Luke 22:54-62

Luke 22:54-62 - Daily Devotion - 14 August 2025
St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

54 Then they seized Jesus, led Him away, and took Him into the house of the high priest. And Peter followed at a distance.

55 When those present had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated in the firelight and looked intently at him. “This man also was with Him,” she said.

57 But Peter denied it. “Woman, I do not know Him,” he said.

58 A short time later, someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”

But Peter said, “Man, I am not.”

59 About an hour later, another man insisted, “Certainly this man was with Him, for he too is a Galilean.”

60 “Man, I do not know what you are talking about,” Peter replied.

While he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter.

Then Peter remembered the word that the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.” 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Mary Hong

On my way to work I travel through a road known to have potholes. There were a lot of potholes on that stretch of road this week, particularly after the recent wet weather. As I drove through my GPS alerted me to them so that I didn't have to navigate through the rain that morning hitting potholes.

This passage in Luke 22 is just after Jesus has been arrested. Peter was in sitting with the people in the courtyard. As different people notice him and look more closely, Peter denies knowing Jesus. He denies even knowing what they are talking about.

We don't know why Peter said what he said, but I think that if I was in Peter's situation I could easily have responded in the same way he did. I can list many times that I have failed those I love because I was either embarrassed or frustrated about a situation. Growing up in Australia with migrant parents, one of the places we used to frequent when they first arrived was a huge market selling second hand goods. One time I saw a friend there, but I was so embarrassed that I wanted to hide – not just so that she wouldn’t see there, but also so she wouldn't see my parents.

When Jesus told Peter that he would deny Jesus three times, Peter was in disbelief – he was sure he wouldn’t fail Jesus. But afterwards, he was so ashamed he went away and wept.

Like Peter, we have all said things or had moments we didn’t intend to happen. We need to navigate these moments the same way I needed to watch for the potholes. My vision was poor when I drove through the pouring rain to work. I was so thankful I had the GPS to help me avoid them.

Like my GPS guiding me, we have our guidebook in God’s Word with the Holy Spirit to help us understand. When we feel ashamed in moments like Peter was, we need to follow God’s guidebook to help us from making mistakes we might regret later on. And when we fail Jesus, we can be thankful knowing that God loves us and still forgives us. His Word guides us to say sorry and come back to him to know his forgiveness.

Friends, continue holding on to Jesus no matter how rocky and bumpy the path may seem. Each time we are tempted to run from a situation, run to Jesus instead. He will always be our shelter through the storms and our place of rest when we need it most.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mary is a member of our Bossley Park Morning congregation.

Luke 22:47-53

Luke 22:47-53 - Daily Devotion - 13 August 2025
St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

47 While He was still speaking, a crowd arrived, led by the man called Judas, one of the Twelve. He approached Jesus to kiss Him. 48 But Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

49 Those around Jesus saw what was about to happen and said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And He touched the man’s ear and healed him.

52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple officers, and elders who had come for Him, “Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against an outlaw? 53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on Me. But this hour belongs to you and to the power of darkness.”

REFLECTIONS

Written by Ashel Singh

Prior to this scene, Jesus was in deep, soulful prayer, submitting himself to God’s will, knowing that his death was coming. A crowd approaches, led by Judas. He walks forward and greets Jesus with a kiss. I can only imagine the gut-wrenching feeling of being deceived and then greeted with a kiss!

This passage helps me think about 3 things. First, Judas’ act is a reminder that treachery often comes not from strangers but from those closest to us. Judas’ kiss looked like love, but it was in fact the deep betrayal of trust. Sin can often hide behind things that seem good or harmless. On top of that, Judas had walked with Jesus for many years, yet his heart had drifted away. We need to be constantly alert to the danger of not being truly surrendered to Jesus despite being surrounded by the church and the Word of God.

Secondly, it’s easy to respond to things emotionally rather than with spiritual maturity. The disciples mean well in how they act. They want to protect Jesus and be loyal to him, but their actions oppose the very mission he came to fulfill. Their emotional reaction in the heat of the moment shows their spiritual immaturity. But Jesus, even in the moment of his betrayal and arrest, still shows compassion by healing the servant’s ear.

