Making and Maturing

Disciples of Jesus

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Ryan serves as the Lead Pastor of Green Pond Bible Chapel in Rockaway, New Jersey. He is married with four children.
  • Immeasurable Blessing, Immediate Encouragement- Zechariah 2:1-13

    Immeasurable Blessing, Immediate Encouragement- Zechariah 2:1-13

    Take a moment to pray. Ask God to speak to you through his word—for his Spirit to convict you of sin, teach you the truth, and lead you in walking by faith.

    Setting the Scene

    And if you can believe this, then in time of great fear and trouble you will be able to say: Even though I suffer long, very well then, what is that compared with that great treasure which my God has given to me, that I shall live eternally with him?

    -Martin Luther

    When we face discouragement and difficulty, fear usually isn’t far behind. What we fear dictates how we go about our business. Fear often prevents us from walking by faith and glorifying God in our daily lives.

    As God sent the exiled Israelites home to Judah and Jerusalem in the late 6th century BC, those who chose to go were met with a difficult task. As they were trying to rebuild, they faced opposition from those who had taken over the land, they faced political adversity, and they faced a major economic depression. After the ministry of the prophet Haggai they had begun to rebuild God’s temple, but it was slow going and difficult.

    Fear, in the meantime, had kept many from going home at all. They had stayed home, betting that staying in exile was better than returning to the promised land in disarray.

    But is this really the best strategy? Stay home? Stay in your comfort zone? Is this what God calls us to? God gave the prophet Zechariah a third vision to deal specifically with the main threats Israelites would have been afraid of. It turns out, our safe zone is wherever God had called us to be.

    Zechariah 2:1-5

    Zech. 2:1-2 I looked up and saw a man with a measuring line in his hand. I asked, “Where are you going?” He answered me, “To measure Jerusalem to determine its width and length.”

    As with the other visions, Zechariah interacts with his vision. Zechariah asks a man where he is going, and he answers that he is going to measure Jerusalem. Given the circumstances of Zechariah’s audience, this is encouraging. The rebuilding of Jerusalem isn’t futile!

    Zech. 2:3-4 Then the angel who was speaking with me went out, and another angel went out to meet him. He said to him, “Run and tell this young man: Jerusalem will be inhabited without walls because of the number of people and livestock in it.”

    The angel who has been Zechariah’s guide, the angel of the Lord, “went out”, and another angel “went out” to meet him. The angel of the Lord thus commands the second angel to run to the young man. He is to tell him essentially to not bother measuring because Jerusalem will be too big for walls.

    “Dwelling” is the key concept in this vision: the idea is that God will bless Jerusalem with prosperity, God’s people will live there in peace, and it will be such a sprawling city it will be too big for walls.

    Zech. 2:5 The declaration of the LORD: “I myself will be a wall of fire around it, and I will be the glory within it.”

    The Lord declares emphatically that he alone is the protection for his people. The wall of fire image vividly expresses God as the impenetrable protection for Jerusalem. How will they be safe without walls? The Lord will be her defense.

    So often we turn to man-made sources of protection from our fears, like home security systems, relational isolation, or overly-cautious paranoia. But our hope for safety isn’t our solution, it must be God himself.

    The immeasurable blessing of God’s presence leads to immediate encouragement. It also leads to some other immediate blessings. Look to verse 2:6…

    Zechariah 2:6-9

    Zech. 2:6 ¶ “Listen! Listen! Flee from the land of the north”—this is the LORD’s declaration—“for I have scattered you like the four winds of heaven”—this is the LORD’s declaration.

    The “north” is a reference to the direction from which both Babylon and Assyrian conquered the people of Israel. Any people remaining in exile (represented here by “the north”) should flee.

    They must flee the lands of exile because those nations will face judgement from God. The spreading out as the four winds of the earth refers to geographical totality, like the four points of the compass.

    Zech. 2:7 “Listen, Zion! Escape, you who are living with Daughter Babylon.”

