QT 23/05/2024 Thursday Daniel 11. Trust the God of history. 相信历史之神 。

QT 23/05/2024 Thursday Daniel 11. Trust the God of history.
READ & LISTEN here
https://www.esv.org/Daniel+11/

MEDITATION: The vision referred to detailed events regarding the political and military arena from the time of Darius (Dan 11:1, 539 B.C.), the Persians, Greeks, Romans and even beyond that. This formed the background of the New Testament Scriptures.

The detailed fulfillment of these visions in Daniel 11 for the next 400+ years pointed to the LORD who is the God of history and sovereign over all nations. Indeed, the LORD is God over all nations.

REFLECTION: Do we trust the LORD with even the smallest matters that we are concerned with in our lives? He knows us best. Trust Him for the rest.

Challenges to the faithful would come "by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder" (Dan 11:33). The seductive "flattery" might even be used to turn you against the covenant (Dan 11:32-34). But those who are wise and persevere faithfully in spite of these stumbles would be "refined, purified, and made white" (Dan 11:35).

REFLECTIONS: Are we open and submissive to God's refinement through the people and circumstances that God has placed in our lives? Or are we always thinking of ways to rebel and free ourselves from God's purification plans?

IMPLICATIONS: Do not be surprised by challenges and difficulties. Rather, be surprised by the fact that even though God have said so much through His prophets, we are not moved at all to resolve to stand on truth and stand firmly in our doctrine, devotion and dedication to the God of History. Are we the crowd pleaser, or God pleaser?

星期四2024年5月23日 今日读经：但以理书11章。相信历史之神 。
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/dan/11/

但以理书11章
https://www.bible.com/bible/41/dan.11

默想：这异象里详述了大利乌在位期间(但11:1, 公元539年)、波斯人、希腊人、罗马人甚至是之后的年代，有关政治和军事方面的事件。这也形成了新约经文的背景。

但以理书11章里的异象在往后的400多年都如经上所述一一实现，说明耶和华是历史的主，祂在全地掌权。确实，耶和华是列国的神。

反思：我们在生活中所关注的最小的事是否也交托神？祂最了解我们。一切都信靠祂。

挑战会临到忠心的人身上，“他们必有很多日子倒在刀剑之下，或被火烧，或被掳去，或被抢掠”(但11:33)。那诱人的“奉承”甚至有可能会让你违背圣约(但11:32-34)。但那有智慧的并在困境中坚持不懈又忠心的，将被“锻炼、洁净、成为雪白”(但11:35)。

反思：神在生活中透过不同的人与处境使我们得到锻炼，我们是否欣然接受且服从？或是想尽各种方法悖逆并挣脱神在我们身上的洁净工作？

延伸思考：不要因为挑战和难处感到意外。相反的，如果神透过祂的先知说了这么多，我们仍然无动于衷，无法决心在教义上站在真理那一边、站立得稳，无法对历史的主付出忠心和奉献，那么才需感到意外。我们是那讨好人的，还是那讨好神的？