Finally, what rocks my world is how Jesus submits to God fully. Jesus could have stopped it all. He could have called down angels. He could have slipped away. But he didn’t. Instead, he calmly faces his enemies and the powers of darkness, because it was his Father’s will.

Obedience to God’s will is costly. Jesus didn’t obey the Father because it was easy, he obeyed because it was right. The victory of God’s plan often comes through surrender, not resistance. The world portrays surrender as weakness, and this moment looked like the triumph of evil. But God’s plan was unfolding towards Jesus’ resurrection. In God’s kingdom, surrendering to his will leads to redemption and victory over death – and for us, that happens as we surrender our lives fully to Jesus as our Lord.

I’m sure we can often relate to the disciples. We may want to fight, fix and react immediately. But this passage reminds me that loyalty to Jesus means obedience, even when it’s painful, misunderstood or costly. The kiss that betrayed Jesus led him to the cross. But through his pain and resurrection he displayed the ultimate act of love – which led to giving us eternal life in him. Forever and ever. Amen

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ashel is a member of our Fairfield Evening congregation.

Luke 22:43-46

Luke 22:43-46 - Daily Devotion - 12 August 2025
St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

43 Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. 44 And in His anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.

45 When Jesus rose from prayer and returned to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” He asked. “Get up and pray so that you will not enter into temptation.”

REFLECTIONS

Written by Scott Favelle

Why do we pray? It is a question I ask myself from time to time. I know we should do it, and of course there is a relational aspect to it, as it is us talking to our heavenly Father. But we know God knows our needs and everything else before we even ask it (Matthew 6:6-8). Not only that, but since God is sovereign, timeless and all-powerful, all things will progress as he wills, whether we pray or not (Isaiah 46:10). So again: why do we pray?

I think this passage gives us at least one answer, and we can see it in a contrast between Jesus and his disciples.

When I have read about this event in the different Gospel accounts, I have always been struck by the disciples falling asleep. I have suffered from insomnia all my life, so I am always bewildered that they could fall asleep at such a time. But Luke gives us an extra little insight that none of the other accounts do, in that they were “exhausted from sorrow” (v 45). It wasn’t just that they went into a food coma after the big Passover meal. It was because of the sorrow of what was about to happen and what Jesus had just told them (that they would deny him).

Jesus is obviously in sorrow as well – he is in anguish to the point of sweating blood. Jesus has gone off to pray and tells the disciples to do the same. But it seems the disciples don’t pray at all, instead they fall asleep.

In contrast, Jesus does pray, and as he does, an angel appears to strengthen him. I found this interesting, that even though Jesus is the perfect Son of God and God the Son, he was strengthened by an angel! That is, the angel came to restore or reinvigorate him.

So how does help answer my question: Why do we pray? Simply this: in the times of greatest sorrow, Jesus turned to prayer. The outcome of the situation was not what mattered to him (“Yet not My will, but Yours be done”, as we saw yesterday in v. 42), but in prayer Jesus was strengthened.

We pray for our own good. When life is hard, when we are in the pits, God may or may not change our situation, but through prayer he will strengthen us and give us the fortitude to not fall into temptation as we weather the storms of life.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Scott is a member of our Fairfield Morning congregation.

Luke 22:39-42

Luke 22:39-42 - Daily Devotion - 11 August 2025
St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed Him. 40 When He came to the place, He told them, “Pray that you will not enter into temptation.”

41 And He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, where He knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.”

REFLECTIONS

Written by Queenie Favelle

This is a very familiar passage for most of us. But I do notice a few things that were interesting in the way that Jesus approaches prayer.

Firstly, he prays often. In the passage it says, 'he went out as usual'. This highlights the fact that Jesus is always wholly dependent on the Father in whatever he does. This passage also alerts us that something significant is going to take place.

Secondly, he urges his disciples to pray in order to 'not fall into temptation'. I have to admit, asking to not fall into temptation is really not very high on my prayer list. I think we have a tendency to forget that temptation exists, perhaps we are so used to giving in to our worldly desires or we don't see sin as something so scary that we need to take precautions to avoid it.

