Daniel 11
COMMENTARY:
: 27 And both these kings’ hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall beat the time appointed. (4150 “time appointed” [mow‘ed] means season, appointed place, meeting, fixed day, space of time, or unit of time.)
DEVOTION: In the book of Ecclesiastes we find that there is a time for everything under the sun. God has a plan and is working HIS plan.
The LORD sits outside of time. HE is eternal. HE knows the beginning from the end. HE knows nothing about being fixed in time. HE knows that we are fixed in time. There is a time for us to be born and a time for us to die. Those who are followers of the LORD Jesus Christ will spend eternity with HIM. Those who reject Jesus Christ will spend eternity in the lake of fire with the devil and his angels.
This chapter is a chapter of history. Daniel had a vision of the near future after his death. There were other visions that informed him concerning the future kingdoms after Babylon. He knew about Persia, Greece and Rome. These three kingdoms are described more fully in this chapter to give us an introduction to a future time when the children of Israel were going to be living with the coming of the Antichrist.
Each kingdom has their appointed fixed day in power. This chapter shows us that all rulers seem to give into a power struggle to be supreme. They want to be looked upon as gods. They will never be the God of the universe.
Those who want more power will use any method to gain it. Here we find that they speak lies to get more power. They do mischief to gain more power but it is to no avail. The one who puts leaders in place also takes them down. HE is the only one with true power. HE is the creator of this world.
CHALLENGE: Realize that the LORD continues to repeat HIMSELF through the prophets to inform us that HE has a appointed season for everything in HIS plan. HE is never taken by surprise. HE knows history before the foundation of the world
: 32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall be corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.(2514 “flatteries” [chalaqqah] means smoothness of tongue, fine promises, or a kind of speech which is an illegitimate form of praise.)
DEVOTION: An angel is giving Daniel what is recorded in the Scripture of truth. Many think that Daniel could not have written this chapter because it happened after he was dead. The LORD knows the future and relayed it to him. One more proof that the LORD is Sovereign in not only the past but also the future. HE knows the beginning from the end.
Daniel is given an insight into the future battles that are going to affect the land of Israel. There is the coming kingdom of Greece that will be divided after the death of Alexander the Great into four kingdoms. The two kingdoms emphasized here are the Ptolemies and Seleucids kingdoms. They were in control of Syria, Mesopotamia, and Egypt. The Ptolemies controlled Egypt, which was the southern kingdom. The Seleucids controlled Syria and Mesopotamia, which are the northern kingdoms. These were the two kingdoms fighting with one another for power until the Roman Empire came along.
There are going to be rulers that will make promises to the children of Israel but not going to keep them. There are going to be times when rulers use their smoothness of tongue to get everyone to think that they are bringing peace but are really just waiting for an opportunity to break any promise they make. The last part of the chapter deals with the time appointed in the future when the Antichrist was going to be promising those who were willing to not live under the covenant of God that he would reward them with many precious things. This is going to happen during the seventieth week of Daniel. It is the Tribulation time period of the book of Revelation.
This use of smoothness of tongue happens in churches today as well. There are people who say that they are going to support the church but don’t. There are people who say they are going to serve in the church but don’t. There are people who say the sermon is great but they really don’t believe it. There are people who are just spreading the Word for their own personal gain. There are people who deny the Word of God who will trick those who think they are following the LORD into doing things that are against the Word of God.
We find that it is easy to lie to one another. We find it easy to say one thing and do another. That is not what the LORD wants in HIS people. HE wants them to be truthful to one another. HE is truthful to Daniel. Are we being truthful to our pastors, missionaries and fellow believers? When we say we are going to support them – do we? When we say we are going to pray for them – do we? Only each one of us can answer that question for ourselves. God wants us to be honest with one another.
CHALLENGE: Watch your speech patterns. Power is not gained by lies. Honesty of tongue is important to those who are followers of the LORD.
: 36 “The king will do as he pleases, exalting himself and claiming to be greater than every god…. (NLT)
Those in positions of leadership need to be very careful regarding their attitude. There are teachers who think they are all it and a piece of cheese. They think they are always right. They think that there is no power greater them themselves.
We will have people who come into our lives who think that they are better than you. They will tell you so. They will act like you are dumb. They will give you a hard time about giving your option on things.
Watch out for those types of people. You should not follow their example. We are here as believers to help one another. This means that we treat each other nice. It means that we believe that there is a God who gives us instruction through HIS Word the Bible.
Remember there is only one True God. HE records HIS truths in the Word of God called the Bible. HIS claims are true.
Anyone who claims they are always right is not telling the truth. These claims are false. Obey your parents. Obey proper teachers. Obey the LORD first.
:36 “Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done. (NKJV) (2782 “determined” [charats] means to fit, to be decide with authority, decide, to bring to a point, decree, or to be alert.)
DEVOTION: As a believer we are not to use the LORD’S name in vain. We are not to use HIS name in anything or anywhere except in worship. Too often we see the world’s example of the use of the name of God and follow them instead of the Word of God.
Blasphemies are sins. If we use God’s name in vain we are sinning. We are setting a bad example for others. We are belittling the God we say that we worship and love.
It might cause some others to like us more because we use the same language as they do but in the end it only hurts you and your testimony for the LORD. If you are a parent your children are listening to every word you say and will want to say it too. This is cause each generation to follow your example of sin.
Watch what comes out of your mouth. It should only be words of praise when the LORD’S name is mentioned.
If this has been a habit in your present or past please correct it before it causes you more harm than it has caused already.
God is going to judge this king in the future and HIS judgment will cast this king into everlasting punishment.
CHALLENGE: Exalt only the LORD in your life and HE will honor your statements.
: 37 Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. (1431 “magnify” [gadal] means to enlarge beyond bounds or the truth, become great, to be greatly valued, become important, boast of oneself, or to do great things.)
DEVOTION: Here we have a selfish and willful person who is a good orator and who will arrogantly exalt himself. He has his own religion which does not include the God of the Bible. He will be defeated when the LORD returns with HIS army but in the mean time he will exalt himself above all.
There are many times in history that we find individuals who are like this one but not as great as this one. He will be defeated by the LORD Jesus Christ when HE returns at the end of the Tribulation time period.
Too often even today we find individuals who think that they are greater than God. They think that they are in control but find out that the LORD is still on the throne.
We have to remember that whatever is happening in our lifetime is not during this time period. We are living in evil times but they will be worse during this time period. We should be witnessing to all those we love before we see this time period coming.
Too often believers think they have plenty of time to witness to those we love but our time is short even now.
Many today are not regarding the God of the Old Testament or the New Testament. They think they can live as they please and there with be no consequences. The Bible tells us different.
CHALLENGE: Are we witnessing to the ones we love even now? The time period for the return of the LORD is not known but we can see the signs coming together in our world. Even if we don’t live until the end times, we have to be witness right now to those we love.
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