QT 30/09/2025 Tue. Daniel 8 Sovereignty: Trusting God in Times of Confusion and Evil 主权：在混乱与邪恶中信靠神
QT 30/09/2025 Tue. Daniel 8 Sovereignty: Trusting God in Times of Confusion and Evil
READ http://www.esv.org/daniel8
Scripture focus: Daniel 8:27
[27] And I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for some days. Then I rose and went about the king’s business, but I was appalled by the vision and did not understand it. (ESV)
Context:
Daniel 8 contains a highly symbolic vision given to the prophet Daniel. In it, Daniel sees a ram (Medo-Persia) and a goat (Greece) representing powerful kingdoms that rise and fall. The vision culminates in the emergence of a fierce king — often identified as Antiochus IV Epiphanes — who persecutes God’s people and desecrates the temple.
God interprets this vision through the angel Gabriel, revealing both coming judgment and the promise of eventual justice.
(1) God Sees the Future – Even When We Don’t
Daniel was given a glimpse into future world events — empires clashing, leaders rising and falling, persecution increasing. It overwhelmed him. He “lay sick for days.”
✝️ Sometimes God’s ways are difficult to grasp. But just because we don’t understand the future doesn’t mean God isn’t in control of it.
Even in chaos, God is sovereign. The kingdoms in Daniel 8 rise and fall according to God’s timeline. Evil is allowed for a season — but only a season. The “2,300 evenings and mornings” (v.14) reminds us that God sets boundaries on evil. It will not last forever.
(2) Evil Will Be Judged
The little horn (v.9–12) represents a ruler who opposes God, blasphemes, and persecutes the faithful. Yet God makes it clear: his time will come to an end.
🕊️ In our own lives, when we see injustice or persecution, we can rest in the truth that God sees — and God will act.
Even today, we may see powerful forces mocking truth and oppressing the innocent. But Daniel 8 shows us that God doesn’t ignore wickedness. Judgment is certain.
(3) Faithfulness in the Midst of Mystery
Daniel ends the chapter bewildered: “I was appalled by the vision and did not understand it.” (v.27). Yet, what does he do next? He gets up and returns to the king’s business.
🙏 Even when God’s plans are confusing, the call to faithfulness remains the same.
Sometimes we don’t need to understand everything to obey God. Clarity is not a requirement for obedience. We trust the One who knows all things.
Reflection Questions
(1) Are you ever overwhelmed by the evil you see in the world? How does Daniel 8 encourage you to respond?
(2) What does it look like for you to “go about the king’s business” (v.27) even when you don’t fully understand what God is doing?
(3) Do you trust that God has set a limit on the evil you might be enduring right now?
🙏 Prayer
Father, You are the Lord of history. You see the end from the beginning. When we are confused by the chaos of the world, help us to rest in Your sovereignty. Strengthen our faith, even when we don’t understand. Like Daniel, may we rise and go about Your business, trusting in Your perfect justice and mercy. In Jesus' name, Amen.
QT 30/09/2025 星期二. 但以理书 8 主权：在混乱与邪恶中信靠神
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/dan/8/
经文焦点：但以理书 8:27
我但以理精疲力竭，病了几天，后来我起来，办理王的事务，但我仍因这异象惊骇不已，不明白它的意思。
背景：
但以理书第八章记载了先知但以理所见的高度象征性异象。其中，公绵羊（米底亚-波斯）与公山羊（希腊）分别象征兴衰更替的强盛王国。异象最终指向一位凶悍的君王——通常被认定为安提阿古四世·埃皮法尼斯——他迫害上帝的子民并亵渎圣殿。
上帝通过天使加百列解释此异象，既揭示即将临到的审判，也应许最终的公义必得彰显。
(1) 上帝洞悉未来——纵使我们无法预见
但以理得以窥见未来世界局势——帝国交锋、君王更迭、迫害加剧。这景象令他惊惶不已，“病卧多日”。
✝️ 上帝的作为有时难以理解。但我们无法洞悉未来，并不意味着上帝失去掌控。
纵在混乱中，上帝仍掌权。但以理书第八章的列国兴衰皆按神的时程而行。邪恶被容许存在一时——但仅是一时。“二千三百个晚上和早晨”（第14节）提醒我们：神为邪恶设定了边界，它不会永存。
(2) 邪恶必受审判
小角（第9-12节）象征一位抵挡上帝、亵渎圣名、迫害信徒的统治者。但上帝昭示：他的时日必将终结。
🕊️ 当我们在生活中目睹不公或迫害时，可安息于这个真理：上帝看顾——上帝必行动。
即便今日，我们仍目睹强权嘲弄真理、压迫无辜。但《但以理书》第八章昭示：上帝绝不纵容邪恶，审判必将临到。
(3) 迷雾中的忠信
但以理以困惑结束本章：“我因这异象惊惶，不能明白。” (27节)然而他随即起身，继续处理王室事务。
🙏 纵使神的计划令人困惑，忠心的呼召永不改变。
有时我们无需理解一切便能顺服神。顺服无需清晰的认知，我们信靠那位洞悉万有的主。
反思问题
(1) 你是否曾因目睹世间邪恶而心力交瘁？但以理书第八章如何激励你应对？
(2) 当你尚未完全明白神作为时，“处理王的事务”（第27节）对你而言具体意味着什么？
(3) 你是否相信神已为此刻你所承受的苦难设定了界限？
🙏 祷告
天父，祢是历史的主宰。祢从起初就看见结局。当我们被世界的混乱所困扰时，求祢帮助我们安息在祢的主权之中。即使我们不明白，也求祢坚固我们的信心。愿我们像但以理一样，起来行祢的事工，信靠祢完全的公义与怜悯。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。
