Question: Does prophecy still edify the church today? Does it still serve a purpose? Answer: The simple answer to both questions is yes. However, we need to be clear about what is meant by “prophecy.” There are those who presume to tell individuals what will happen to them, or even what will happen in the world beyond what is revealed in Scripture. This is mere presumption and cannot be accepted as a work of God. In Scripture, the Biblical prophets did tell of future events. This was a special grace given to them to validate that their words were authorized by God. (Deut. 18:22) Even in this case, the Scripture was superior to the word of a prophet. (Deut. 13:1-3) This need for verification is now passed for the simple…
As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. Daniel 1:17 “How can the god also be the water?” The question had eked its way out of my concentration as I strove to copy the next line of When on High. I sat cross-legged, just one student among seven straight rows of seven concentrating and copying in the afternoon light. With a copy on one thigh, our copy on the other, a stylus in our hands, and our heads alternating from tablet to tablet, we must have looked like some kind of machine. Forty-nine hands copying the same work in the same pose. “None of this makes sense,” I wondered to myself. “Does it…
So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. Daniel 1:16-17 Azariah gave a heavy sigh as he sat beside me, staring at his lentils and trying to start his meal with a thankful attitude. I could relate with his predicament. Undoubtedly, our God had worked mightily on our behalf when we made our request known ten months ago. The steward was surprised by our determination to carry on with vegetables and water and even more surprised when he could not discern any detriment in our well-being. Yet a greater deliverance was needed now that the…
But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs,and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.”Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,“Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to…
How does one begin when there is no place to start? This was the question for Daniel and his peers. Sinai was an ancient memory and Jerusalem and its temple lay in ruins. Things had come full circle. Israel dwelt in Babylon; Abraham had returned to the gods of his fathers. Was there any hope? Hope is a remarkable thing. It empowers our efforts but exists entirely independent of them. We find ourselves willing to do anything in the pursuit of hope only to find that it takes a form altogether different than we had expected or even comprehended. Daniel rightly placed his hope in the infinite God, “the Hope of Israel” (Ps. 137; Lam. 3), holding fast to the promises He had given to Abraham’s descendants, the captives of…
Question: Are the Beatitudes a law or an announcement? When it says, "Blessed are the poor in spirit" does that mean, "Okay, better go out and be poor in spirit!" or "Good news for spiritual losers! The Lord is going to save you"? Answer: The character of the Beatitudes is more of an “announcement” than a “law,” to use your terminology. But “announcement” does not really reflect the sense either. It is important to see that this whole section of Matthew is introducing the character of the Kingdom. In fact, the whole of Matthew’s gospel has a dispensational character. That is, it presents the Lord Jesus as King and so contains many elements that relate to the Millennial Kingdom. Some incorrect interpretations of passages in Matthew are common in Christendom…