    Those Israelites (referred to here with old name for Jerusalem, Zion) living in Babylon should head home to Jerusalem. The phrase “daughter of Babylon” simply means “Babylon.” Many of the exiles still living in conquering nations are in view.

    Zech. 2:8 For the LORD of Armies says this: “In pursuit of his glory, he sent me against the nations plundering you, for whoever touches you touches the pupil of my eye.

    God’s motivation for sending the angel is to glorify God by the rescue, preservation, and blessing of his people. The sending is sending of the angel of the Lord for judgement. Those who have attacked Israel have attacked the “gate of God’s eye.” The word used here does not mean “apple.” The point is that touching Israel is touching a highly sensitive area. To mess with God’s people is to mess with God.

    Zech. 2:9 For look, I am raising my hand against them, and they will become plunder for their own servants. Then you will know that the LORD of Armies has sent me.

    The idea of raising his hand against them is like the modern English phrase “shaking a fist” at them. Rather than take plunder, they will be plundered by their slaves. Conquered people were almost always slave classes when they were taken into exile. This aspect of the vision had already occurred as Assyrian and especially Babylon had given way to the Medo-Persian empire.

    This warning of those still in exile to flee is a caution against being too comfortable living in a culture where the majority of people don’t love God. Again, our safety zone may be inhibiting our capacity to make decisions by faith in God. But once we flee the world and return home, we will find amazing peace and joy.

    Zechariah 2:10-13

    Zech. 2:10 “Daughter Zion, shout for joy and be glad, for I am coming to dwell among you”—this is the LORD’s declaration.

    “Daughter of Zion” is a reference to the people of Israel. They should rejoice, because God will dwell with them. Not only are the people who dwelled in exile coming home, the Lord is coming home too.

    The verb “dwell” brings to mind the tabernacle and temple. This alone is reason for Israel to celebrate. God’s presence with his people in right relationship to him is the cause of their joy.

    Zech. 2:11 “Many nations will join themselves to the LORD on that day and become my people. I will dwell among you, and you will know that the LORD of Armies has sent me to you.

    The vision of Jerusalem restored and prosperous, however, pushes beyond their expectation. Many nations will “join themselves” to Yahweh. Moreover, these Gentiles will be to him a people, a distinction normally excluding Gentiles.

    The repetition that God will dwell in the midst of this people seems to push beyond the idea of the temple. There may be a hint here that the temple will not be necessary, as God will dwell with his people without the need for sacrifice.

    In this vision, God encourages his people with a magnificent view of the ultimate future of Jerusalem. This is meant to encourage them to worship and trust him in the meantime.

    Zech. 2:12 The LORD will take possession of Judah as his portion in the Holy Land, and he will once again choose Jerusalem.

    With the highly covenantal concept of inheritance of the land, God once again assures his people he has not forgotten them. Zechariah may be alluding to the Song of Moses with “inheritance,” “portion,” and “pupil of the eye” (check out Deut. 32:8-10).

    The exile had temporarily given the perception that God had rejected his people. But once again they are his portion. They are his inheritance in the land set apart.

    Zech. 2:13 Let all people be silent before the LORD, for from his holy dwelling he has roused himself.”

    Zechariah calls for silence from all living things before God because he has been aroused from his holy abode. Specifically, the Lord has been stirred to action due to the exile of his people. Thus all living things should show silent respect for God because of his glory seen when he redeems his people.

    The Big Picture

    The idea of God dwelling with his people in the Old Testament is made clear in the New Testament. John tells us that Jesus, the Word, became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). He offers forgiveness from sins for both Jews and Gentiles.

    This vision of Zechariah looks to the new Jerusalem, where God dwells in the midst of his people without a temple building because of the redemptive work of Jesus. The author of Hebrews talks about believers’ ultimate home as “Mount Zion,” “the city of the living God,” and “the heavenly Jerusalem” (Heb. 12:22). In Revelation 21 we see a vision of the new Jerusalem, full of Jews and Gentiles dwelling with God.

