daily reading 9.4 (Daniel 7:6–10)

 5-days-a-week through Daniel and other late OT books in 2023

Our opening prayer this week:

Jesus, tempted in the desert,

Lonely, hungry, filled with dread:

“Use your pow’r,” the tempter tells him;

“Turn these barren rocks to bread.  

“Not alone by bread, he answers,

“Can the human heart be filled.

Only by the Word of mercy

Is our deepest hunger stilled!”

Jesus, tempted in the temple,

High above its ancient wall:

“Throw yourself from lofty turret;

Angels wait to break your fall!”  

Jesus shuns such empty marvels,

Feats that fickle crowds request:

“God, whose grace protects, preserves us,

We must never vainly test.”

Jesus, tempted on the mountain

By the lure of vast domain:

“Fall before me! Be my servant!

Glory you are sure to gain!”

Jesus sees the dazzling vision,

Turns his eyes another way:

“God alone deserves our homage!

God alone I will obey!”

When we face temptation’s power,

Lonely, struggling, filled with dread,

Christ, who knew the devil’s hour,

Come and be our living bread.

By your grace protect, preserve us,

Lest we fall, your love betray.

Yours, above all other voices,

Be the Word we hear, obey. Amen.

Daniel 7:6–10

• "After this, while I was watching, suddenly another beast appeared. It was like a leopard with four wings of a bird on its back. It had four heads, and it was given dominion.
•  ⁷ "After this, while I was watching in the night visions, suddenly a fourth beast appeared, frightening and dreadful, and incredibly strong, with large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and it trampled with its feet whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had ten horns.
•  ⁸ "While I was considering the horns, suddenly another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. And suddenly in this horn there were eyes like the eyes of a human and a mouth that was speaking arrogantly.
•  ⁹ "As I kept watching, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was white like snow, and the hair of his head like whitest wool. His throne was flaming fire; its wheels were blazing fire. ¹⁰ A river of fire was flowing, coming out from his presence. Thousands upon thousands served him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was convened, and the books were opened."

Helpful notes on Daniel 7:6–10

 

For yourself pray:

• That God saves you from his wrath by his mercy through his Son on the last day

For others pray:

• That God defeats the Antichrist

A psalm to listen to, as time allows:

• Psalm 30 (YouTube, duet)