Lastly, Jesus honestly asks the Father: 'if you are willing, take this cup from me'. Jesus never downplays how hard his task of dying on the cross is. Here, we see Jesus’ raw, honest humanity. Though he knows what needs to be done, he still dreads it. I think often, in our prayers, we could be more honest with God and in telling him what we want to see happen. But at the same time, we need to be prepared to receive God's answer, whether it’s ‘yes’, ‘no’ or ‘not yet’. I encourage you to take some time to pray now and to take prayer as seriously as Jesus did.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Queenie is a member of our Fairfield Morning congregation.

Luke 22:35-38

Luke 22:35-38 - Daily Devotion - 9 August 2025
St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

35 Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you out without purse or bag or sandals, did you lack anything?”

“Nothing,” they answered.

36 “Now, however,” He told them, “the one with a purse should take it, and likewise a bag; and the one without a sword should sell his cloak and buy one. 37 For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about Me is reaching its fulfillment.”

38 So they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.”

“That is enough,” He answered.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Ken Wong

Have you ever done something silly because you failed to see changes around you? I have. We went out on a boat ride on a sunny summer's day, but we forgot to read the weather report, and a storm soon rolled in. By God's grace we made it back home although with a few bruises to show for it. In this passage today Jesus is preparing the disciples for the storms to come, so that they won’t be caught out.

First Jesus reminds them that they have tasted the goodness of his kindness. When he sent out the disciples initially for ministry, they lacked nothing on their journey. God's providence was sufficient for them.

In verse 36, there is a distinct change in tone. Jesus tells them to now pack their purse, bag and sword (for protection, not aggression). Where once the focus was on dependence on his provision, the focus is now on preparedness – because both are needed for ministry. For Jesus knows the disciples’ road will soon mirror his own. As Jesus is about to be crucified, he knows persecution will come to his true disciples.

But as always, the disciples don’t quite get it. In fact, it’s quite comical – they respond by handing Jesus two swords, as if this lesson was about swords. Perhaps in exasperation Jesus says, “That is enough!”

As his disciples now, we must be prepared to count the cost of being his disciples and be ready to stand up for our faith. But Jesus also wants to remind us that his sovereignty and providence are still active in our lives. Dependence and preparedness are not mutually exclusive, they go hand in hand. Let's pray that we will always be ready and prepared to show our faith and strive for the gospel, but also remember that we depend completely on his provision and strength. It’s a comfort to know that he stands next to us all the time.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ken is a member of our Fairfield Morning congregation.

Luke 22:31-34

Luke 22:31-34 - Daily Devotion - 8 August 2025
St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

31 Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

33 “Lord,” said Peter, “I am ready to go with You even to prison and to death.”

34 But Jesus replied, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.”

REFLECTIONS

Written by Ness Wong

Have you ever said confidently, “Lord, I’m going to follow you and do great things,” but ended up failing miserably? Have you experienced that massive blow to your pride, that awful sense of guilt and shame instead of success?

Here in Luke 22:31-34, Jesus warns his disciples that Satan has asked to “sift each of you like wheat”. He singles out Simon Peter and tells him that he has prayed for him, that he may remain faithful. Peter boldly asserts that he is ready to go not just into prison but is ready to die with him! Soberingly, Jesus tells Peter that he will indeed fail him by denying him not once, not twice, but three times that same day.

Jesus is preparing Peter for the road ahead. At this point, Peter is self-confident, vocal, and perhaps even sees himself better than the other disciples. Jesus’ warning to him is not the pep talk we’d expect from a would-be church leader. But it shows that leading in God’s kingdom doesn’t come from relying on our own strengths or how confident we feel in ourselves. Rather it is entirely through depending on God’s Holy Spirit and grace (Phil. 4:13; 2 Cor. 12:9).

Jesus doesn’t just tell Peter of his future failings to humble him. It is also a moment of grace and encouragement. Jesus says in verse 32, “And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” How merciful! It’s like Jesus is saying to Peter, ‘You don’t believe me now, but I know you will fail me three times. Yet I won’t count that against you. In fact, when you do come back to me, go and encourage your brothers so that they may remain faithful to me.” Jesus was looking forward to the time after his resurrection and ascension, when he would send the gift of the Holy Spirit on his disciples. The Spirit would give them both the humility and the boldness they needed to remain faithful by his strength.

