A Ram with Two Horns - Daniel 8:3

In the book of Daniel, Daniel said, “In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first. And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai”, and in chapter eight and verse three of his book Daniel said, “there stood before the river a ram which had two horns” where we read,

Then I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.

The verse reads, “Then I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns:” Daniel began with the words, “the I lifted up my eyes” or “at that time I, Daniel, raised my, Daniel’s, physical eyes used for vision and sight”, “and saw” which means “and perceived, noticed, discerned and observed”, “and behold” or “and lo, look and consider”, “there stood before the river” which means “there remained, endured and was stedfast in front and in the presence of the stream” “a ram which had two horns” or “a ram animal that possessed two protrusions”. Daniel shared how he raised his “eyes” to observe a “ram” that possessed two protrusions coming from it’s head. 

The verse goes on to say, “and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.” Daniel continued with the words, “and the two horns were high” or “and the two protrusions existed as tall, exalted and lofty”; “but one was higher than the other” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover one of the protrusions was taller and more exalted than the other protrusion”; “and the higher came up last” or “and the taller and more exalted protrusion arose after the first”. Daniel shared how he observed that the “two” protrusions were exalted and tall, however, the second protrusion that arose became taller and more exalted than the first. 

When we think through Daniel’s words in this verse, we discover how Daniel began to tell about his “vision” as he observed a “ram” animal that was established beside the “Ulai” river. This “ram” had “two tall protrusions or horns” that arose from it’s head, and the second protrusion rose to a more exalted position than the first one. We shall see what these things mean in our future verses, but for now let us be mindful that the Medo-Persian empire conquered the Babylonian empire and became the “Persian” empire alone. (539 B.C.) This should give us a hint as to what the “ram” with “two horns” meant, and let us be mindful that God was over all these things. God blessed Daniel with this insight, and because Daniel wrote these words, we have some insight as well. God loves people, and all of these “visions” and events were leading to Him sending His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and to be raised from the grave after three days. Jesus extended access to Him through belief and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, and when we yield our lives to Him, we will be forgiven of our  sins, granted everlasting life and provided wth His Holy Spirit who will lead and guide us into all truth according to His Divine purposes and plan. 

Next time Daniel says, “I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".