In the book of Daniel, Daniel shared how Gabriel told him, “the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches. And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of your people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall”, and in chapter eleven and verse fifteen of his book Daniel shared how Gabriel said, “the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities” where we read,
So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand.
The verse reads, “So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities:” Daniel began with the words, “so the king” or “wherefore, therefore, then and on this account the royal ruler” “of the north shall come” which means “belonging to the northern direction will be enumerated and enter”, “and cast up a mount” or “and lay siege with a rampart of besiegers or military mound”, “and take the most fenced cities” which means “and capture and seize the fortresses and fortified strongholds”. Daniel shared how Gabriel told him the royal ruler from the northern direction will enter, lay siege with a rampart of besiegers and capture the fortified strongholds.
The verse goes on to say, “and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand.” Daniel continued with the words, “and the arms of the south” or “and the forearms, shoulders and forces of strength belonging to the southern direction” “shall not withstand” which means “will in no way or manner remain, endure or continue”, “neither his chosen people” or “no and not in any way his, the king of the south’s, choice and best human beings”, “neither shall there be any strength to withstand” which means “no and not in any way will there exist power, might and ability to remain, endure or continue”. Daniel shared how Gabriel told him the forces of strength of the royal ruler belonging to the southern direction would in no way remain, nor would his best warriors have the power or might to continue.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Daniel how Gabriel told him the “king of the north” would attack the “king of the south” once again, and because he was so powerful, the “king of the south” would not be able to resist him. Not even the best of the warriors among the troops of the “king of the south” would be able to continue. Matthew Henry wrote, “the king of the north, this same Antiochus Magnus, shall carry on his design against the king of the south another way. He shall surprise his strong-holds; all that he has got in Syria and Samaria, and the arms of the south, all the power of the king of Egypt, shall not be able to withstand him. See how dubious and variable the turns of the scale of war are; like buying and selling, it is winning and losing; sometimes one side gets the better and sometimes the other; yet neither by chance; it is not, as they call it, the fortune of war, but according to the will and counsel of God, who brings some low and raises others up.” Back and forth these rulers came against one another in war, and it should be no surprise to us that this embattlement continues to this day among men. God knew all people everywhere would need to be redeemed from their sins because those sins separated people from Him. For this reason God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him 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 His Holy Spirit who will provide wisdom concerning the ruling entities in the world and their limitations while under His control.
Next time Daniel shares how Gabriel told him, “he that comes against him shall do according to his own will”, 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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