We may, like Peter, feel self-assured that we will remain faithful during times of testing. However, our faithfulness to God is not about us. It is only through depending on the Holy Spirit that we can stand. And it is such great comfort that even when we fail, we can repent, be restored to remain in Christ and help others remain in him too.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ness is a member of our Fairfield Morning congregation.

Luke 22:28-30

Luke 22:28-30 - Daily Devotion - 7 August 2025
St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

28 You are the ones who have stood by Me in My trials. 29 And I bestow on you a kingdom, just as My Father has bestowed one on Me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Paul Bogg

Today’s passage speaks to me of real friendship. But this is a friendship that is like no other – a friendship that may only have been for a short time, but it led Jesus to declare that these people that he eats and drinks with will one day have a share in eternity with him.

The disciples had witnessed so much of what Jesus said and did. Sometimes they understood (though mostly they had not understood yet), and at this point they trust in Jesus and have stood by him in his trials (v 28). Jesus knows they will not stand by him when the ultimate test comes (as we will see tomorrow) – but that is because full understanding and faith will only come after his resurrection from the dead. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, they will stand by his message through every future trial, even up to their own deaths.

It reminds me of another passage in John 15:12-14: “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you.”

The same truths apply to us today. Do you think Jesus counts you as his friend? Do you long for a friendship with the living creator of the universe, who will one day welcome his friends to share in a meal at His table in the new creation? We who believe that Jesus died for us are counted his friends, because friendship with Jesus is freely available to all who trust in him and listen to what he has said to us. And his word to me today is: Though you may undergo many trials, stand by his gospel message, and love one another just as he has loved us.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Paul is a member of our Bossley Park morning congregation.

Luke 22:24-27

Luke 22:24-27 - Daily Devotion - 6 August 2025
St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

24 A dispute also arose among the disciples as to which of them would be considered the greatest. 25 So Jesus declared, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in authority over them call themselves benefactors. 26 But you shall not be like them. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines? But I am among you as one who serves.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Ken Ip

I find it interesting that right after Jesus shares the last supper with his disciples and tells them someone is going to betray him, they start arguing about who’s the most important. But instead of getting angry, Jesus uses it to teach his disciples and us something profound: that In God’s kingdom, the greatest isn’t the one who is served, but the one who serves.

In v27 Jesus says, “I am among you as one who serves”. This reminds me that Jesus didn’t just teach servanthood, he lived it. Even though he’s their teacher and their Lord, he chooses to serve. He even washes their feet, and soon he’ll give up his life for them. That’s what true greatness looks like.

It’s a great reminder for us too. Whether it’s at school, work, or home, it’s easy to seek attention or praise. But Jesus shows us that real greatness is about serving others, being kind, and putting other people before ourselves.

Are there times when we care more about being noticed than helping others? What’s one small way you can serve someone this week?

Dear God, thank you for showing us what true greatness looks like. Help us to care less about being important in the eyes of the world, and more about loving and serving others like Jesus did. Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ken is a member of our Bossley Park Monring congregation.

Luke 22:19-23

Luke 22:19-23 - Daily Devotion - 5 August 2025
St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

19 And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

20 In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.

21 Look! The hand of My betrayer is with Mine on the table. 22 Indeed, the Son of Man will go as it has been determined, but woe to that man who betrays Him.”

23 Then they began to question among themselves which of them was going to do this.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Viet Mai

This is a very sombre moment before Jesus went to the cross. Two very important things stand out in this passage.

First, Jesus established a new covenant in His blood. Jesus used the cup of wine to symbolise the blood that He would pour out for His people, bringing them into God’s family. Instead of using the blood of animals, God’s people now have the blood of Jesus to be in a relationship with God.

Secondly, Jesus was going to be betrayed by Judas, but that was part of God’s decree, so that Jesus could die for sinners and save them from judgment. God used evil to accomplish something very good: our salvation.

How does it help us today to know that we are in God’s family by Jesus’ blood and that God can use evil to accomplish His good purposes? For me, I am reminded to be thankful that the Son of God would die for an unworthy sinner like me! Also, knowing that God can use anything, even evil things, for His good purpose, I feel less worried about the chaos that can occur during the week.

