A Practical Prophecy

This Sunday we’re beginning a sermon series from the Old Testament—from the Prophecy of Daniel.

Now the term “prophecy” has a two-fold sense:  forth-telling as well as foretelling.  The prophets spent much (maybe most) of their time speaking “forth” the Word of the Lord by confronting corruption among God’s people and calling for the practical out­working of faith through deeds of love, mercy, and justice.  So when you hear the word “prophecy,” don’t just think of predictions.  In Daniel, then, the stories in the first half of the book demonstrate and call for godly conduct in the middle of life here and now.  In other words, chapters 1-6 are taken up with “forth-telling” of God’s will and God’s ways and God’s sovereign reign over this present age.

But when we come to Daniel 7-12, we step onto some very different terrain.  The genre shifts from historical narrative to apocalyptic literature, and this section is highly symbolic and taken up with visions and dreams.  Further, much attention is given to the future, including end-time events.  We’re told, for example, that a “Son of man” figure will appear before “The Ancient of Days,” and dominion and glory and kingship will be conferred upon the Son of man for an everlasting reign (7:13-14).  Jesus quotes Daniel (in Mark 13:26), pointing to this vision and claiming that it will ultimately be fulfilled with his future coming in glory and through his eternal reign.

So even though Daniel comes to us from some 2,600 years ago, he conveys God’s timely word with both examples/exhortations (chs. 1-6) and promises/warnings (chs. 7-12) to shape our faith and practice.  For example, we’re confronted about to whom we give allegiance:  are we ready to stand up and stand out as subjects of King Jesus, who honor him first and foremost, come what may?

This biblical book is also tremendously practical in the way God uses it to humble our hearts.  Even the king of the super-power of the day (i.e., Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon) was prone to foolish fits of ego and vulnerable to losing his mind when he yielded to pride.  Plus, in ch. 9 we’re drawn into Daniel’s very humble, repentant prayer of confession—a prayer we can and should echo as God’s people today.