The Plowman

The Source of Our Comfort [ 47:42 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (67)

Daniel #10: an exposition of Daniel 9:20-27. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 24, 2013.

Intro:

A few weeks ago I was at St. Francis hospital.  I got on the elevator and pushed the button for the floor I needed.  The door closed.  There was a bump and then nothing.  I pushed the button again.  Nothing.  I pushed the button to open the door.  Thankfully it opened.  I went to the next elevator.  The door opened and I got on and a hospital employee running down the hall yelled, “Hold the door.”  We pushed the button for our respective floors.  Nothing.  We looked at each other and both reached for the open button.  The door opened and I found the stairs!  As I was climbing the stairs I thought, “What if that had happened between floors?  What if I was stuck on an elevator?”  It’s never happened to me but I’ve often thought about it.  I can tell you if it happens I’ll not find any comfort from my fellow passengers.  The last thing I want is to feel a hand on my shoulder and a voice say, “I’m with you.”  I want to hear a voice from outside the elevator say, “We know your there.  We are working on it and we will get you out!”

It was a time of monumental change.  A new world power had been established.  Old alliances had toppled.  Governments were scrambling to make new alliances and pledge new loyalties.  What would this mean for the people of God?  Will this mean the end of captivity?  How will we be treated by the Persians?  Daniel turned to the Word of God and prayer for some answers.  Daniel 9:1-19 provides us a model for believing prayer.  This morning we consider God’s answer to Daniel’s prayer.

Text: Daniel 9:20-27

Daniel chapter 9 is a key passage for those who follow biblical prophecy.

Some refer to it as the “backbone of prophecy” and the the “key to prophetic interpretation.”

This is the text for Daniel’s 70 weeks.

Many will judge a commentary, a preacher or a ministry based on how they handle Daniel’s 70 weeks and that is unfortunate.  It is unfortunate because it is such a brief and obscure passage.  The prophecy is just 4 verses.  In addition the New Testament nowhere clearly or explicitly refers to the contents of this prophecy.  Yes Mark and Luke reference Daniel and the “abomination of desolation” but that is found also in Daniel 11:31 and Daniel 12:11.  It is also a mistake to deal with this prophecy without noting its context.

As I deal with this prophecy I want to set it in its context and show you what I believe God was saying to Daniel and to us.  And just so that I am clear, I’ll state up front, “I do not believe Daniel’s 70 weeks have anything to do with the 2^nd coming of Christ.”

I did not say, “I don’t think Daniel said anything about the 2^nd coming.”  I did not say, “Daniel is not important when considering prophecy and the return of Christ.”  I said, “I do not believe this text – the one laying out the 70 weeks – has anything to do with the return of our Lord.”  You may not agree with me and that’s okay.  Even if you think differently I’d say we are still in agreement on about 90% of what this prophecy is saying!

Now let’s look at the text…

Daniel is burdened by what is happening on the world scene.  He is burdened by the fact God’s temple has been destroyed.  He is burdened that God’s people are in captivity.  While he knows this is the righteous judgment of God, he is burdened that Jerusalem and God’s people have become a byword (an object of scorn or ridicule) among the nations (9:11).  So he cries out to God and God responds reminding us that…

Thesis: Peace, in the face of uncertainty, is found in our God and His gracious provision.

I want to point out 3 things as we work through this text.

1. Our comfort in times of distress and uncertainty rests in the God who hears our prayers and responds in love for His own.  (9:20-23)
2. Our comfort lies not in our prayers being answered but in God gracious provision of our deepest need and His sovereign control of all things.  (9:24-26a)
3. Ultimately our comfort or devastation depends on our response to God’s gift of His Son.  (9:26b-27)

Conclusion:

It was right for Daniel to pray that Jerusalem be rebuilt and that temple worship be reinstated but God wanted Daniel to see beyond these shadows and symbols and understand what they represented.  God’s ultimate purpose was not a temple made with hands and a holy place entered into once a year.  His son is the place in which we approach God.  His sacrifice is the one that brings forgiveness.  The others were types and shadows.  And as difficult as it must have been for him, Daniel had to understand that if the nation of Israel rejects God’s provision through His Son and cling to the shadows it would mean a terrifying judgment in the destruction of the temple and the sacred city.

The application is obvious.  Ultimately our peace rests in our trust and reliance on God’s provision through the Lord Jesus.

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Daniel #09: an exposition of Daniel 9:1-19. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 17, 2013.

Intro:

What do you do when things get confusing?  When your world gets turned upside down?  Where do you turn when life is overwhelming?  The Bible says we are more than conquerors through Christ.  We are assured that in the face of our greatest temptation our God will provide the way of escape so that we are able to stand.  The Lord Jesus is our peace.  He said, “Come to me all of you who are weak and heavy-burdened…you will find rest for your soul.”  Paul says the peace of God passes understanding.  Yet there are “un-peaceful,” chaotic days.  There are times when my faith wavers.  Times when life is more than I can handle.  What then?  He was an extraordinary man living in chaotic times.  Ripped from his homeland as a teenager he lived seven decades in a foreign land, serving pagan kings.  Seven decades in a land where people were commanded to bow to a statue of gold or face certain death.  A land where he is told do not seek your God for the next 30 days or you will be fed to the lions.  Yet he remained faithful to God and faithful to the king.  70 years in the public eye yet when his detractors sought to frame him they had nothing they could use!  There was no basis for an accusation.  He was a man of character, insight and profound wisdom.  How is that?  What was it about Daniel that enable him to stand tall in the midst of chaos?  How is it Daniel stood firm while the world crumbled around him?  We have a clue in Daniel 6:10:

When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.

Daniel was a man of prayer.  When I say “prayer” I mean communion with God.  There was a depth of knowledge and experience born out of abiding in God’s presence.  In chapter 9 the curtain is pulled back and we get a glimpse of Daniel’s prayer life.  Our text this morning is found in the ninth chapter of Daniel.

Text: Daniel 9:1-19

In chapter 7, Daniel is given a disturbing vision.  The winds blow across the great sea and out of the sea arises 4 terrifying beast.  Out of the chaos came 4 kingdoms each more terrifying then the one before.  It was clear, there are troubling days to come.  In chapter 8, two years later, he is given another vision.  This vision focused in on the 2^nd and 3^rd beasts.  That vision warned of a coming persecution that would be visited on the people of God.  A terrifying day of wrath in which the worship of God would be suspended, the temple desecrated and widespread destruction.  Our text is Daniel’s response to that vision.

The ram of chapter 8 has come to power.  Babylon is no more.  The events are beginning to unfold.  Daniel’s response is to search the Word of God and to pray.

As we work our way through this text we learn that…

Thesis: In times of confusion, uncertainty and doubt God’s people find peace through believing prayer.

I want to point out 4 principles of believing prayer from this chapter.

1. Believing prayer is anchored in the Word of God.  (9:1-3)
2. Believing prayer unflinchingly confesses sin.  (9:4-11)
3. Believing prayer boldly exalts God’s righteousness.  (9:11-14)
4. Believing prayer pleads for mercy on the basis of God’s covenant love.  (9:15-19)

Conclusion:

Ultimately Daniel’s concern was for the glory of God and the honor of His name.

In times of confusion, uncertainty and doubt God’s people find peace through believing prayer.

Such prayer:

• is anchored in the Word of God.  (9:1-3)
• unflinchingly confesses sin.  (9:4-11)
• exalts God’s righteousness.  (9:11-14)
• pleads for mercy on the basis of God’s covenant love.  (9:15-19)