Almighty God, look with mercy on this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, to be given into the hands of sinners and to suffer death upon the cross, who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Viet is a member of our Bossley Park Monring congregation.

Luke 22:14-18

Luke 22:14-18 - Daily Devotion - 4 August 2025
St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

14 When the hour had come, Jesus reclined at the table with His apostles. 15 And He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before My suffering. 16 For I tell you that I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

17 After taking the cup, He gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.”

REFLECTIONS

Written by Stephen Shead

This month we’re returning to the final section of Luke’s Gospel. To get us up to speed on where we’re up to: Jesus has travelled to Jerusalem, knowing that the time has come for him to be handed over to his enemies, suffer, die, and then rise again. As we saw in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus had warned his disciples about this, but they didn’t understand or believe him. They were convinced Jesus would establish the kingdom of God through military strength. But when they got to Jerusalem, all he did was stir up trouble with the powerful religious leaders (chapters 19-20).

By chapter 22, at least one of Jesus’ disciples has worked out that Jesus is headed for a violent death: Judas has already taken a bribe to betray Jesus when the chance arrives.

That brings us to the Passover supper in today’s reading, which we now know of as “the Last Supper.” Jesus tells them this will be his last supper “until the kingdom of God comes” (v 18), which must have got their hopes up again (though tomorrow he will dampen their hopes again).

But the thing that struck me as I read these verses again today was the first thing Jesus says: “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover meal with you before My suffering” (v 15). I don’t think I’d feel like eating if I knew I was about to die a horrible death! So why was Jesus looking forward with so eagerly to this meal? It might be because he knew that the Passover was about to be “fulfilled in the kingdom of God” (v 16) – that is, his death would both fulfil the Passover ceremony and establish the true, everlasting kingdom of God.

But I wonder if Jesus was also eagerly looking forward to this meal because it was the teaching moment he was longing to give them. He didn’t just want them to know that he was going to die. He wanted them – and us – to understand what his death was about, and to take hold of his gift of forgiveness and salvation by trusting in him.

I can only imagine that every time we share the Lord’s Supper remembering why Jesus died and receiving Him by faith, he is filled with delight all over again.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephen is our Senior Minister.

Daniel 12:4-13

Daniel 12:4-13 - Daily Devotion - 2 August 2025
St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

4 But you, Daniel, shut up these words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will roam to and fro, and knowledge will increase.”

5 Then I, Daniel, looked and saw two others standing there, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank. 6 One of them said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long until the fulfillment of these wonders?”

7 And the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by Him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, and times, and half a time. When the power of the holy people has finally been shattered, all these things will be completed.”

8 I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these things?”

9 “Go on your way, Daniel,” he replied, “for the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many will be purified, made spotless, and refined, but the wicked will continue to act wickedly. None of the wicked will understand, but the wise will understand.

11 And from the time the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation set up, there will be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is he who waits and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.

13 But as for you, go on your way until the end. You will rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.”

REFLECTIONS

Written by Stephen Shead

One of my favourite scenes in the movie The Incredibles is when the family is flying over the ocean in a van suspended under a rocket, but the kids start whinging and asking, “Are we nearly there yet?” And a frazzled Mr Incredibles says, “We’ll get there when we get there!” It’s the kind of answer that’s not really an answer at all – it’s just a way of saying, “Stop asking questions!”

The angel’s answers in today’s passage seem a bit like that. For example, in verses 8-9 Daniel wants everything explained, but the angel says, “Go on your way, Daniel” – that is, “Don’t you worry about it, Daniel, just get on with your life and keep trusting God.” It’s helpful to remember that sometimes we need to be content with not knowing.

And yet, when you sift through the details, the angel really says quite a lot. There will be a time of intense suffering, when the power of God’s people will be shattered (v 7). But it won’t last forever – it will be cut short (that’s partly what “for a time, and times, and half a time” means). Then will come the glorious moment of Jesus’ return.

But the main takeaway for Daniel is: These events are sealed up. They still lie in the future. They won’t happen until the time of the end.

