QT 17/05/2024 Friday Daniel 10. God's help in difficult times. 上帝在困难时期给予的帮助
QT 17/05/2024 Friday Daniel 10.
READ & LISTEN here
https://www.esv.org/Daniel+10/
MEDITATION: The vision that Daniel saw regarding a man terrified him. Daniel had already been mourning for three weeks (Dan 10:2-3). Not only was there a conflict between God's people on earth and those who opposed God, the man "clothed in linen" (Dan 10:5) also revealed conflict in the spiritual realm.
The man himself also faced opposition, in that "The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days" (Dan 10:13). There was the "prince of Greece" to deal with too (Dan 10:20). Nevertheless, the man encouraged Daniel by revealing that he received help from Michael (Dan 10:13,21).
Even a spiritual giant like Daniel could feel weariness, to the point of saying "no strength was left in me" (Dan 10:8), trembling (Dan 10:11) and being speechless (Dan 10:15). He was overwhelmed by conflict between those who rolled out God's plan and those who were bent on opposing God's people.
But hope is not lost, because the LORD of the spiritual realm is able to function in the realm of Daniel and his people too through the ministry of His own messengers, "Again one having the appearance of a man touched me and strengthened me" (Dan 10:18). In addition, "what is inscribed in the book of truth" (Dan 10:21) suggests the authorship and ownership of history as belonging to the LORD and no one else.
REFLECTION: Are we opposing God's plan all the time? Or are we working in close partnership with those whom God has called us to belong to?
Are we standing firm on truth in this spiritual battle? This whole life-time of ours is one (and only one) big chance to stand on God's truth. Make the correct choice today.
星期五2024年5月17日 今日读经：但以理书10章。上帝在困难时期给予的帮助。
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/dan/10/
但以理书10章
https://www.bible.com/bible/41/dan.10
默想：但以理在异象里看到的一个人让他非常惊慌。但以理已悲伤了三个星期(但10:2-3)。神在地上的子民和那些与祂作对的人，他们之间不仅存在着矛盾，那“身穿细麻衣”的人(但10:5)也在属灵的领域揭示了这矛盾。
那人本身也面对着逼迫，“波斯国的护卫天使拦阻我二十一天”(但10:13)。他还要应付“希腊的护卫天使”(但10:20)。尽管如此，那人鼓励但以理，说他有来自护卫天使米迦勒的帮助(但10:13,21)。
就连属灵巨人但以理都会觉得疲累，甚至说“全身无力，一点力气都没有”(但10:8)，战战兢兢(但10:11)和默默无声(但10:15)。他夹在施行神的计划的人和执意要与神的子民作对的人中间，喘不过气来。
但这里面仍然有盼望，因为属灵领域的耶和华也能够在但以理和他的子民的领域里通过祂自己的使者作工。“那位像人的再摸我，使我有力量”(但10:18)。另外，“那记录在真理书上的”(但10:21)暗喻着历史的主人和作者都是耶和华而非他人。
反思：我们时常抵制神的计划吗？或是与我们的属灵家庭紧密合作？
在这属灵的争战上，我们是否在真理上站立得稳？我们这整个的人生是唯一的(只有这么一次)机会让我们站立在神的真理上。今天就做出正确的选择。
