"The Strange Parenthesis" (Daniel 9:25-27)

 

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, their 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 now 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. 11This 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 lead 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