That’s why the gospel is such huge news: The time of the end has arrived! It arrived with the sufferings and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah. That’s why, in John’s vision of the sealed scroll in Revelation 5, the risen Lord Jesus begins to open the seals. Jesus is the sacrificial Lamb who has triumphed (Rev. 5:5), and he is carrying out the final events of God’s plan for the world.

We still need to persevere through the final sufferings of the time of the end. But we can “go on our way” with even greater assurance that we will be raised to receive the inheritance of eternal life (Dan. 12:13) – because Jesus has already purchased it and is reserving it for us (1 Pet. 1:3-5).

We’ll get there when we get there!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephen is our Senior Minister.

Daniel 11:40-12:3

Daniel 11:40 - 12:3 - Daily Devotion - 1 August 2025
St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

40 At the time of the end, the king of the South will engage him in battle, but the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots, horsemen, and many ships, invading many countries and sweeping through them like a flood. 41 He will also invade the Beautiful Land, and many countries will fall. But these will be delivered from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the leaders of the Ammonites.

42 He will extend his power over many countries, and not even the land of Egypt will escape. 43 He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and over all the riches of Egypt, and the Libyans and Cushites will also submit to him.

44 But news from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will go out with great fury to destroy many and devote them to destruction. 45 He will pitch his royal tents between the sea and the beautiful holy mountain, but he will meet his end with no one to help him.

CHAPTER TWELVE

1 “At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up. There will be a time of distress, the likes of which will not have occurred from the beginning of nations until that time. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.

2 And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Then the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Stephen Shead

Most Bible commentators agree that something strange happens in the final part of this prophecy about the arrogant Greek king Antiochus. It’s like it goes “off script” and describes events that weren’t part of the historical Antiochus’s life – as if it extends the portrait beyond his death to further violence and greed. And then it jumps, in chapter 12, to the resurrection of the dead at the end of this world – “some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt” (12:3).

It's hard to say for sure why the vision does that. Maybe the angelic messenger is projecting Antiochus forward as a prototype for all proud and tyrannical rulers. That would reinforce what we saw yesterday: we can expect life for believers today to be like it was for the Jews back then.

I think lots of Christians today feel like the state of the world and its political leaders isn’t just bad – it’s worse than it has ever been before. Rulers who are corrupt or drunk on power, religious ideologies and conflicts that threaten the entire world order … these things can tempt us to panic and to either compromise our faith or rebel against the government God has placed over us.

But I have found this vision a helpful reminder that, however bad it gets, it’s not the first time. These things have happened for millennia, those rulers won’t last forever – and God is still taking things towards the end that he has appointed in Jesus.

That end will be like … waking from a troubled dream. And those whose names are in Jesus’ book of life will “shine like stars forever and ever” (12:3). Knowing that should help to replace the panic with peace, so that we can focus on shining like stars right now, as we “hold forth the word of life” in this corrupt world (Phil. 2:14-16).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephen is our Senior Minister.

Daniel 11:21-39

Daniel 11:21-39 - Daily Devotion - 31 July 2025
St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

21 In his place a despicable person will arise; royal honors will not be given to him, but he will come in a time of peace and seize the kingdom by intrigue. 22 Then a flood of forces will be swept away before him and destroyed, along with a prince of the covenant.

23 After an alliance is made with him, he will act deceitfully; for he will rise to power with only a few people. 24 In a time of peace, he will invade the richest provinces and do what his fathers and forefathers never did. He will lavish plunder, loot, and wealth on his followers, and he will plot against the strongholds—but only for a time.

25 And with a large army he will stir up his power and his courage against the king of the South, who will mobilize a very large and powerful army but will not withstand the plots devised against him. 26 Those who eat from his provisions will seek to destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall slain.

27 And the two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will speak lies at the same table, but to no avail, for still the end will come at the appointed time. 28 The king of the North will return to his land with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant; so he will do damage and return to his own land.

29 At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time will not be like the first. 30 Ships of Kittim will come against him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back and rage against the holy covenant and do damage. So he will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant. 31 His forces will rise up and desecrate the temple fortress. They will abolish the daily sacrifice and set up the abomination of desolation.

