Daniel 8 Commentary
Daniel tells the same story of ‘judgments’ or ‘prophecies’ against earthly kingdoms that we are all familiar with from the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. But it’s from the perspective of a well-informed man. His education coupled with his many years of experience at the palace can be seen in the visions.
It is not the first time that the LORD has installed an individual in a particular position in order to reveal mysteries in the shape and color of the individual’s work. Ezekiel’s imagery set is rich and unique but quite different from Daniel’s symbolisms. Daniel’s images are laced with articles from his workplace!
This vision comes to Daniel during the Babylonian rule under Belshazzar. The future, however, lay in the hands of another empire – the Medo-Persia Empire. After the Medo-Persia Empire is Greece under Alexander the Great. History would probably bring in the name of Antiochus and his evil zeal against settled Israel. But teaching history and winning the prediction game isn’t the purpose of this chapter.
Regardless of the power of the ram and the conquests of the billy goat, behind the scenes is the living God whose purposes remain unchanged.
Zerubabbel would rebuild the temple of the LORD but we know this temple too was defiled. The fact that these statements are repeated in the New Testament means we have more to the story than we can immediately tell from the actual objects referenced. Attacks on God’s people are a standing order from the enemy. The low levels of godliness among God’s people is an important ally but we also know the devil doesn’t need any encouragement to be evil.
Verses 24 and 25 are critical. “He will become very strong, but not by his own power.” Whose power? The power of the devil? Probably yes. But eventually, it goes back to the LORD who allows it and has the ultimate authority. So it really doesn’t matter. “Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.” The question again is, whose power? The power of God? Definitely yes. We can see two things. First: the LORD uses one world power to overcome another world power. Second: the LORD uses His direct command to destroy a world power. The saint doesn’t always have to look to a human solution; the Commander-In-Chief of the armies of the LORD issues directives directly and His creation responds without questions.
Scan through the intricacies of administrations and the powers of the world systems, navigate the waters of history and see the rise and fall of world systems, and then see how the word of the LORD stands tall above everything else.
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