Zion, the Messiah to be born in Zion, and that the Messiah will be priest and King.

The verse I am choosing to highlight today - Psalm 45:6 emphasizes the certainty of God and that His kingdom will last forever.  As I posted yesterday, I need certainty.  I place too much hope in earthly matters when I must place my hope most of all in God.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me, blesses me abundantly, and is trustworthy beyond what can be trusted in this world.  I am not deserving of such a God - I sin and fall down daily.  I neglect my time with You and am easily distracted.  I am grateful God for Your compassion and mercy but please forgive me.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and lover others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Psalm 2, 22, 27

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:13-14

Day 127 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues my focus on 112 of David's psalms which my study has not already covered or will not cover through other daily devotions as part of a broader study within their historical context. This study of these 112 psalms groups the psalms into five major topical areas, and today I start a new grouping "Psalms of the Messiah".  My commentary* indicates that the while the authors of the eight psalms presented in this grouping "probably believe that the messianic psalms refer primarily to a great political king to come, later events will show that the Messiah comes as the spiritual leader of his people".

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) . Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

Today's three psalms serve to warn earthly leaders about the coming Messiah, pray for God's presence and praise for the Messiah, and to praise God for confidence in the resurrection of the righteous.

 

Psalm 27 this morning gives me encouragement.  David encourages patience.  In light of my post yesterday, I needed this and this accompanying commentary from DesiringGod.com where Jon Bloom writes "David is declaring the source of his certainty while living in an uncertain world. And it is a beautiful, strengthening way to end his psalm." This morning I rest in the certainty of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, everything about You is true and trustworthy and in You I can place my hope and trust - thank You Jesus for saving me and for the peace it provides.  I love You.  Yet I know I am undeserving of such a gift.  I am grateful for Your compassion and mercy but my worry continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my worry towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.