Dan.11:1-9, History is His(God's or Jesus’) story. Scripture & Sermon…

Dan.11:1-9, History is His(God's or Jesus’) story.  Scripture & Sermon Summary

1-19,
1.And in the first year of Darius the Mede, I took my stand to support and protect him.)
2.“Now then, I tell you the truth: Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power by his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.
3.Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great power and do as he pleases.
4 After he has arisen, his empire will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the power he exercised, because his empire will be uprooted and given to others.
5 “The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his own kingdom with great power.
6 After some years, they will become allies. The daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to make an alliance, but she will not retain her power, and he and his power* will not last. In those days she will be betrayed, together with her royal escort and her father† and the one who supported her.
7 “One from her family line will arise to take her place. He will attack the forces of the king of the North and enter his fortress; he will fight against them and be victorious.
8 He will also seize their gods, their metal images and their valuable articles of silver and gold and carry them off to Egypt. For some years he will leave the king of the North alone.
9 Then the king of the North will invade the realm of the king of the South but will retreat to his own country.

  Chapter 11, along with chs 10 and 12, is Daniel's fourth vision (prophecy). Daniel of the 6th century B.C. sees the future, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome, and until the final end of world history. He sees more than 135 specific and real things that will happen in the future in the world. God is in control of all of these. History is His story, the story of Him (God/Jesus). Everything is going according to God's will and plan(1, 2:21). Therefore, we can look back on everything and thank the Lord, recalling, “It was like that then!”

1. The Medes and Persians are also in God's hands (1-2).

 The Babylonian Empire, which had led Israel into captivity, was collapsed by the Medo-Persia with God's help. King Dario of Persia thought it was his own strength, but it was God's sovereign providence. Three kings arise, and the fourth (King Ahasuerus) becomes very rich and strong and attacks the Greek kingdom with an army of 800,000, but is defeated. Everything man builds is in vain unless God helps. Ps.127:1, Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.

2. God rules Alexander the Great and the Greek Empire (3-4)

  A future king, Alexander, will arise and rule with great authority and do as he pleases (3). He became king at the age of 20 and conquered Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and India in about 10 years. However, he died suddenly of an illness at the age of 33, his children were killed, and the empire was divided into four countries (4). Worldly power is temporary and cannot be maintained by human will. Alexander of the world did not become an eternal and perfect sovereign. It was fulfilled as prophesied in verse 3 and 8:8, The goat became very great, but at the height of its power the large horn was broken off, and in its place four prominent horns grew up toward the four winds of heaven.

3. The wars between the kings of the south and the kings of the north is also used for the refinement of the saints (5-9)

  Among the four kingdoms of the Greek Empire, the Ptolemy Kingdom in Egypt in the south and the Seleucid Kingdom in Syria (including Persia) in the north were dominant. Although they make peace through marriage, they war with each other (6). The two kingdoms fought fiercely for over 150 years. The land and people of Israel in the middle become the sacrifice. War is also a “tool of providence” that the sovereign God holds on to and rules over. The purpose is to refine and purify God's people (35).

  God rules this world. He intervenes not only in the whole of history, but also in our little details (even our hair). There are times when we are struggling or frustrated because of various situations. But let's trust in God's sovereignty and trust in the Lord who cares and protects. This week, God said in the dawn prayer, Ps.37:1-11, “Trust in God (3) and hold fast to God (5). Wait patiently before the Lord (7) and hope in the Lord (9).” If we believe in this God, we will not be discouraged or frustrated in the field of life. Ps.37:24, Even the saints fall, but they do not stumble at all, for the LORD upholds them with his hand. Prov.24:16, Although the righteous fall seven times, they will rise again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
Dear, all the saints,
Let us trust and rely on God's absolute sovereignty in any situation. Only Jesus gives us hope and life. During the Advent period to prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus, I pray for three days like Daniel, that you will finish this year well, and welcome a happy new year. Amen.