Daniel 9 Q&A
Here are some brief answers to our questions from our Sunday evening service. If you would like to discuss more, please call me or email at bruces@stphils.org.au.
1. We don’t want to be fatalist but I am now worried if I don’t pray for God's purposes they won’t come true. How do we navigate and understand this concept better?
We cannot stop God's purposes. Nothing and no one is able to prevent God from achieving his purposes. Prayer, however, is an expression of faith. When we pray, we trust God with our lives. Does prayer change the day-to-day things? Yes, it does. Does it change God's overall purposes? No. But they often change the way those purposes are reached. Think of it as a journey that has many different routes. However, as the Bible always shows us, when we are not faithful (in prayer for example), God remains faithful always.
2. What are other good examples in the Bible of readers wrestling with interpreting the scriptures like Daniel did?
The apostle Peter wrestled with some of Paul's writing, the apostles in general in hearing Jesus' interpretations of Scripture for his death and resurrection, Jonah struggled with God's direct word to him, as did many of the Old Testament prophets.
3. When was the book of Jeremiah written and how did Daniel get hold of it?
Possibly between 630-580 BC. Jeremiah was older than Daniel but they were alive at the same time. Some say they may have met each other in Babylon, but others say that is unlikely. But Jeremiah's words would have been transmitted by oral tradition. However, at this stage, it's more likely they were a scroll, and Daniel shows again and again that he was a very faithful Israelite. It is likely he would have heard the scroll read in the temple when he was young, or somehow had access to it despite the temple being destroyed.
4. There are things we (as culture or county) feel shame over. What some ways we can work with people/friends in dealing with our shame and show them God's love
It's helpful to admit when we should feel shame. As Daniel does, we need to admit when we have done wrong as this is the first step to repentance. This is how we seek forgiveness and when forgiven, shame is dealt with. But we must recognise and admit when we have done shameful things.
5. Were there still Israelites in Jerusalem even though the majority seems to have been exiled to Babylon or was the city completely desolate?
There were likely always a few people remaining. Like any deserted town, a few may have stayed behind in the ruins. However, by the time of the Persians, Cyrus had allowed Nehemiah to lead a group back to rebuild the city walls - the first step in rebuilding the city. So by Daniel chapter 6, there was certainly a large group who had returned to Jerusalem. The deportation from Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar happened in three stages, ending with the destruction of the temple. For all intents and purposes, we can say the city was desolate.
6. Should we spend much time trying to understand end times?
Yes, but not too much! It's all important and it's part of the big picture God gives us. However, sometimes we can get weighed down with details and forget the big picture. Our overall focus should be on the cross of Jesus and the reasons and results for his death and resurrection. However, the resurrection points us to the future, so the future is important too! The main focus is what is promised to happen, not exactly when or exactly how it will happen. We are told these things, but the main focus should be that Jesus WILL return and there IS salvation for all who trust in Him.
7. Daniel made a confession of national sin. Is there any difference of confession from repentance?
Confession is when we admit our sin. Repentance is when we turn away from it. We need God's help to repent. Romans 7:14-25 is a good passage to read about this. It;s difficult to repent - we need God's help. Question: is there actually repentance in this prayer of Daniel's? Or does that still need to happen?
8. Why are there no obvious signs in today’s times of our disobedience?
I think there are. I think we see humanity's disobedience to God, for example, in our legal and medical ethics. When we ignore God's good design for us and our world, we face the consequences of those decisions. Romans 1 points us to the consequences of our disobedience as humanity.
9. How does this passage relate to Jesus’ words re the abomination that causes desolation (Mark 13)?
Many see the "abomination that causes desolation" as referring to the crucifixion of Jesus. I tend to agree with this. However, others see it as the acts of Antiochus Epiphanes IV (who sacrificed pigs in the Jerusalem temple as an act of profanity in 168BC). Others see it as the final destruction of the temple in 70AD. I think the cross is the focal point in Daniel and Mark 13. It is the ultimate act that causes God's people to flee Jerusalem.
10. Daniel, a captive, was a victim because of his ancestors’ sin. He made confession of national sin, instead to blame his people. Sound strange?
Although Israel certainly had corporate sin that led them to be taken captive by Babylon, every member of Israel had a responsibility. Romans 3:23 reminds us that all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. You could say he recognised his sin as part of the nation's sin. Either way, both corporate and personal confession should be a part of the life of God's people. We sin together and we sin individually, and we need help to repent of both.
11. Is the anointed one Jesus or someone bad???
Yes, I believe the Anointed One is referring to Jesus, the Messiah. Verse 27 says "He" will confirm a covenant in the last 7 and put an end to sacrifice. This certainly fits with Jesus.
So 7 sevens then 62 sevens, then Jesus, which brings in the final 7 - so we live in the time of the final "7". During that time, the death (abomination) and then the resurrection of Jesus.
12. What does it mean to fully trust God with everyday life?
It means, simply, to make Him King and Lord of your life. It means we trust Him in everything. We listen to Him in his Word, we speak to Him in prayer, we respond to Him by the work of His Holy Spirit in our life, and we seek His ways every day.
13. Why doesn't God tell us exactly when the end times will be?
I think we could argue that he does tell us exactly. But the details are somewhat beyond our comprehension. We do know he tells us enough for us that we need to know. But there is a lot that will be clear only when he returns. When the end comes, I imagine that we will see clearly that all the details were in front of us, but not yet clear to us.
14. If God knows what we will pray before we start can the act of prayer itself initiate God's action and not just our words?
The act of prayer is an act of trust. We will never know if our prayer has initiated something or if it was going to happen anyway! For example, when someone is healed, is it because we prayed, or would they have been healed anyway? We don't know. But we do know that prayer changes things. And we do know that prayer as an act itself is an act of trust and confidence in God.
15. Gabriel talks here and Jesus talks in the NT about the "abomination that causes desolation". Do we have any idea what that is?
See question 9 - many believe it to be the crucifixion of Jesus.
16. Many Christians claim to be like Daniel to have visions about God’s kingdom. How to distinguish ‘vision’ and ‘delusion’, pls?
Visions claiming to be from God need to be measured against the Word of God. But we also remember that in Jesus all has been revealed that needs to be revealed. He is God's final revelation. Anyone claiming to reveal more than is in Scripture (rather than claiming to reveal the clarity of Scripture) is being deceptive. Helpful questions to ask about claimed visions are "Does this accord with Scripture" and "Does this glorify Jesus?"
Q and A is from 1:11:00