The strivings of self-willed men affect God’s people, but our God is above the river of strivings!
The Lord’s People and the River
Fleshly men fight and self-will leads to ongoing strife. These strivings often cause turmoil and the subsequent turbulence regularly affects those who associate themselves with the Lord. The resulting “wild times” can often seem out of control.
In Daniel 10 to 12 God reveals how these strivings by world rulers will distress Israel. This vision, given during the third year of Cyrus king of Persia focuses on the time during the splintered Greek empire (ch.10-11) and the Great Tribulation (ch.12) and how the striving of these periods will eventually affect Jerusalem. The pressure will expose whether the people identified with the Lord are genuine in their relationship with God (11:32).
Some will choose to conform rather than obey what God has said in His Word. But others will see through the deception of the day. These are the wise (11:33). They will see and follow their God whom they know personally. Consequently, they will be empowered to do things they would not have done otherwise if merely acting on their circumstances.
The prophecy foretells that the pronounced pressure to dishonor the Lord and conform to the lies of men will come to a head in the latter part of the Greek empire. When Judea comes under the sway of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the pressure to conform will dramatically increase and ultimately press the people of God to make clear decisions about whether they will obey God and His Word. This is the prototype of the pressure that will come from the king in the end times (11:36). He will be the most self-willed king ever (the antichrist, referred to as the “little horn” in chapter 7 and “false prince” in chapter 9). His rise to power and presence in Israel will cause a time of unparallelled distress for Israel (12:1), but God will use it to fulfill His purposes (12:7, 10).
Daniel and the River
Daniel was standing by the great river Tigris (10:4) which gives a visual of the “great conflict” (10:1, NASB). Picture a person standing in a river. The prophecy given to him is of fighting that keeps happening. This ongoing fighting is like the waters of the river. The currents persistently press those who are in it.
The current pushes the people of God to conform – to go with the flow. Yet, Daniel exemplifies one who did not cave to the tumultuous pressure or get pulled into the strivings and scheming of men. Despite a new name being imposed on him, he is still “Daniel” after all these decades (10:1) He knew His God and it stabilized him. In a similar way, those who have insight in future times will be steady while others will fall in with societal pressures (acting “wickedly” toward God’s revealed will; see 11:32; 12:10).
As the prophecy in Daniel 11 unfolds, it conveys a sense of how the river of man’s striving flows (11:2-13). Willful, self-advancing men feel they are superior and deserve more. They demand more to satisfy themselves. They will use whatever means available for personal gain. They will attack any who will not comply with their high view of themselves. (May God preserve us from living like this)
This river of men’s strivings eventually impacts God’s people in Jerusalem (11:14-35). The river starts to flood Jerusalem and force its inhabitants to decide what they will do, as men begin to impose their desires on them. It takes great strength to stand against the current.
Similarly in the end times (beginning in 11:36), this river will rise to its highest when an arrogant man strives for dominance. The king’s actions will cause the greatest flood upon Israel. Yet God will sovereignly use men’s willful ways to push the nation of Israel to repentance upon which the Son of Man will rescue them. God fulfills His purposes. What a God! Thankfully, men’s devious ways are under God’s authority.
The Lord’s Refining and the River
Standing against the river is more difficult than conforming. Fear pushes people to rationalize away from obeying God’s revealed will. If a person has only been going along with a religious culture but does not personally know God, they will be carried downstream by the pressure. They will be happy to ignore the Scriptures which allows them to fit in with the river’s expectations. The surrounding society tells them to bow to lies, and their knees do not have the strength to stay standing (Dan. 3).
Yet, there are those who see through the swirling lies that bombard them. They find strength to stand, for by faith they see their God, the true, sovereign, great and awesome God. They know that even if their lives are taken, there is a resurrection ahead. They are like lights shining out to others (12:2-4). Knowing their God, by His power they are strong enough to do things that they would not do naturally (11:32).
The Wise and the River
While the wicked get swept into conforming, the wise:
- By faith see the unseen and eternal (what’s really going on)
- Know and obey the true God
- Act different and steady (seeking God’s glory not gain for self)
- Keep the long view of looking for the Son of Man’s return
The pressures have a positive effect on the wise. They find themselves refined, purified, and cleansed through their troubles (11:35; 12:10). Their dependence upon God becomes more simple. Their confidence in God becomes more pure. Their simple obedience to God’s Word becomes more earnest and settled. Thus, the Lord in His sovereignty even uses men’s evil activities to bring blessing to the faithful and honor to His name.
The Future of Israel and the River
The pressures will be sovereignly used by God to bring repentance for Israel as a nation, which is the essential prerequisite for the forgiveness of their sins and restoring them to righteous fellowship with their God. Their power will be shattered by the false prince (12:7) as they face a time of distress never experienced before (12:1). Israel as a nation will come to the end of themselves, confess that they cut off their Messiah, and look in faith to that very One whom they have pierced, at last finding the forgiveness and deliverance they desperately need (Zech. 12-14). Through all the strife, the promised plan succeeds.
The Lord’s Sovereignty and the River
The vision begins with the awesome Man in linen (ch.10). At the end of the vision (ch.12), attention returns to the Man in linen with emphasis on His location being “above” the currents of the river of man’s strivings. Like Daniel, may we also take note of His awesome Person and elevated position. His power is supreme and His plans are on schedule. He heralds God’s sovereignty and urges us to trust the living God. In seeing this exalted One, Daniel could find inner peace, despite seeing all the turmoil ahead. May we be numbered with the wise who see above the river and act accordingly.