June 9, 2014

“Full Counsel…”

Blessings folk!

We have been looking at the answer that Jesus gave the disciples to a couple of questions they had.

In the midst of the answer Jesus gave a comprehensive overview of the balance of time from that point forward.

Jesus then began to give more detail as to the days ahead.

He tells those who are in Judea to flee to the mountains when they see the “abomination of desolation which was spoken through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place”.

Yesterday we saw where Daniel mentioned the “abomination of desolation” - Daniel 11:29-35

To understand Daniel 11 one must understand the balance of the book, a worthy study for another time.

But, we must examine a portion of it.

This is a good example of why it is so important to get the total counsel of the Word of God.

Again, we must know the total Word of God - not just portions.

In Daniel 9, Daniel had been reading the Word of the prophet Jeremiah. He noted a time reference…

Daniel 9:1-2
1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of Median descent, who was made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans—
2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, observed in the books the number of the years which was revealed as the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.

The desolations of Jerusalem would last 70 years.
Daniel realized the time was near fulfillment.

What was Daniel’s response?

Daniel 9:3
3 Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.

Daniel sought the Lord.
The next 20+ verses are the plead of Daniel before God.
This is how you pray for a nation.
(Perhaps we will examine it in a few weeks)

But, you say, what does this have to do with what Jesus was saying?

In response to Daniel praying, God sends an angel to speak to Daniel.
At the end of Daniel 9 the angel reveals what is to occur with the city (Jerusalem) and Daniel’s people.
The angel continues speaking through chapters 10 and 11.

So, that which is revealed about the “abomination of desolation” is a portion of what the Lord was communicating to Daniel...and us...through an angel.

We must see the big picture.

For today, is your response to situations to seek the Lord?
Or, do you seek the response of the flesh.

It is interesting that Daniel sought the Lord in the manner he did.
Why not shout in joy over the end of captivity?
Why not proclaim to the people that the time for release was near?

Because the people were not ready.
They were as bad as they were before the captivity...remember, they were captive due to disobedience to the Lord.

Are we any better?