Winding Ways
Daniel 11:1-12
Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him.And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia.
If you recall in prior texts, the truth fell to the ground; there, it practiced and prospered at the appointed time. This record from the book of truth is the full accounting of history as told by God. God is not like us. He is not worried about this viewpoint or that. Nor does he even care which political views you hold. Daniel is shown here going about his duties of strengthening and confirming the new king Darius. I imagine after all that had happened, King Darius needed quite a bit of support and knowledge from the Lord to fulfill his office. Nevertheless, God put someone there at his side to assist him. It is nice to say that the Lord will provide, but we cannot ignore the provision he has already given. Daniel certainly filled this role well regardless of which man was there. While he is going about his business, the Lord has brought him before himself to show him the truth. The angel of the prior text called it the book of truth. It is from this book that we will now read. There are three kings of Persia and a fourth richer than them all. Due to his position, riches, and what he has done, he will cause everyone to be stirred up against the realm of Grecia. If you remember prior, the goat occupied the realm of Grecia and the ram the Media and Persians. I would be stirred up too after seeing all that God has in store for us. 1 Corinthians 2:9 says: eyes have "not seen nor" has "ear heard" nor has it "entered into the heart of man" the wonder "God has prepared for them that love him." After all this time, God is still interested in only one thing: what have you done with his Son?
And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those.
At one time there was no division between the worlds. It was ruled by a mighty king that had "great dominion" and did whatever he wanted. The word used is will which meant he made others do the same. However, when he went to stand up, his kingdom was broken and divided into four winds of Heaven. Thus, the four winds are seen as the four spirits of God that went to the north, south, east, and west as told by Zechariah 6:5. This king did not even get to share it with his posterity nor by the "dominion which he ruled." How many of you know that even when the kingdom is broken God will still give you a dominion. Does anyone know what I am talking about? Your children come home from school and the husband comes in causing a fuss. Clearly the kingdom is broken. But you cook dinner and there is peace in that house because he has given you dominion. Even when you or other people are doing wrong, God is still able to straighten that thing out. This king's kingdom was plucked up for the benefit of others besides the four winds of Heaven as we will soon see. There is a sharing here with even those who did not his will nor supported his rule.
And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion.And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king's daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times.
Ouch. This is some real Game of Thrones stuff here. There is a lot of stuff in prophecy which we do not yet understand, and this is one of them. This woman spoken of here clearly has had a lot of support and help. Let me try to summarize what it is that I am reading. The king of the south has a prince who helps him. At the end of this time, they will be joined together. If this king is strong, his prince is stronger. These have been given dominion for a time by the Almighty. When God is for you, it does not matter who stands with you, against you, or beside you. Whatever his purpose will come to pass. The daughter of the king of the south will make an agreement with the king of the north. However, once the agreement is made, they either rely on each other or else fall together. The text states she retains not the power of her arm nor he of his.
For this cause will she "be given up" along with her father, her caretaker, and her source of comfort. This is one of the biggest lessons to make God the one on whom you lean. How many of you know that if you do that, you will never suffer loss nor defeat no matter what it looks like in this life. When God is your source, it does not matter who comes and goes in this short period we call life. When he has built the house, it shall stand. But when he purposes destruction, believe me, it will be like the house built on the sandy shore of Matthew 7:24-27. God does not pay attention to the past nor to people's names and positions as we do. He is interested in heart stories and the movement of his will throughout the earth. Isaiah 43:18-19 says he is doing a new thing for those who perceive it and "consider not the former things of old." This text is as history lessons for some perceptive people.
But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, which shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail: And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north.
Here we see the branch of her roots standing in her estate. It could be a son or a relative near or distant. This branch will stand up in the king of the south's name and with him an army. Together they will travel to "the fortress of the king of the north." There is an intent to plunder and destroy seen here. The king of the north and his country shall be dealt with. Then, will the captives be carried back to Egypt along with the gods which could not save them and all their mighty men along with their precious things. For his dealings, the king of the south will be given more years than the king of the north had. Faithfulness to God is encouraged here nor does it go unrewarded. Even if you are in the wrong and falsely oppressed, God will make it so that you are able to stand against anything you face. And if you find that you are the one carried off, God can bring you out.
So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land.But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces: and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through: then shall he return, and be stirred up, even to his fortress.
Then the king of the south returns to his kingdom. Or the text could say he inherits his kingdom and returns home. Regardless, the coming into and the returning are two separate matters. It is important to note, this king has some sons which are "stirred up." Now I know what it is like having highly excitable family members. There is a difference between highly excitable and righteous anger. One of the sons certainly sounds like he suffers from the former. The words overflow, pass through, return, and "be stirred up" back to his own fortress certainly sounds like the movement of waves on a seashore. How many of you know that the devil walks about like a roaring lion "seeking whom he may devour" according to 1 Peter 5:8. Again, Psalm 1:4 describes the unrighteous man as carried about by every wind of doctrine. But when you walk with God it matters not where you wander, for he will see you safely home.
And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, even w ith the king of the north: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand.And when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands: but he shall not be strengthened by it.
Oh, there are a few people who love to paint a picture of this nation and of that in Scriptural prophecy. Sure, God mentions some. However, the people and the places are not as important as the move of the Spirit of God throughout history and the whole earth. There are four kings dealt with here each reigning over four kingdoms. Neither the kings nor the kingdoms are mentioned except for the regions they occupy. Now, if you will recall in Zechariah 6:8, God sent his four spirits unto the four parts of the earth and had found rest in the north. I do not know if these four could correspond. However, it is important to see these regions are now as a house divided. God can make a blessing come from even that. He does so to make his will be done on the earth. Now let us see the movement here. The king of the south is very angry at the turn of events. So he sent forth a great number of people but the multitude is "given into his hand." How many of you know that when God requires something, when something is given, or even taken by force, God will cause you to be blessed.
In fact, God can return even more blessing for what was given, lost, and taken. Now when this multitude has been taken away, the king of the south will be proud and will reign over many but not profit by it. Therefore, no matter when God elevates you after you have come thru a situation, remember to find your hope, peace, and comfort in him alone. He alone could do such a thing. How many of you know that when God changes your circumstances, he can change your point of view as well. If God can rewrite your story, how much more can he not make you more than a conqueror thru him that loved us. You might be saying to yourself, 'how can you say that?' How many kings do you know that can start a war with a multitude. They keep that multitude; when the war is over, they still have that multitude and are reigning. Now the multitude has been taken away indicating there is a finding of rest here. Then we see pride emerge along with the reigning over. The sustenance in all this movement is the Lord.