“Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.” Daniel 11:45
When you think of the book of Daniel, what do you think of? Daniel in the Lion’s Den! Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego! Or for those of you who, like me, have had young children who cherished Veggietales, maybe you think of Rack, Shack and Benny (and “The Bunny!”).
The first half of Daniel is filled with these great, familiar stories with clear, powerful lessons. However, if you haven’t read Daniel in a while, you might be surprised to learn that the second half of the book is filled with prophecies and visions that are not quite as straightforward producing differing opinions even among those who hold in common a high regard for Scripture as the Word of God.
For people who are really into eschatology (the study of the end times) Daniel provides for exciting reading. But for those of us who are not quite as enamored by the endless debates, one might wonder whether all of Daniel is worth reading. Can the average Christian get anything out of the second half of Daniel without turning to a commentary or Bible study notes?
I believe the answer is yes. In fact, I believe that, sometimes, study notes and commentaries can lead us away from the most important truths God means for us to learn in His Word. For example, the king referred to at the beginning of this article, who exalts himself over God in Daniel 11, can arouse many questions not answered directly by the text: Who is this king? When will (or did) he reign? Is this the Antichrist? These are not bad questions. However, the message of this passage is understandable regardless of how you answer those questions—namely, what we read in the last verse of Daniel 11, “Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.” In other words, this ungodly king, no matter how great he thinks he is, will not escape death.
This passage reflects a truth communicated throughout the book of Daniel—that there will be times, on earth, when men will rule in opposition to God, when God’s people will be persecuted, and when things will look awfully bleak. But in spite of all this, God is still on His throne and will eventually put everything right. Even the most arrogant and powerful of rulers will eventually come to their end.
What meaning does this have for you and me? Tremendous meaning! Certainly, it gives us hope in the face of life’s more significant trials, knowing that no matter what we face, God will eventually put everything right. But I also believe that we need to apply this principle to the more mundane, daily concerns we face. How easily I get caught up in the small things of life: a rude driver, disrespect from a family member, a disagreement with a co-worker, or feeling slighted at church. How much of my time is spent wrapped up in thinking on such things which consume much time, yet produce little fruit.
For example, after a recent haircut I presented a gift card with just enough left to pay for it. The lady tried running the card, but could not do so due to the magnetic strip. Then, she tried entering the number on the card by hand. But after 3 or 4 tries, she gave up and told me that there must be nothing left on the card. Now, I always keep receipts with gift cards so I know how much remains. And I was fairly certain that this card still had money left on it. After much frustration, I finally asked if there was someone else who could help. Right away, another employee came up, entered the card’s number, and on his first try was able to bring up my correct card balance and finish the transaction.
In hindsight, I am glad I persisted and was able to use the card. However, I wish I had not allowed myself to get so frustrated over it. I wish my hope in God’s eternal kingdom would have translated into a calmer spirit in the face of such an insignificant concern.
Too often, I unthinkingly allow such small things to distract me from the more important things in life. But as a follower of Christ, I must learn to number my “days aright” (Psalm 90:12). I need God to continually expand my view of life according to His eternal kingdom so that I do not allow little frustrations to rob me of joy, peace or opportunities to reflect God’s grace. As one author adeptly puts it, “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” May we all increasingly embrace a greater awareness of the temporary nature of life on planet earth and the eternal nature of God’s kingdom and live each day accordingly.
In Christ, Pastor Dan