NL-Day315 Daniel 3-4; Isaiah 24; 2 Corinthians 4:10-5:15

DANIEL 3-4:
Matthew Henry describes the parts of the statue in Daniel 2:

1. The head of gold signified the Chaldean empire, then in being.

2. The breast and arms of silver signified the empire of the Medes and Persians.

3. The belly and thighs of brass signified the Grecian empire, founded by Alexander.

4. The legs and feet of iron signified the Roman empire. The Roman empire branched into ten kingdoms, as the toes of [the//these] feet [of the statue]. Some were weak as clay, others strong as iron. Endeavors [were made] to unite them, for strengthening the empire, but in vain.

5. The stone cut out without hands, represented the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, which [will//should] be set up in the kingdoms of the world, upon the ruins of Satan's kingdom in them. This was the Stone which the builders refused, because it was not cut out by their hands, but it is become the head stone of the corner. Of the increase of Christ's government and peace there shall be no end. The Lord shall reign, not only to the end of time, but when time and days shall be no more. As far as events have gone, the fulfilling this prophetic vision has been most exact and undeniable; future ages shall witness this Stone destroying the image, and filling the whole earth.

ISAIAH 24:
Yesterday we heard the oracle against the proud seafaring city-state of Tyre.

2CORINTHIANS 4:10—5:15:
One of the hard things about 2 Corinthians for a translator is that ‘we’ in Greek is just like ‘we’ in English. The two languages do not distinguish between ‘we-speakers-excluding-listeners’ and ‘we-inclusive-of-listeners’. So which is it in places like this? Well, primarily in chapter 4, I think that Paul is talking about ‘we apostles’ in this section. As we repeat reading the second half of chapter 4 today, you will be able to see how ‘we’ contrasts with ‘you/your’ in verses 12 and 15. Even though Paul seems to be using ‘we’ in the exclusive sense (we apostles), this does not mean that we can’t take what Paul says about himself and his friends and apply it to us as our ideal. Let’s determine to be like Paul in things like “fixing our gaze on things we cannot see.” But in chapter 5, I believe Paul’s use of ‘we’ is inclusive of his hearers. We all have bodies that Paul pictures as our ‘earthly tent’.

NLT Translation notes:
Dan. 3:5 When you hear the sound of the [band, including the] horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments, bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue.
7 So  at the sound of the [band//musical instruments], all the people, whatever their race or nation or language, bowed to the ground and worshiped the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
19 “Upon hearing this, Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) was overcome for a time, frightened by the meaning of the dream. Then the king said to him, ‘Belteshazzar, don’t be alarmed by the dream and what it means.’
[So I answered//Belteshazzar replied], “My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries!

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.