    Consider this: if you are a believer in Jesus, then your future is literally dwelling with God in the New Jerusalem. He will satisfy you. He will protect you from every evil. He will be your glory. This is the result of the gospel.

    Taking It Home

    God’s presence brings immeasurable blessings for immediate encouragement. Why fear? God is our protection and our satisfaction. We have no need for a missile shield when Yahweh is our wall of fire.

    We look so many other places for satisfaction: money, relationships, achievement, popularity; we seek it through grades, careers, kids, athletics, and retirement; we buy phones and cars and tvs. Our culture tells us we are valuable in and of ourselves. But deep down we know that we need more. We need God’s glory to satisfy us.

    It is entirely plausible that people in Persia did not want to come home because it meant uprooting their families, financial hardship, and danger. So God makes the command twice. Don’t get too comfortable, it’s time to come home.

    Sometimes we can look at what God is calling us to and think, “No way, that is way too hard.” But we must realize that God’s presence not only brings blessing to believers, but judgement for unbelievers. If we are his, then we must be distinct, and flee from godlessness to God’s grace.

    Perhaps you are too comfortable in Babylon. Perhaps you see what God is calling you to, but you just don’t want to commit. Let me encourage you, the blessings are immeasurable and the judgement is fierce. God is calling his own to come home. Maybe that’s you.

    In light of this glorious vision, two worship responses are appropriate: jubilant rejoicing and awe-filled silence. First, rejoice! Sing! Be glad! God will dwell with his people! We are not separated from God due to sin. Rather, we can enjoy intimacy with God. Are you happy? Do you have joy? Are you rejoicing? Singing? Proclaiming?

    Second, let us be silent. When we step back and consider God’s plan of redemption, let us be in awe. The eternal second person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ, became flesh and dwelt among us. He died for our sins and rose from the dead. God has acted on our behalf: be stunned at the saving work of God, He is still at it today.

    Pray

    • Confess your fears to the Lord in prayer. Ask him to strengthen your faith in him, and to help you walk in bold obedience.
    • Pray for the courage to stand apart from the world. Ask God to clarify ways that you need to be distinct in your workplace, school, neighborhood, etc.
    • Praise God for salvation in Jesus Christ and your secure future in the New Jerusalem! Spend a few minutes in silent awe of the glory of God.
  • God’s Silent Work vs. Instagram

    God’s Silent Work vs. Instagram

    I will be like the dew to Israel.

    -Hosea 14:5

    Christian! despise not spiritual things, because thou hearest not a sound therewith. Much that God doeth, he doeth in silence.

    -C.H. Spurgeon

    There are two kinds of people in the world: those who love the Super Bowl halftime show, and the rest of us. I’m in the latter group. It’s just so physically and aurally loud. It’s meant to be captivating, whether you want to be captivated by it or not. In many ways, it’s the ultimate achievement of western entertainment culture.

    Sometimes we want God’s work to be loud. We want it to be broadcast-worthy, full of live-stream splendor. In Hosea 14:5, the Lord uses a simile to describe himself: he is like dew to Israel. In the Middle East, dew provides essential moisture for plant life. At the bare minimum the Lord is saying that only he provides spiritual life for his people.

    Spurgeon rightfully observes that dew provides silently. People go to bed, wake up, and find it there. There’s no digging of irrigation canals, no thunder and storm. Dew is a provision from heaven. It just appears, and keeps on appearing.

    We can therefore add to the point of the simile: the Lord consistently provides spiritual life. The Lord’s work of providing spiritual growth for his people is not Super Bowl halftime show worthy. It’s not carnal enough. It’s not loud enough.

    In fact, most of the time God’s provision for us is quiet and consistent. It certainly doesn’t come from an earthly source. The Spirit of God uses his Word to change us little by little. It’s not headline worthy, but it’s the sure provision of God that we cannot live without.

