In the book of Daniel, Daniel shared how Gabriel told him about battles between the king of the north and the king of the south, and he said of the king of the north, “he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant. And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that makes desolate. And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days”, and in chapter eleven and verse thirty-three of his book Daniel shared how Gabriel talked about, “they that understand among the people shall instruct many” where we read,
And they that understand among the people shall instruct many:
yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.
The verse reads, “And they that understand among the people shall instruct many:” Daniel began with the words, “and they that understand” or “and the people who are prudent, circumspect and have insight” “among the people” which means “in the midst of the nations, tribes and troops” “shall instruct many” or “will give discernment, perception and knowledge to a great and massive number of people”. Daniel shared how Gabriel told him the people who have discernment in the midst of the people will give knowledge to a massive number of other people.
The verse continues, “yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.” Daniel added the words, “yet they shall fall” or “still, they, the people who have discernment, will stumble, stagger and totter” “by the sword” which means “through the means of the knife, sharp implement, axe, dagger or mattock”, “and by flame” or “and through the means of the flaming head of a spear”, “by captivity” which means “through the means of imprisonment”, “and by spoil” or “and through the means of booty and prey”, “many days” which means “for a great number of sunsets to sunrises”. Daniel shared how Gabriel said the people who have discernment will still stumble and stagger through the means of sharp implements, flaming tips of the spear, imprisonment and as prey for a great number of “days”.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Daniel how Gabriel told him there will exist at this time some people who have discernment concerning a relationship with God, however, they will be destroyed through the means of sharp implements, flaming tips of the spear, imprisonment and treated as a prey for a number of “days”. Matthew Henry wrote of these people, “they shall make it their business to show others what they have learned themselves of the difference between truth and falsehood, good and evil. Note, Those that have the knowledge of God themselves should communicate their knowledge to those about them, and this spiritual charity must be extensive: they must instruct many. Some understand this of a society newly erected for the propagating of divine knowledge, called Assideans, godly men, pietists (so the name signifies), that were both knowing and zealous in the law; these instructed many. Note, In times of persecution and apostasy, which are trying times, those that have knowledge ought to make use of it for the strengthening and establishing of others. Those that understand aright themselves ought to do what they can to bring others to understand; for knowledge is a talent that must be traded with. Or, They shall instruct many by their perseverance in their duty and their patient suffering for it. Good examples instruct many, and with many are the most powerful instructions. They shall fall by the cruelty of Antiochus, shall be put to the torture, and put to death, by his rage. Though they are so excellent and intelligent themselves, and so useful and serviceable to others, yet Antiochus shall show them no mercy, but they shall fall for some days; so it may be read, Rev. 2:10, “You shall have tribulation ten days.” God’s desire is for everyone to have a personal relationship with Him through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when He raised Him from the dead after three days, He made the way through faith and trust in Him to be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and provided with His Holy Spirit who will help us remain in a state of discernment regardless of the outcome for believing and trusting in Him.
Next time Daniel shares how Gabriel says, “when they shall fall, they shall be helped with a little help”, 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".
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