Open-ended,
Life-centred,
Gospel-Focussed Explorations of Hebrew Bible Readings from the
Australian Prayer Book.
Daniel 7:1-3 & 15-18... All Saints Day, C.... (For LK
6:20-31,
scroll)
NOTES: 1]Read the Hebrew Bible in the light
of our understanding of God revealed in Jesus.2] DAN
purports to have been written during the Hebrew captivity in Babylon in
the 500s BC, but as we know it it's from the 160s BC. (Ch.1 of 1MACC in
the
Apocrypha gives a good overview.) 3]
DAN's language
is 'apocalyptic', one of visions, dreams, & imagery about the 'last
things', God's eventual triumph. (REV draws deeply from DAN.)
Apocalyptic emerges in times of stress & persecution, but by its
very
nature it speaks to its own times & needs, not to our future. 4] The creatures of vv.4+ represent
nations of the then world.
WARMING UP: When we are
under pressure, do we react in any particular way?
TREASURES OLD & NEW:
Identify God at work in anything this week?
ENTERING INTO THE STORY:
1-3 How do we feel when a
biblical passage takes us into a world of dreams, visions, &
fantastic imagery? Do we respond to passages like this that are not
part of our normal world-view as some kind of fairy story? If we
wouldn't take fairy stories literally, how are we to interpret
apocalyptic ones in a wise & reasonable way? What of those who by
playing up the language of apocalyptic as future prophecy rather than a
reflection of past history give the impression of being religious
cranks? Given there have always been those (including Hebrews &
Christians of old) who weren't sure books like DAN should be part of
their Scriptures, what positive value can we draw from such puzzling
passages? Or should we be honest enough to put them to one side? How
can we make the imagery of v.3 meaningful today? Can we use our
imagination without letting it run away with us? Or should we just
leave this sort of thing back there in its context? Where should we
draw the line for that kind of imaginative interpretation of history?
What does taking a view like that that do to our understanding of, our
valuing of, our sitting under the wisdom of Scripture as God's Word?
15-18 If our spirit is
ever 'troubled within us', is it likely to be more because of actual
events in which we or ours are embroiled than threats couched in
apocalyptic language? If 'visions of our head terrify us' are we more
likely to see that as a religious challenge or a mental problem these
days? If we choose to use the kind of imagery apocalyptic uses to
express frustration, fear, that kind of thing, how can we make sure it
is helpful & wholesome rather than unhelpful & even mentally
disturbing? (Think of the number of defendants on trial for doing
violence to someone who claim, "God made me do it."!) How do we determine 'the truth of all
this'? What principles can we see for interpreting scripture, finding
the true 'interpretation of the matter', consistent with God as we know
Him revealed in Jesus Christ
& not just some ancient vision?
If we're going to read or
talk about imagery such as 'the four great beasts, four great
kings.....' how can we convey what we're on about so people can see we
are speaking imaginatively, figuratively, poetically, etc. & not
simply using 'God' as a big stick to beat our enemies, real or
imagined, or escape from them?
Is being among the 'holy ones
of the Most High', 'receiving the kingdom', 'possessing the kingdom for
ever & ever' maybe what apocalyptic is, at its heart, all about?
Does this aim / outcome couched in such Jesus-like language
cut-to-the-chase of what true religion is all about & redeem
apocalyptic from being just over- colourful, over imaginative
'fairy-story-stuff'? Put in our own words, what does it mean for us: a)
to be a 'holy one of the Most High', b) to 'receive the kingdom'? c) to
'possess the kingdom for ever & ever'? As we celebrate All Saints'
Day, does reading this passage make us feel any closer to the Hebrew
Bible & the values it brings us than we sometimes may feel? Does it
help us, by God's grace, to become more saintly? (saintly = in whom we
see God's own holiness)