    American culture has always loved entertainment, and that’s not going away. The culture transforming nature of social media hasn’t been to create a love of entertainment, but rather to make everyone an entertainer of sorts. If your post is loud enough (or cute enough, or clever enough, etc.), people will like it.

    I wonder if this hasn’t caused us all the more to look for the “Instagram-worthy” version of spiritual growth. We have a taste for loud and big and bright, but what about the consistent provision of God for us?

    In Hosea, this simile is even more remarkable considering the rather loud rejection of God by his people described in the book. Regardless of how hard Israel would stubbornly run after their Canaanite gods and goddesses, God was graciously calling them home. He is like dew to them. He is like dew to us.

    One day God’s work will be loud. Jesus will return to the sound of trumpets. His appearance will be far more than entertainment; for his church it will be truly satisfying. In the meantime, let’s praise God for his silent work, and watch for it every morning.

  • The Justice We All Seek – Zechariah 1:18-21

    The Justice We All Seek – Zechariah 1:18-21

    Take a moment to pray. Ask God to speak to you through his word—for his Spirit to convict you of sin, teach you the truth, and lead you in walking by faith.

    Setting the Scene

    We’ve all been there. Some tragedy happens, and the guilty party isn’t caught. They got away with it. Maybe it was theft on a small scale. To this day someone is still enjoying sweet tunes with my car stereo they stole in LA back in 2001. Maybe it was a bigger deal- a hit and run, a murder, grand theft, financial fraud.

    It seems that as a culture we hear more and more about social justice and the problem of injustice. Due to sin, injustice is a reality on both the large and small scale. Few things are more frustrating than seeing a wrong go without resolution.

    Zechariah’s second vision is brief but potent. He sees four horns (think awesome ram’s horns, google if it you need to) that represent the power of the nations who destroyed Israel and Judah. In a sense, they are the oppressors. Did they get away with brutal treatment of God’s people? The vision answers that question and offers hope to every victim.

    Zechariah 1:18-21

    Zech. 1:18    Then I looked up and saw four horns. 19 So I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these?”

    And he said to me, “These are the horns that scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.”

    Horns here are the horns of bull or ram, his pride and symbolic of power and strength. Some take these to be Babylonia, Persia, Greece, and Rome from Dan. chapters 2 and 7. Other scholars suggest Assyria, Egypt, Babylonia, and Persia. At least Assyria and Babylon are in view, as they are the nations that scattered Israel. The point is, the horns represent the strength of Israel’s enemies.

    Zech. 1:20   Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen. 21 I asked, “What are they coming to do?”

    He replied, “These are the horns that scattered Judah so no one could raise his head. These craftsmen have come to terrify them, to cut off the horns of the nations that raised a horn against the land of Judah to scatter it.”

    The horns had humiliated and shamed Judah in defeat. The “craftsmen” were coming to issue judgement against those nations who had attacked God’s people. God had not forgotten Israel, and he promised judgement against those nations who profited from attacking his people.

    The phrase “raise his head” means that the people of Judah weren’t free to do as they desired, they were an enslaved people.

    The craftsmen probably stand for Persia, and in this image the horns are as a reference to Babylon, given that only Judah is mentioned. Those who in pride raised their horns against God’s people will themselves be scattered and their power destroyed.

    The Big Picture

    This vision depicts the judgment of Assyria and Babylon that for all intents and purposes had already happened. Babylon had defeated and displaced Assyria. Persia had defeated and displaced Babylon. As Israel was retiring to the land and rebuilding Jerusalem perhaps they wondered if those nations had gotten away with their evil. God assures his people, they had not.

    What this vision is really about is entrusting God with vengeance and justice. The Apostle Paul picks up this theme in Romans 12:19, quoting from Deuteronomy 32:35,

    Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.

