Passage Read: Daniel 8-11
Meditation Verse: 8:12
Thought
On account of sin, Israel was sent into exile. After seventy years, God brought them back to their land. But they would not remain faithful or they would not return in full repentance. Because this awful king who will do away with the daily sacrifice and set up the abomination that causes desolation would be sent against them because of their transgression. This speaks of a time that has already come and gone. We can read about it in the history books and get insight into all the Lord is promising here. But this is also pointing to a time yet to come, to the end of this age, when again a mighty and horrible king will be sent against Israel because of their transgression. Trouble comes because of sin, and that trouble is terrible indeed. Much suffering comes from it, but also finally a recognition of sin, and repentance. In the end, transgression will be done away with, sin atoned for and everlasting righteousness brought in. Transgression back then included adopting foreign gods and foreign customs, turning away from God's Law and treating the Lord and His sanctuary lightly, as if God were not real. Transgression in the future may not involve foreign gods, at least in the form I usually think of, but secularization is growing in Israel and that is no different from the Hellenization of long ago. They are both the abandonment of God and His ways.
Application
This is how God works. When I treat Him and His Word lightly, when I care less and less about what He desires, and choose to live in accordance with my flesh and in the ways of those who don't know and love God, then I can expect that God will send trouble upon me, perhaps even a great oppressor against me. If God's people, the Church of the living God, grows cold towards Him and careless of His ways, if He claims us, if He loves us, He will send trouble upon us, even a godless ruler who promotes all kinds of anti-God ideas and practices. It has happened again and again in history, even up to the present time. The problem and the solution lie not with outside circumstances or forces, but with the holiness of the people of God. And that begins with me trembling at God's Word, holding it in the highest regard so that I'm careful to believe and do all it teaches.