Today we hear something of the pain and shame of the ordinary Israelites in exile.
The meaning of the visions
Daniel 7:15-28
Captivity Psalms: A song of thanksgiving
Psalm 67
A prayer for mercy
Psalm 123
A prayer for help
Psalm 130
The Israelites’ lament
Psalm 137
Daniel’s vision of a ram and a goat
Daniel 8:1-14
The vision explained
Daniel 8:125-27
Fall of Babylon prophesied
Isaiah 13:17-22, Jeremiah 25:12-14, 50:1-8
As ever, the Psalms tug at the heartstrings. There are some words that perfectly capture the pain and longing of people who are denied their greatest treasure. But still people with faith. Like a child looking expectantly to its parents, Psalm 123 says our eyes are on you, Lord. Psalm 130 talks about waiting - waiting until the Lord has mercy. How long will it be? Psalm 137 expresses the pain of defeat like no other. It’s a Psalm of rage and agony, expressing the hope that one day what was done to Jerusalem will be done to Babylon, who caused their pain.
Daniel 8 expresses the same longing as the Psalms - how long will Israel’s humiliation last? The interpretation of the vision places it among events much later - after the Greek empire has passed its peak, when Israel rebelled against the cruel Antiochus Epiphanes.
Then we read prophecies about what the Israelites longed for - the fall of Babylon. The power that carried them into exile will topple and fall, say Isaiah and Jeremiah. 70 years is the answer. That’s how long it will take.
The meaning of the visions
Daniel 7:15-28
Captivity Psalms: A song of thanksgiving
Psalm 67
A prayer for mercy
Psalm 123
A prayer for help
Psalm 130
The Israelites’ lament
Psalm 137
Daniel’s vision of a ram and a goat
Daniel 8:1-14
The vision explained
Daniel 8:125-27
Fall of Babylon prophesied
Isaiah 13:17-22, Jeremiah 25:12-14, 50:1-8
As ever, the Psalms tug at the heartstrings. There are some words that perfectly capture the pain and longing of people who are denied their greatest treasure. But still people with faith. Like a child looking expectantly to its parents, Psalm 123 says our eyes are on you, Lord. Psalm 130 talks about waiting - waiting until the Lord has mercy. How long will it be? Psalm 137 expresses the pain of defeat like no other. It’s a Psalm of rage and agony, expressing the hope that one day what was done to Jerusalem will be done to Babylon, who caused their pain.
Daniel 8 expresses the same longing as the Psalms - how long will Israel’s humiliation last? The interpretation of the vision places it among events much later - after the Greek empire has passed its peak, when Israel rebelled against the cruel Antiochus Epiphanes.
Then we read prophecies about what the Israelites longed for - the fall of Babylon. The power that carried them into exile will topple and fall, say Isaiah and Jeremiah. 70 years is the answer. That’s how long it will take.
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