    This means that we can rest in God’s role as judge of the universe. In fact, it is Jesus himself who deals with evil. On the one hand, Jesus died on the cross, bearing the penalty for the sin of every believer for all time. Paul says in Galatians 3:13, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us…”

    On the other hand, Jesus will ultimately judge the sins of every unbeliever for all time. In the book of Revelation the Apostle John sees a vision of this ultimate justice:

    Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and he judges and makes war with justice. His eyes were like a fiery flame, and many crowns were on his head. He had a name written that no one knows except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God.

    -Revelation 19:11-13

    So every wrong will be accounted for—either through the death of Jesus, or through the final victory and judgment of Jesus. Either way, we need not despair when we see wrongs go unpunished.

    Taking It Home

    This assurance from God means that his zeal for his people results not only in grace, but also in justice. God’s special love for his people demands that he judge his enemies. Wrongs will be made right.

    As they were trying to restart the rebuilding of the temple, Israel needed this encouragement: God will make wrongs right. This truth also encourages us. When we are discouraged it is almost always the result of sin. People are abusive, they kill, steal, rape, insult, cheat, and deceive. But we need not lose hope, because God will make wrongs right.

    This also reminds us to leave justice in God’s hands. Vengeance is his. We need not pursue petty revenge, or anchor our hopes to human courts and judges. We are free to lovingly forgive because we know that God is sovereign and just.

    Pray

    • Ask God to help you find hope and contentment in his justice. Confess the sins of bitterness, hatred, and keeping a record of wrongs.
    • Pray for the return of Jesus. His reign is the only cure to the disease of injustice that has infected this world.
    • Pray for those who have suffered as victims of sin and crime. Ask God to comfort them in their distress.
  • God Is Jealous for You – Zechariah 1:7-17

    God Is Jealous for You – Zechariah 1:7-17

    Take a moment to pray. Ask God to speak to you through his word—for his Spirit to convict you of sin, teach you the truth, and lead you in walking by faith.

    Setting the Scene

    Sometimes we can’t help but be overwhelmed by sin and its devastating effects. People wrong others, and they wrong us. We try and fail. We get confused, embarrassed, or shamed. In the midst of such times we often look around and wonder, “what is God doing?”

    The prophet Zechariah ministered to people in the same kind of situation. During his ministry in late 6th century BC the people of Israel had returned to the land from exile in Babylon/Persia and had begun rebuilding the temple. Rather than experiencing a glorious renewal, they were facing stiff opposition.

    Whenever we face opposition, whether it’s garden variety pushback or persecution due to our faith in Jesus, we can easily get discouraged. The good news is that God was not content to leave them (or us) discouraged. Zechariah’s visions are for Christians who have been let down, whose hopes have been dashed, who need some encouragement.

    As we venture in Zechariah’s 8 visions we need to remember what these visions are and are not. They are symbolic representations of truths and events designed to highlight their meaning. They are not video surveillance footage. Usually the visions depict something from the future, but sometimes they depict the present and even past. Often an angelic interpreter/guide helps clarify the meaning.

    Zechariah 1:7-17

    Zech. 1:7    On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah, son of Iddo:

    The precise date of this vision (and probably all 8 visions) was Feb. 15, 519 BC. From the prophet Haggai’s ministry as well as the book of Ezra we know that the people had resumed work on the temple in Jerusalem 5 months prior.

    Zech. 1:8    I looked out in the night and saw a man riding on a chestnut horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in the valley. Behind him were chestnut, brown, and white horses. 9 I asked, “What are these, my lord?” The angel who was talking to me replied, “I will show you what they are.”

    Zech. 1:10    Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones the LORD has sent to patrol the earth.”

    The horses (and riders) are those whom God sent to “patrol” the earth. The idea here is one of authority. The background of this picture is the familiar Persian idea of messengers on horse keeping the king informed. These are the Lord’s agents on patrol.

    Zech. 1:11    They reported to the angel of the LORD standing among the myrtle trees, “We have patrolled the earth, and right now the whole earth is calm and quiet.”

