On the Way to Wonder

²⁷ The kingship and dominion
    and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven
    shall be given to the people of the holy ones of the Most High;
their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom,
    and all dominions shall serve and obey them.’

Daniel 7:27

         Daniel 7 tells of a dream or vision Daniel, one of the wise men of Israel carried off in the Babylonian captivity, had and its interpretation.  We remember Daniel because of being thrown into the lion’s den because of the jealousy of the other wisemen.  The lion’s did not eat Daniel.  Angels protected him.  But Daniel was also famous for his ability to interpret dreams and visions for the various kings of the Babylonian empire.  In this case, though, Daniel is sharing his own dream and the interpretation given him.  He envisioned four kingdoms of the future arising and then falling.  Ultimately though, “the Most High” is given ultimate authority and becomes the ultimate judge. 

         The language of Daniel is symbolic and much has been written as to what it means and just when this will take place and what the sequence of events will entail.  The interesting picture we are left with today is God as the final and ultimate judge of reality.  Perhaps we get a bit squimish at the picture of the courtroom but I find this symbol speaking to the injustice we perceive in our world around us.  When I hear the reports of the many innocents slaughtered in the path of war or when I get the adds about medical research for the many suffering with disease, my heart aches.  Our world struggles under the curse of sin.  That does not even include our own sense of injustice with the problems of our personal lives. 

         I find it a comfort that God is not asleep or blind and that one day there will be justice.   Many things we just do not have enough perspective to understand the event and so the insults of the moment hurt.  But other happenings are just wrong.  Wrongs challenge our faith that God is all powerful.  When I think of God as the ultimate judge, I think of a being who sees the whole picture of life and who knows just exactly how to repay evil and the right timing.  Yup, it takes time and patience.  “¹⁹ Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ (Romans 12:19)”

         Let us pray for the many suffering today in unfair circumstances and that leaders in power will rule justly!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 18th, 2023 at 6:46 am and is filed under Spiritual Vitamins. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.