Crumbs 74

 

This contains some thoughts on Daniel 9 : 20-27

Crumbs from the Master ‘s Table 74

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Scripture Daniel 9:20-24 New International Version 20 While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the Lord my God for his holy hill— 21 while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. 22 He instructed me and said to me, “Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding. 23 As soon as you began to pray, a word went out, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. Therefore, consider the word and understand the vision: 24 “Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.

Crumbs We still learn more of this miracle called prayer. As Daniel confesses his sins and those of others and makes his petition Gabriel is told to reveal more of God’s mind. Prayer is not only an expression of our spiritual and other needs but a time when God reveals Himself to us. It seems to me that prayer is the aligning of our wll to the mind of God.

One of the purpose of prophesies about the future in both the Old and New Testaments is to move the reader to repentance. Israel is given a time of opportunity to repent. It is seventy weeks. It is a period of grace Seventy times seven is the times a brother should forgive brother. This is not only a message of judgement but also of grace. God’s desire is not judgement but restoration.

In the vision in this chapter the Messiah is left cut off. The evil one is not yet dealt with but awaiting the end. For this we must look to the comment made by our Lord in Matthew 24 :15 The final word is with Messiah. In this prophesy He and His coming is the spur to the restoration of the people of God, their rebuilding and the re-establishment of their worship.

Questions1. What is the link between our prayer life and our understanding of Scripture? 2. What is the best approach to the Bible teaching about the end times ?

3. What reforms would God call for of the 23^rd century church ?

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