    They report that the earth is all quiet. The “man” in the midst of the myrtle trees is actually the angel of the Lord (Yahweh’s messenger). Sometimes the angel of Yahweh is a manifestation of the Lord himself, while other times the angel of Yahweh simply refers to one of his messengers.

    The Persian war machine was at rest at this point in history. They had supplanted Babylon, and as of the time of the vision the Ancient Near East was not at war.

    Zech. 1:12    Then the angel of the LORD responded, “How long, LORD of Armies, will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and the cities of Judah that you have been angry with these seventy years?” 13 The LORD replied with kind and comforting words to the angel who was speaking with me.

    The angel of the Lord asks God how long he will not show mercy to Jerusalem and Judah, “these 70 years” (cf. Jer. 25:11, 12, 29:10). The exile is thought of as 70 years in the prophets. The question presumes unfinished business. God’s people anticipated rescue and retribution, not simply Persian peace. Here the angel of Yahweh asks God to show mercy on Israel, and God responds with words of comfort and grace.  He is trustworthy.

    Zech. 1:14    So the angel who was speaking with me said, “Proclaim: The LORD of Armies says: I am extremely jealous for Jerusalem and Zion. 15 I am fiercely angry with the nations that are at ease, for I was a little angry, but they made the destruction worse. 16 Therefore, this is what the LORD says: In mercy, I have returned to Jerusalem; my house will be rebuilt within it—this is the declaration of the LORD of Armies—and a measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem.

    Zechariah is instructed to proclaim that God is jealous for Jerusalem and Zion (Zion is a throwback term for Jerusalem). This idea of jealously expresses God’s desire for the unrivaled love and attention of his people. He wants his people to be his exclusively. As Joyce Baldwin said, this jealousy is “a measure of the intensity of his love towards those with whom he has entered into covenant.”

    In contrast to God’s jealous love for Israel, he is angry with the nations “at ease.” God had sent them to judge Israel, but their own sin and evil was now at issue. Specifically Babylon, Assyria, and Edom are likely in view.

    While God commanded that the people return to him, he had returned to show them mercy. That mercy would be seen not only in their return to the land, but also in the rebuilding of the temple.

    The measuring line referenced here is the workman’s tool who will rebuild the city. The point is that Jerusalem will once again be inhabited by God’s people (cf. Jer. 31:38-40).

    Zech. 1:17    “Proclaim further: This is what the LORD of Armies says: My cities will again overflow with prosperity; the LORD will once more comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.”

    This return and blessing will benefit not only Jerusalem, but it will “overflow” to the cities of Judah as well. God has not forgotten his promise to bring the people back and restore Israel from Ezekiel 43:1-5, 48:35.

    The Big Picture

    When we zoom out and consider the story of the Bible, we realize that people have needed God’s mercy since Adam and Eve’s failure in Genesis 3. The sin problem permeates every people and culture throughout all time. We need God’s mercy.

    God has shown his mercy in many ways (like sparing Noah’s family, calling Abraham to Canaan), but the epicenter of his mercy came with Jesus the Messiah. Jesus, God incarnate, poured out his mercy to Israel and beyond by dying for our sins and rising from the dead. He truly reveals God to us, full of grace and truth (John 1:14-18).

    In the vision God promises that Jerusalem will be restored complete with a functioning temple and that he will return to her. It’s no mistake that many of the key moments in Jesus’ ministry occurred in Jerusalem. In fact, when he cleansed the temple in John 2 he proclaimed that he is the better temple (John 2:19-21).

    This means that Jesus is the mediator of God’s grace to humanity through his sacrifice on our behalf. This is how jealous the Lord is for us—he came to die in our place so that we could receive mercy.

    In Revelation, the Apostle John sees the New Jerusalem descend from heaven to the new earth. Once again, it’s no mistake that the city is called Jerusalem: it’s there that the Lord will dwell with his people forever.

    Taking It Home

    In the vision the angel asks, “Where are you God? Weren’t we your people?” He was definitely “asking for a friend.” The people were feeling lost; this return to the land didn’t seem right.

