There’s a sermon illustration that I love. I think it first came from Randy Alcorn. It involves intricate marching bands. You ever see those? The marching band comes together and looks like a giant football player kicking a field goal. (Here is an example).
They are super awesome. But I bet they don’t look so cool when you’re on the field and view things from that perspective. When we view things from the ground instead of the grandstand we often miss the beauty and brilliance of what is going on. The same is true of life.
If you can see the whole picture, or know the end of the story, then it creates a bit of calm for us today. I think about this illustration as I’m preaching through Daniel. I’m convinced that those visions are given to the prophet in order to provide a bit of comfort as they go through exile. I suppose its a similar thought which leads Iain Duguid in his commentary to say about Daniel 7:
After all, the purpose of the passage is not to give us nightmares but to calm our nightmares. The focus of Daniel 7 is rather on the coming day of divine judgment, when these monsters will finally receive justice and God will win the final victory. (Duguid, Daniel REC, 112)
We know the end of the story. Jesus wins. God reigns, not whatever scary monster we are facing. Relax. No panic. No alarm. Don’t be anxious about the days ahead.
One Problem
As I was preaching through Daniel 7 last week that is the path that I wanted to take. But I couldn’t do it, not entirely. There was just one sticky little problem. Daniel 7:28,
Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me, and my color changed, but I kept the matter in my heart.
If what is supposed to happen with Daniel 7 is to calm Daniel and the people, to move them from alarm to tranquility, then why doesn’t it happen? Why does he come to the end of the explanation and everything and still is color-changingly terrified?
It’s beautiful, really.
Daniel’s still alarmed because he’s a person just like you and I. And the Bible is realistic with the reality of human suffering. Scripture is more honest with human suffering than we like to be. It’s gritty. It’s gutsy. It’s honest.
Yes, the big picture of Daniel 7 is that God reigns. The Son of Man conquers. The Ancient of Days sits on the throne. But Daniel is still terrified. Why?
Because suffering hurts. The beast at times will be victorious. The world system will sink its teeth into you, chew you all up, and then spit you out. That hurts. When Daniel sees this—he doesn’t just see the victory parade. He sees all the suffering getting there.
How is this helpful?
Yes, it’s helpful to know the end of the story. I’ll still keep using quotes like this one from John Newton:
Suppose a man was going to New York to take possession of a large estate, and his [carriage] should break down a mile before he got to the city, which obliged him to walk the rest of the way; what a fool we should think him, if we saw him ringing his hands, and blubbering out all the remaining mile, “My [carriage] is broken! My [carriage] is broken!” (Memoirs of Newton, volume 1, page 107)
Yet, there is more to be said than what Newton is saying here. Part of following Jesus is learning to cast our anxieties upon Him (1 Peter 5:7). That means first acknowledging that we do have anxiety. It’s a natural response to the reality of suffering. It’s realistic.
If you’re walking through a field of hungry lions wearing a meat necklace—anxiety isn’t stupid, it’s a God-given reality. And what do you do as you walk through that field? You take that anxiety to the Lord. “I’m scared, Lord. I’m not sure what the future holds, Lord. This is painful, God.” That is authentic faith.
It’s important to let Daniel’s remaining anxiety speak to us. God included it in his word for a reason. It’s a dual reminder. First, it’s a reminder that the Son of Man does conquer. The beast, the devouring lion, the little horn, every human kingdom will fall before the mighty King Jesus. Justice will be done. Righteousness will win the day.
And yet, it’s also a reminder that this victory comes through suffering. Real authentic, painful, soul-crushing suffering. And it’s not a lack of faith to sometimes quake at that reality. Daniel did. His alarm doesn’t negate his redemption, though. And that’s why even if we do grieve with Daniel, we grieve as those who have hope.
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