Daniel Part 7: Not Just Forgiven but Victorious

Daniel Part 7 – Not Just Forgiven, but Victorious

In this teaching on the last two chapters of Daniel we are taken on a journey through History and shown how what was relevant to Daniel, was relevant to the people who lived around the time of Christ, and remains relevant to us as we live our lives today.

Daniel had lived his life in Babylon. He had faced the challenge of living in a land that did not share his love for God and that often did all it could to destroy him for his faithfulness. Indeed, the whole book of Daniel shows us that the world we live in, is not so different to that which Daniel inhabited. He served a God that the world around him did not. Does that sound familiar? Have you ever considered that we too, live as captives within Babylon?

In an impressive sweep through History Dean shows how the final chapters of Daniel apply again and again to the experience of humanity. Empires, regimes and tyrants continually rise but inevitably, no matter how strong they appear, fall too. 

The message that we are given through this teaching is that God has everything covered. He will restore His good world in every detail. Drawing from Dietrich Bonhoeffer Dean shows us that no matter how dark the times can appear, we are to remain strong and faithful, like Daniel, and keep going. In these times of darkness, we are to draw on ‘the light’ and remember that we are not just forgiven but, through Christ, are victorious. 

The final words of Daniel are there for all of us: “As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.” (Daniel 12 v.13) God asks no more than we stand and remain faithful, because He has done everything already, when He died and rose again.

Reflection

It is easy to feel overwhelmed as we live our lives. Whether it is through being consumed by the daily drama of the doom-mongering within the news cycle or suffering within our personal lives. It is perhaps easy too, to live from day to day as one who is forgiven but not really very happy.

In Psalm 23 we are encouraged to see God as our shepherd, and one who attends to our every need. He leads us to rich pastures and quiet waters to nourish us. And when it is time, he takes us to new places. As we journey, times can become dark and scary, yet, “even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and staff.” Imagine you are walking though a valley. One side is sunny with warmth and buzzing insects, and the other, colder because it is in the shadow of a peak. You hear a noise. It worries you, so you hide behind a boulder – and in so doing become detached from your guide and find yourself alone and cold. But the encouragement of this psalm is to stay close to Jesus even when there is darkness and cold, for He is with us, His rod and staff, all that is necessary for a shepherd to deal with the dangers of the wilderness, they comfort us. The psalm goes on to show how Jesus anoints us in the presence of our enemies and lays out a banquet for us. 

Read this powerful psalm slowly, pray that God will enable you to inhabit it and speak to you in your situation through it. May it warm your day and your life.

Leominster Baptist Church can be found on Etnam Street in Leominster. To find out more about us, visit our website leobc.co.uk. If you would like to speak to someone about anything that you have heard on our podcasts please give us a call and ask for a chat.