    Have you ever been there? Questioning God’s presence or his plan? Have you looked up to the heavens and said, “What’s going on? This doesn’t seem right!”

    The answer is clear: God’s agents are on patrol. No one’s getting away with anything in the end. And most importantly: God’s zeal for his people results in grace.

    God is jealous for his people. Think about that for a moment: God is jealous for your attention, your worship, your devotion. Sometimes we forget just how much we are loved.

    This aspect of God’s character has not changed. God has a special, jealous love for believers. He chases after us, won’t let us go, and actively shows us grace. He is so jealous for us, he provided a permanent sacrifice in Jesus. So God’s zeal for his people results in grace.

    Do you think of God as chasing after you? Passionate for your affections? Jealous for your love? We can’t skip over the amazing and profound reality of God’s special love for believers. We need to hear this most of all when we are discouraged.

    There is great comfort for us in God’s zeal for us. His jealous love for us reminds us that we are not alone, that he has not forgotten us, and that he is showing and will continue to show us grace. That grace is seen most clearly in his provision of a way to relate to him- in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

    Pray

    • Praise God for his zeal for his people. Thank him for the plan of salvation, that Jesus took on flesh and died for our sins.
    • Ask God to help you trust him in the midst of discouragement. If you are frustrated or disappointed, lay that burden down in prayer. Confess your sins to the Lord.
    • Pray for the faith to live in light of the love of God for you. Praise God for his unconditional love.
  • You Only Live Twice- Daniel 12:5-13

    You Only Live Twice- Daniel 12:5-13

    Take a moment to pray. Ask God to speak to you through his word—for his Spirit to convict you of sin, teach you the truth, and lead you in walking by faith.

    Setting the Scene

    Death, thou art not death! Grave, thou art no grave!

    -C. H. Spurgeon

    The end of our lives in this present age isn’t the end. This truth is simultaneously simple and profound, clear and confusing. It is the clear assertion of the Bible, and as such it instantaneously changes how we view our lives.

    If YOLO (you only live once) is a thing, then dying as a martyr is a tragedy, suffering for your faith is a tragedy, living with chronic illness is a tragedy, losing the battle to cancer is a tragedy, being the victim of sin is a tragedy, enduring great trials is a tragedy.

    But the saying should really be: YOLT (you only live twice). We live, and should the Lord tarry, we will die. But we will rise. The particulars of our resurrection make all the difference: will it be a resurrection unto life or death?

    Daniel’s fourth vision concluded with hard words about future suffering, but in God also promised the hope of the resurrection. The epilogue to this vision focuses Daniel’s heart on his responsibility in the present, in light of the future.

    As we read this passage, we need to remember that our approach to the present, especially in trials and suffering, must be informed by our understanding of the future. Because God is sovereign, and the resurrection will really happen, we have a living hope in the present.

    Daniel 12:5-13

    Dan. 12:5    Then I, Daniel, looked, and two others were standing there, one on this bank of the river and one on the other. 6 One of them said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the water of the river, “How long until the end of these wondrous things?” 7 Then I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the water of the river. He raised both his hands toward heaven and swore by him who lives eternally that it would be for a time, times, and half a time. When the power of the holy people is shattered, all these things will be completed.

    The epilogue returns to the banks of the Tigris, where the vision was given. There were two angels there, one on each bank and another person, the “man clothed in linen.” It is not clear who the man in linen is- whether he is an angel or if he is divine, although his response seems to indicate that he is distinct from the one who lives eternally.

    One of the angel’s asks essentially the same question as in Dan. 8:13-14, “When will all this be over?” The raising of one hand was the sign of taking an oath, and therefore sure answer is 3.5 years. The holy are believing Israel, and thus when their “power” has been broken the time will come to pass.

    Dan. 12:8    I heard but did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these things?”

