Sermon Snippets

We've arrived at the end of the book of Daniel, focusing this week on 12:5-13. It has been a fun journey learning about God through his faithful prophet Daniel.  This book has traced Daniel's life from a captive young exile to an elder statesman who has served multiple kings and two different empires.

From these concluding verses, it is easy to imagine a steadfast but weary Daniel being comforted by God's message. It brings to mind another account, this one being a fictional elder-statesman who was also arriving at the end of his life's journey.

http://lesmiserables.wikia.com/wiki/File:Valjean's_Death.png

God provides comfort to this faithful servant by highlighting the promised deliverance and resurrection that are his:

 "As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance." (12:13)

What a beautiful way to end the book. God is in control and has great things in store for His people. This is the Gospel inserted into the Old Testament,

"Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever....Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked." (12:2-3, 10)

There are other promises within this passage that we will unwrap on Sunday, but the most important ones are those that speak to our ultimate salvation and our ultimate destiny. Praise God for this indescribable gift!