Focusing on victory
Every day we're reading or listening to part of the Bible together and sharing thoughts with you. Today Mal Calladine gets into our final daily chunk of ‘daring Daniel’… an epic story of victory to rock out to!
What did I like about today’s passage?
It’s two anniversaries today - Happy V.E. day! And, less profoundly, Motörhead day!! Time to sing out in full Lemmie style: “the 8th of May; the 8th of May!”! V.E. Day is a wonderful frame to the readings today – the day that marks victory at the end of WWII.
I’ve often heard the analogy to explain where we are in history (as we understand the ‘now and not yet’ of kingdom theology) of the timeline of the WWII. That it’s agreed that ‘D’ Day in June 1944 was the defining moment of the war with the decisive act of ground being taken, creating a western front; but victory wasn't assured or confirmed for another eleven months. And it was not a triumphal procession to confirm victory, in fact more people died in those later battles with an army in retreat, than in the previous years of the war.
In our New Testament worldview we understand ourselves to be in the ‘in-between’ of the ‘D’ Day of the cross and resurrection, where the defining victory was established; and the V.E. day of Jesus’ return, where victory is confirmed.
Daniel points to a similar worldview in these, his final chapters of cryptic, symbolic picture language, called apocalyptic literature; wrestling with the question ‘what happens at the end?’
As we've looked at the telescope analogy through this book, these are the chapters where the focus most is on the second, further away, lens that has application on a wider time horizon. The angel says to Daniel:
“Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come…” But the explaining still seems pretty confusing to me! A great war, loads of imagery and symbolic use of numbers; these are not simple ideas to unpack.
I most like that even for Daniel it was overwhelming - he needed to ask for spiritual strength because it was too much to engage with (10:18-19). And that requested strength was given to him, and he persevered in wrestling with this stuff.
What did it show me about Father God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?
It reminded me that, when push comes to shove, God is much bigger and smarter than me. Some people obsess on the details of the “end times’, others ostrich it. But more than anything, God want us to walk in his deep, ‘shalom’ peace which is beyond and greater than our understanding (Phil 4:7), and perfect ‘all consuming’ love which pushes off fear (1 John 4:18). That verse defines fear as to do with punishment; psychologists define fear as ‘the apprehension of future evil’. If we know it’s not about future evil, but good, and embracing peace that is bigger than our ability to understand, then we have these writings in the context of our relationship with our Heavenly Father.
Daniel was written as an encouragement to deflated, oppressed people to bring hope and keep them going. That, I believe, is the Father’s message in Daniel for us.
What am I going to do differently as a result?
This week I was listening to a favourite podcast - Elis & John’s Isolation Tapes (*67 if you want a listen!). They were discussing the end of lockdown and the angst it was creating in them. One said, “I don't care ‘when’; I just want the reassurance of knowing ‘how’.” Another replied, “I don’t care ‘how’, my peace is in knowing ‘when’!”
That no-one could confidently give answers to their queries was impacting for me. I don't think anyone right now (scientist, politician or pundit) can accurately offer them the definitive answer of hope to align their plans to right now. We just need to ride it out. Their heart’s cry is reasonable. But the reality is to keep going, we must find peace in it all despite not fully knowing or understanding yet how it’s going to pan out.
This reminds me of Jon Mark Comer’s teaching (which is incredibly relevant for this time!) both in his book ‘The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry’ and his teaching from Vineyard’s NLC 2020 where he quotes the research of Dr Friedman, that the only solution to the cycle of a world in crisis, is to insert people who are “a non-anxious presence.”
I want to be one of those coming in an opposite spirit to the angst of the age! To be a ‘person of peace, doing what Daniel was told: “Go your way Daniel because the words are closed up & sealed until time of the end.” (12:9)
To get on with living, and be at peace, in my relationship with God and His plans. To treat being afraid as a trigger to fear only God… and that brings peace.
Who am I going to share this with?
I want to be that ‘non-anxious presence’ in the supermarket aisles of my life! Especially with those ignoring the 2m social distancing guidelines, reaching over me to get to a shelf and ignoring the one-way system!
And a final thing to share with you, as we finish this book of Daniel: I wanted to end with a flourish! When I reference Daniel’s stories in my head, my own filter is through having the pleasure of kids who grew up with VeggieTales! In these animated stories, King Neb is a big old marrow, who loved Daniel & the other jealous court official’s response I found unforgettable:
“Oh no, what we gonna do? The king likes Daniel, more than me and you;
Oh no, what we gonna do? We’ve gotta get him outta here.”
It finishes with one of the finest fear-inducing rhymes in lyrical history:
“We can use him as a footstool, or a table to play Scrabble on; or tie him up and beat him up, and throw him out of Babylon!”
Whatever worries & fears are assaulting you this day… whatever enemy assaults & plans…
May you know today the peace, that the defining battle is won, victory is assured; and whatever devious plans are being hatched, you hold the hand of the all-powerful one who holds the future… Enjoy…