Journal Readers,
I am going to share some things in this entry that most folk are not aware of. For instance did you know that under Talmudic Law there is a curse placed upon the reading of the book of Daniel?
May the bones of the hands and the bones of the fingers decay and decompose, of him who turns the pages of the book of Daniel, to find out the time of Daniel 9:24-27, and may his memory rot from off the face of the earth forever. – Talmudic Law, p978, Section 2, Line 28)
Why the curse? Other than Isaiah 53, the writings of Daniel have brought more Jews, including rabbis, to Jesus than any other OT Scriptures. Daniel 9:24-27 gave the exact timing for Messiah. The Rabbis knew this. When Jesus did not appeal to their leadership, they tried to hide Daniel from the people. This is one reason John the Baptist and Jesus called them, ‘a brood of vipers.’
The book of Daniel was written about 530 B.C. As with many of the OT prophecies, Daniel was written in prophetic perfects, which means it was as though the prophet was actually seeing what was happening.
Without going into detail, here is the prophecy that gave concern to the rabbis.
“So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.” (Dan 9:25-26)
Daniel’s heaven view: “I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed.” (Dan 7:13-14)
The apostle’s earthly view: “And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.'” (Act 1:9-11)
“Get yourself up on a high mountain, O Zion, bearer of good news, lift up your voice mightily, O Jerusalem, bearer of good news; lift it up, do not fear. Say to the cities of Judah, ‘Here is your God.’ Behold the Lord will come with might, with His arm ruling for Him and His recompense before Him. Like a shepherd He will tend His flock. In His arm He will gather then lambs and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.” Isaiah 40:9-11 nasb
The afore Scriptures speaks to the gospel of Jesus Christ. The term, ‘bearer of good news,’ has regard to the apostles and the New Testament church declaring that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. Also in this portion we see a prophecy of John the Baptist, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.'”
What is the redemption message of this text? The message begins with, ‘Say to the cities of Judah, ‘Here is your God.’ It goes on to speak to the heart of the new covenant; “Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, in His arm He will gather the lambs and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.”
From this alone we can see that the Lord God is a Shepherd God. Jesus is the good Shepherd. But this isn’t the first time we see the term ‘Shepherd’ applied to the Lord. The first time the Lord God is called Shepherd is when Jacob is blessing his sons. Listen carefully:
“He blessed Joseph, and said, ‘The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and may my name live on in them, and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and may they grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.” (Gen 48:15-16)
When you look at Jacob’s life, you see ups and downs, fears with struggles, blessings and providence. Yet in all this we see that Jacob was redeemed from all evil. This is what Jesus does for all God’s children.
There is so much more to be said about God redeeming His people from all evil. David sets forth this truth in a favorite Psalm of all believers.
David wrote:
“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” (Psa 23:1-6)
But what of the Lord’s death on the cross? Oh yes, this was also foretold. Listen to this prophecy from Isaiah:
‘But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.’ (Isa 53:5-6)
The best thing you could ever tell a Jewish person is to set aside the Talmudic writings, and begin to read their own Bible for themself. This is also the best thing you could tell anyone caught up in a legalistic Christian movement.
Finally, did you notice the little girl’s picture where she asked the Lord what happened to His hand. This was also a picture of what will take place among the Jewish nation in a not-too-distant future. Listen to the prophet Zechariah:
“And in that day I will set about to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. “I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.” (Zec 12:9-10)
Oh Lord, we look for the day when the blinded eyes are opened. In the meantime, to all you who have been to the cross, I dedicate this song. ‘Down at the Cross’ by the Hayes Family:
There is so much more to be said. The prophets painted exact pictures from the birth of Jesus to his cross and resurrection. But that’s ecnough for now.
Grace and peace to you in the name of the Lord Jesus,
Buddy
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