(L,M,C)B...
Illustration
(L,M,C)
The visions of Daniel sound strange to the modern ear. The earlier ones were intended to interpret the faithfulness of God to Jews suffering from persecution.
The later ones looked toward the future, with emphasis on divine action that soon was to occur. The message is given with strange images, but the meaning is clear: God's will ultimately will be carried out.
This passage speaks of the "Son of Man." The biblical expression "son of" suggests a likeness in mind and spirit. Thus, "son of a dog" was an insult, indicating that the person so addressed had the mind and spirit of a dog. "Son of man," on the other hand, suggested one who represented God's true intention for humankind -- who is truly made in the image of God. Throughout the Old Testament, "son of man" was used as a poetic synonym for man, although in Ezekiel's writings it was used as a synonym for the prophet himself. In the New Testament, however, "Son of Man" was the designation Jesus most frequently used for himself. How appropriate that Daniel's prophecy speaks of the kingdom of the son of man as one that should not pass away.
Kingdom, of course, is not a place at all if one is speaking of the Kingdom of God. It is a condition rather than a location, the condition of living under the kingship -- or rule -- of God. That being the case, the kingdom is part of our existence here and now. Our need in troubled times is the same as the need of those who first heard the prophecy of Daniel -- to know that no matter how strong the forces of evil become, they will not prevent the living God from carrying out his will for humankind.
- Aber
The visions of Daniel sound strange to the modern ear. The earlier ones were intended to interpret the faithfulness of God to Jews suffering from persecution.
The later ones looked toward the future, with emphasis on divine action that soon was to occur. The message is given with strange images, but the meaning is clear: God's will ultimately will be carried out.
This passage speaks of the "Son of Man." The biblical expression "son of" suggests a likeness in mind and spirit. Thus, "son of a dog" was an insult, indicating that the person so addressed had the mind and spirit of a dog. "Son of man," on the other hand, suggested one who represented God's true intention for humankind -- who is truly made in the image of God. Throughout the Old Testament, "son of man" was used as a poetic synonym for man, although in Ezekiel's writings it was used as a synonym for the prophet himself. In the New Testament, however, "Son of Man" was the designation Jesus most frequently used for himself. How appropriate that Daniel's prophecy speaks of the kingdom of the son of man as one that should not pass away.
Kingdom, of course, is not a place at all if one is speaking of the Kingdom of God. It is a condition rather than a location, the condition of living under the kingship -- or rule -- of God. That being the case, the kingdom is part of our existence here and now. Our need in troubled times is the same as the need of those who first heard the prophecy of Daniel -- to know that no matter how strong the forces of evil become, they will not prevent the living God from carrying out his will for humankind.
- Aber
