SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 11/26/2013
10:22 AM
My Worship Time Focus: The Strange
Parenthesis
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Daniel
9:25-27
Message of the
verses: We come to the last SD from
the ninth chapter of the book of Daniel and as we look at this topic we will
understand how the Church of Jesus Christ is involved in this prophecy even
though it is not mentioned. Before I go
onto the topic of the strange parenthesis I want to go back to Daniel 9:26, and
at the end of that verse we read: “even
to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.” I believe what is said here is that there
will be continued trouble of the Jewish people right up until the time when
Jesus Christ, the Messiah returns as described in Revelations chapter
nineteen. There has been continued
trouble for the Jewish people since the rejection of their Messiah, and even in
a matter that happened over this past week-end there was trouble for them, and
it will grow worse and worse especially in the “time of Jacob’s trouble” which
is the tribulation period, and especially the last three and a half years of
the tribulation as seen in the prophecy in Daniel chapter nine.
Gabriel did not tell Daniel what was going to happen
between the sixty-ninth year and the seventieth year of this 490 year prophecy,
and that is what this strange parenthesis is.
There are things called mysteries in the Bible and this is something
that had not been revealed, but is not being revealed, and the Church fits into
that category as it was not mentioned in the OT, but was all along in the plan
of God and was revealed in the NT. Paul
speaks of this mystery in Ephesians 3:1-13, “1 For this reason I, Paul, the
prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles- 2 if indeed you have heard of the stewardship
of God’s grace which was given to me for you; 3
that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before
in brief. 4 By referring to this, when
you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not made known
to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and
prophets in the Spirit; 6 to be
specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body,
and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, 7 of which I was made a minister, according to
the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His
power. 8 To me, the very least of all
saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches
of Christ, 9 and to bring to light what
is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who
created all things; 10 so that the
manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers
and the authorities in the heavenly places. 11
This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in
Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we
have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my
tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory.”
Dr. Wiersbe concludes his commentary on Daniel chapter
nine with these words: “Some of the
prophecy in Daniel 9:24-27 has already been fulfilled, and the rest will be
fulfilled in the end times. We are today
living in the age of the Church, when Israel has been partially blinded and
temporarily set aside (Romans 9-11).
Like Paul, we must have a heart concern for the Jewish people, pray for
them and seek to share the Gospel with them.
Gentile believers have a debt to the people of Israel (Rom. 15:24-27)
because they gave us the knowledge of the true and living God, the inspired
written Scripture, and the Savior, Jesus Christ.” To all of this I say Amen!
Spiritual meaning
for my life today: I have a deep
love for the Jewish people and it came to me the very moment that I became a
believer in Jesus Christ, and as Dr. Wiersbe wrote I have much to be thankful
for because of the children of Israel.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Continue to trust the Holy Spirit to led my
life, to guide me and to make my life pleasing to the Lord.
Answer to yesterday’s Bible
Question: “Simeon and Anna” (Luke
2:25-38).
Today’s Bible
Question: “Who said ‘If thou be the Son
of God, command that these stones be made bread’”?
Answer in our next SD.
11/26/2013 10:45 AM
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