In the book of Daniel, Daniel shared how Gabriel told him about the king of the north, and said, “then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle. And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honor of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yes, also the prince of the covenant. And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people”, and in chapter eleven and verse twenty-four of his book Daniel shared how Gabriel said, “he shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province” where we read,
He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yes, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time.
The verse reads, “He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province;” Daniel began with the words, “He shall enter peaceably” or “he, the flattering ruler will come in with quietness, ease and prosperity” “even upon the fattest places” which means “also and indeed in the fertile, richly prepared and robust locations” “of the province” or “belonging to the region, and district”. Daniel shared how Gabriel told him the flattering ruler would come into the most fertile and richly prepared locations.
The verse continues, “and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches:” Daniel added the words, “and he shall do” or “and he, the flattering ruler, will perform, produce, act and work” “that which his fathers have not done” which means “what his, the flattering ruler’s, male progenitors and ancestors have in no way or manner fashioned, accomplished or produced”, “nor his father’s fathers” or “no and not in any way that his male progenitor’s male progenitors or ancestors”, “he shall scatter among them the prey” which means “he, will disperse within the midst of them, the booty and gain”, “and spoil” or “and plunder”, “and riches” which means “and goods, possessions, livestock, utensils and moveable property”. Daniel shared how Gabriel told him the flattering ruler would act and perform in a manner that his male progenitors and their progenitors would not act because he would disperse the gain, plunder, utensils and moveable properties in the midst of them.
Finally the verse says, “yes, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time.” Daniel concluded this verse with the words, “yes, and he shall forecast” which means “even so and indeed, and he, will plan, calculate and invent” “his devices” or “his, the flattering ruler’s, plan, imaginations and cunning purposes” “against the strong holds” which means “in opposition to the fortresses, fortifications and fortified cities”, “even for a time” or “indeed and also until a specific experience or occasion”. Daniel ended this verse by sharing how Gabriel said indeed this flattering ruler would develop his cunning purposes in opposition to fortified cities for a certain amount of time.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Daniel how Gabriel gave him more information about this flattering ruler. This ruler would enter the most fertile locations in the region, and would act in a manner that not even his fathers or their fathers did. Matthew Henry wrote, “he shall enter peaceably upon the fattest places of the kingdom of Syria, and, very unlike his predecessors, shall scatter among the people the prey, and the spoil, and riches, to insinuate himself into their affections; but, at the same time, he shall forecast his devices against the strong-holds, to make himself master of them, so that his generosity shall last but for a time; when he has got the garrisons into his hands he will scatter his spoil no more, but rule by force, as those commonly do that come in by fraud. He that comes in like a fox reigns like a lion. Some understand these verses of his first expedition into Egypt, when he came not as an enemy, but as a friend and guardian to the young king Ptolemaeus Philometer, and therefore brought with him but few followers, yet those stout men, and faithful to his interest, whom he placed in diverse places of the strong-holds in Egypt, thereby making himself master of them.” Although this ruler would make his plans, God is sovereign and would rule over all of them. This should give us encouragement today as we consider those who are in authority over us. Regardless of their behavior, they are and shall be accountable to God just as we. God knows we “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (See Romans 3:23), and those sins lead to death. (See Romans 6:23) For this reason God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and to be raised from the dead after three days. When we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us the power of His Holy Spirit to live in a manner that is pleasing to Him regardless of who is ruling in the world.
Next time Daniel shares how Gabriel says, “he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south”, 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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