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, “and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him. Yes, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain. And both these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed”, and in chapter eleven and verse twenty-eight of his book Daniel shared how Gabriel said, “then shall he return into his land with great riches” where we read,
Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land.
The verse reads, “Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant;” Daniel began with the words, “then shall he return” or “at that time will he, the flattering king, turn and go back” “to his land” which means “to his, the flattering king’s, country and nation” “with great riches” or “accompanied by massive and abundant property, goods, substance and possessions”; “and his heart” which means “and his, the flattering king’s, soul and mind” “shall be against the holy covenant” or “will exist in opposition to the sacred, set apart and separate treaty, alliance, pledge and league”. Daniel shared how the flattering royal ruler would go back to his country with abundant property and possessions with his soul and mind in opposition to the sacred alliance.
The verse goes on to say, “and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land.” Daniel continued with the words, “and he shall do exploits” or “and he, the flattering king, will perform and produce damage”, “and return to his own land” which means “and turn and go back to his, the flattering king’s, own personal country and nation”. Daniel shared how Gabriel told him the flattering royal ruler would produce damages and then go back to his own personal country again.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Daniel how Gabriel told him that the flattering royal ruler would go back to his own country, continue to produce damages and go back to his own country again. Matthew Henry wrote, “he (Antiochus) returned with great riches (v. 28), and therefore took the first occasion to invade Egypt again, at the time appointed by the divine Providence, two years after, in the eighth year of his reign.” Some rulers are relentless, and Antiochus was this way. God was aware of this, and because He is omniscient, He foretold of the behavior of this flattering “king”. God knows us as well, and because we have sin in our lives that separates us from a personal relationship with Him, He sent His Son Jesus into the world to be crucified on the cross for the sins of all mankind. God raised Him from the dead after three days, and when we yield our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us so we are assured that regardless of how relentlessly wicked a leader may be, God is aware of them and has them under His control.
Next time Daniel shares how Gabriel says, “at the time appointed he shall return, and come toward 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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