August 6, 2025 - Daniel 7-9

Lots of imagery in these chapters, the meaning of which has been hotly debated over the years.  In these three chapters (There’s more in chapters 11-12.), there are the four kingdoms, the four beasts, the ram and the goat, the little horn and, in the midst of it all, the Ancient of Days.  I don’t know if Daniel fully understood all the imagery he saw but he certainly saw “the Ancient of Days” take his seat (7:9).  And, seeing this One, Daniel knows precisely what to do:  “Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.  I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession . . . O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem . . . O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his prayers for mercy . . .” (9:3,4,16,17).  In troubled times (I suppose every generation finds itself living in troubled times; thus, the universality of this counsel.), what must we do?  We turn our faces to the Lord!

Great King of nations, hear our prayer,

while at your feet we fall,

and humbly, with united cry,

to you for mercy call.

The guilt is ours, but grace is yours,

O turn us not away;

but hear us from your lofty throne,

and help us when we pray.   -- John Hampden Gurney (1838)