    Dan. 12:9    He said, “Go on your way, Daniel, for the words are secret and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand. 11 From the time the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. 12 Happy is the one who waits for and reaches 1,335 days. 13 But as for you, go on your way to the end; you will rest, and then you will stand to receive your allotted inheritance at the end of the days.”

    Daniel didn’t understand, so he asked for specifics. What would the outcome be? The act of sealing means the message has been given, and should be passed along for the generations who will need it. There will not be any further explanation, until the end.

    The answer for Daniel is simple: walk on. The wicked will act wickedly, the sanctified will be refined. The purification, whitening, and refining is a reference to suffering persecution.

    Answering the “how long” question, the angel says from the time the burnt offering stops and the abomination that makes desolate is setup there will be 1,290 days, which is roughly 3.5 years (1277.5 on a 365 day year, 1260 on a 360 day year).

    Either these numbers relate specifically to the time between Antiochus IV’s blasphemy in 167 until the temple’s rededication in 164, or it is a reference to the future tribulation during the end times. This time frame could be taken literally, or as a symbolic reference to a short but necessary time of suffering.

    What are the extra 45 days for? It’s not clear. The overall point is that God is sovereign over the future. The blessing comes to believers, but they will need to persevere in spite of the persecution and suffering.

    The final word to Daniel relates to him specifically, but echoes the conclusion of the vision: you will be resurrected. So he should keep on serving God as he had been. His allotted place has been fixed by God, and he has assurance of standing in the end.

    As Tremper Longman states, “by these words, God gives Daniel and all of his heirs the confidence to persist in the light of continuing persecution and trouble.”

    The Big Picture

    Our hope for resurrection is directly tied to the resurrection of Jesus. Peter praised God for this hope. He said, “Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” Our hope is a living hope because Jesus is a living savior.

    Even Jesus’ death gave life… and not only spiritual life. Just after he describes Jesus’ death on the cross, Matthew tells us, “The tombs were also opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And they came out of the tombs after his resurrection, entered the holy city, and appeared to many” (Matthew 27:52-53). What happened? Jesus died and rose from the dead, and no one can stop that power.

    Likewise, Paul tells us, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.“ Our long term future is guaranteed to be eternal life in Christ, and no one can take that away.

    Taking It Home

    So we walk on. That’s the angelic instruction to Daniel: “go on your way.” But how long will the trial be? Keep moving. How hard will it be? Carry on. Why does it have to be this way? God is sovereign. What about if I die? You will rise.

    We all have these questions, but God often chooses not to give us answers. Instead he calls us to look to him in faith. I don’t know what your trial is, but if you’ve put your faith in Jesus, I know what your future is: life.

    The angel encouraged Daniel with two promises to help him carry on. First, he told him, “You will rest.” Rest is exactly what we want in the midst of the trial. Peace. Calm. Resolution. Contentment. This is what God promises us in Christ. The author of Hebrews tells us, “a Sabbath rest remains for God’s people.” You may not get the rest as soon as you would like, but it is coming.

    Second, the angel told Daniel he would stand to receive his inheritance. Peter echoes this promise when he describes our bulletproof inheritance in heaven. Paul calls us co-heirs with Christ, which means we will share in his glory. This promise is so much better than the things we chase in this world.

    The picture is vivid: you will stand in the gathered people of God, raised from the dead to eternal life, and you will receive the blessing of an eternally satisfying inheritance. So we walk on.

    Not everyone will persevere. The wicked sell out. The wicked give in to peer pressure. The wicked want to survive, so they compromise. The wicked only see temporal gain. They believe you only live once.

    But the wise stand out. The wise will shine. The wise will be raised unto eternal life. It’s time for us to live like we only live twice.

    Pray

    • Praise Jesus that he not only died for our sins, but that he rose from the dead. Praise him for his power over death.
    • Ask God to give you faith in the midst of your trials. Ask him to grow your confidence in his work and his promises.
    • Ask God to help you walk in a manner worthy of his calling of you. Praise him that you have a living hope because Jesus is a living savior.