Peter Misselbrook's Blog
Sep 21 2019 - Daniel 9 – Daniel's prayer

As we have seen, Daniel had made it his practice to pray daily to the Lord God – that was what had got him thrown into the den of lions. But Daniel was not only in the habit of spending time with God in prayer, he was also a man who read the Bible and sought to understand its relevance to his own life and the life of his people. And Daniel had been reading the book of the prophet Jeremiah, from which he understood that the period of the Israelite's captivity in Babylon would amount to 70 years (see Jeremiah 25:11). Daniel realises that this period of time has nearly expired and so he sets himself to pray for the exiles in Babylon to be released and freed to return to their own land.

Have we developed healthy habits of Bible reading and prayer like those of Daniel? Do we seek to understand the relevance of what God says to us in his word and turn it into heartfelt prayer? These notes are intended to help you to develop such habits but you need to go beyond them to develop such habits for yourself. You may be surprised at what God has to say to you and where he may lead you in the adventure of discipleship.

Daniel was clearly familiar not only with the book of the prophet Jeremiah but also with the books of Moses, and perhaps particularly Deuteronomy. He begins his prayer with confession on behalf of himself and God's people generally. He acknowledges that they had turned away from the Lord to false gods; they had rebelled against God's laws and not listened to the prophets whom God had sent with warnings of his judgment (vv. 4-6). The Lord had been righteous and faithful to his covenant in sending them into captivity in Babylon – the covenant contained warnings of judgment as well as promises of blessing (see Leviticus 26:14-45 and Deuteronomy 28:15-68).

But Daniel knows that, "The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him" (v. 9). Therefore, in accordance with the promises of his word in Deuteronomy 30:2-3, as well as in Jeremiah, he pleads for God to come to the rescue of his people. Daniel calls to mind the way God rescued his people from slavery in Egypt, making a great name for himself in so doing (v. 15). He asks that God would now hear his prayer and do it again. He concludes:

Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name. (vv. 18-19)

In many ways Daniel's bold prayer is a model for our own. It is rooted in a knowledge of God and in the promises of his word. He does not ask simply for blessing on himself and his nation, but asks for God to glorify his own name by showing mercy towards his people.

While Daniel was still in prayer the Lord sent his angel, Gabriel, with a message for Daniel. The strange message with its "seventy sevens" has given rise to all manner of speculative interpretations concerning end times and possible dates of Christ's return – things which Jesus himself warned us against. We are going to avoid any such speculations but suggest simply that Daniel is being warned that the exile of God's people will continue long beyond the imminent return of the Jews to the promised land and the reconstruction of Jerusalem and the temple that was to take place in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah. It is only with the coming of the Lord Jesus that God comes at last to save his people from captivity and lead them into freedom – people now from every nation. This is the debate Jesus had with the Jewish leaders of his day in which he told them, "if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36, see 8:31-36).

Father God, we thank you for your salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ and the freedom from fear and from death which we enjoy in him. Lord Jesus, teach us to pray. Help us by your Spirit to tell others of your saving goodness that they also might find freedom in you.

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Sep 21 2020 - Matthew 21:23-46 – The tenants of the vineyard

Jesus had chased the traders out of the Temple, much to the fury of the Jewish leaders who now confronted him, questioning his authority to do these things. Jesus responds with a question of his own; he asks them whether the ministry of John the Baptiser was from God or of human contrivance? The Jewish leaders refuse to answer. They cannot admit that John’s ministry was from God otherwise they will be faced with the question of why they did not believe him – particularly in his testimony about Jesus. Their hypocrisy is illustrated in the story Jesus then tells them about two sons.

Jesus then tells them a parable about a landowner who planted a vineyard and let it out to tenant farmers. At harvest time the owner sent his servants, expecting to be given his share of the crop. But the tenants beat the servants and even killed some. More servants were sent, but they were treated in the same way. Finally, the owner of the vineyard sent his own son to receive the fruit of the vineyard that was his due. But when they saw the son coming, the tenants plotted to kill him in the hope that the vineyard would then be theirs to do with as they liked. So they killed him. Jesus then asked the Jewish leaders, "When the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" (Matthew 21:40). The Jewish leaders have become so caught up in the drama of the story that they respond, "He will bring those wretches to a wretched end, and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time." Only as Jesus continues to speak to them do they realise that he had been speaking about them.

The saddest part of this whole incident is the final reaction of the Jewish leaders. They have entered into the drama of the parable. They recognise the rights of the owner of the vineyard and the astonishing wickedness of the tenants who will kill the son who comes in the owner's name seeking the fruit that is his due. Yet when they realise that Jesus has told this parable about them, they looked for a way to seize him. They do not abandon their role in the drama; they are intent on playing it out to the bitter end.

Saddest of all is their implied verdict upon themselves, "He will bring those wretches to a wretched end, and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time."

Matthew's readers would have seen this as a picture of the church, the community of the New Covenant created through the shed blood of Jesus; a people being gathered from every nation under heaven – Jew and Gentile. This new people are being put together by God with Jesus, the stone that the builders rejected, as the cornerstone. They are a people created to give God the worship and honour that is his due.

But this is not the end of the story. This drama that finds its definitive fulfilment in Christ continues to be played out down the years. Again and again, those who call themselves the people of God fail to live up to their calling. But God's purpose is never defeated. He is ever and anew creating a people who will worship him in spirit and in truth.

Where are we in this drama?

Father God, keep me from an outward profession of faith which fails to be accompanied by heartfelt obedience and worship. Lord Jesus, give me an ear to hear what you are saying to the churches and a ready heart to respond to every word that comes from your mouth. Animate me by your Spirit and keep me from fossilised and critical religion.

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Peter Misselbrook