Daniel certainly has complexity, although I don't know what you might be thinking of as a particular prophetic mold. He is not doing much "preaching" to the nation of Israel, in terms of the Law. However, he IS giving the word of the Lord in the early portions after the manner of Moses' narratives, and the prophetic recorders of Israel's history. And in the latter portions, he is describing the coming Messianic kingdom--one which will supersede all the empires of the world. God is Judge, not man, and this theme is developed in the narrative portions.

God is sovereign. He's sovereign even in the midst of terrible calamity, even when it seems he has cast off faithless Israel, and his promises (it appears) were conditional, and the people have not kept those conditions. In Daniel 9, Daniel prays an agonized prayer, because the time for deliverance (70 years) has come, but repentance has not happened. God's answer comes in part at the end of that chapter, one that tells him there remains a set time until Messiah comes, so he should not lose heart.

A more detailed answer comes in the long vision that takes up the greater part of the last three chapters. The Days of Indignation will not be finished by the captivity. Repentance by the people is fleeting or nonexistent. Nevertheless, a remnant of the people will return home. They will struggle along, while earthly powers oblivious to God's reign sweep back and forth over the people huddled in their land. But still unrepentant.

What will solve this problem? Wat will bring the Days of Indignation to an end? Only Messiah himself can bring an end. When he arrives, then will come the Days of Grace.

__________________
Rev. Bruce G. Buchanan
ChainOLakes Presbyterian Church, CentralLake, MI


When posting friends, kindly bear those words of earthly wisdom in mind:
Oh, that God the gift would give us
To see ourselves as others see us.
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