32 With flattery he will corrupt those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him. 33 Those with insight will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by sword or flame, or be captured or plundered.

34 Now when they fall, they will be granted a little help, but many will join them insincerely. 35 Some of the wise will fall, so that they may be refined, purified, and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.

36 Then the king will do as he pleases and will exalt and magnify himself above every god, and he will speak monstrous things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been decreed must be accomplished. 37 He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers, nor for the one desired by women, nor for any other god, because he will magnify himself above them all.

38 And in their place, he will honor a god of fortresses—a god his fathers did not know—with gold, silver, precious stones, and riches. 39 He will attack the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him, making them rulers over many and distributing the land for a price.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Stephen Shead

We have met this “despicable person” a few times before in Daniel’s visions. This is an amazingly detailed and accurate prophecy about the Greek king Antiochus who desecrated the temple in Jerusalem in 167 BC. But this prophecy has had countless echoes down through the ages, from the death of Jesus to the suffering of Christian believers living under brutal regimes.

This arrogant king’s tactics are a pattern for so many godless rulers. They offer riches and other incentives for people to be loyal (v 24). They flatter and favour those who “forsake the holy covenant” (v 30, 32). And when they can get away with it, they magnify themselves above every god and “speak monstrous things against the God of gods” (v 36).

We’ll think more tomorrow about how this portrait of the arrogant king helps us as Christians. But for today, verses 32-33 tell us how to respond when the world and its political leaders follow the same tactics: We are to “firmly resist” the flattery of those who want us to abandon Christ, and keep instructing one another in the gospel. Because when Jesus returns, those who stand firm in him will appear with him “refined, purified, and made spotless” (v 35).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephen is our Senior Minister.

Daniel 11:2-20

Daniel 11:2-20 - Daily Devotion - 30 July 2025
St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

Context: The heavenly messenger is still speaking to Daniel.

~~~

2 Now then, I will tell you the truth: Three more kings will arise in Persia, and then a fourth, who will be far richer than all the others. By the power of his wealth, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.

3 Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great authority and do as he pleases. 4 But as soon as he is established, his kingdom will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the authority with which he ruled, because his kingdom will be uprooted and given to others.

5 The king of the South will grow strong, but one of his commanders will grow even stronger and will rule his own kingdom with great authority.

6 After some years they will form an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the South will go to the king of the North to seal the agreement. But his daughter will not retain her position of power, nor will his strength endure. At that time she will be given up, along with her royal escort and her father[C] and the one who supported her.

7 But one from her family line will rise up in his place, come against the army of the king of the North, and enter his fortress, fighting and prevailing. 8 He will take even their gods captive to Egypt, with their metal images and their precious vessels of silver and gold. For some years he will stay away from the king of the North, 9 who will invade the realm of the king of the South and then return to his own land.

10 But his sons will stir up strife and assemble a great army, which will advance forcefully, sweeping through like a flood, and will again carry the battle as far as his fortress. 11 In a rage, the king of the South will march out to fight the king of the North, who will raise a large army, but it will be delivered into the hand of his enemy.

12 When the army is carried off, the king of the South will be proud in heart and will cast down tens of thousands, but he will not triumph. 13 For the king of the North will raise another army, larger than the first, and after some years he will advance with a great army and many supplies.

14 In those times many will rise up against the king of the South. Violent ones among your own people will exalt themselves in fulfillment of the vision, but they will fail.

15 Then the king of the North will come, build up a siege ramp, and capture a fortified city. The forces of the South will not stand; even their best troops will not be able to resist. 16 The invader will do as he pleases, and no one will stand against him. He will establish himself in the Beautiful Land, with destruction in his hand. 17 He will resolve to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, and will reach an agreement with the king of the South. He will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom, but his plan will not succeed or help him.

18 Then he will turn his face to the coastlands and capture many of them. But a commander will put an end to his reproach and will turn it back upon him. 19 After this, he will turn back toward the fortresses of his own land, but he will stumble and fall and be no more.

20 In his place one will arise who will send out a tax collector for the glory of the kingdom; but within a few days he will be destroyed, though not in anger or in battle.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Stephen Shead

This chapter is an amazingly detailed prophetic description of a series of major historical rulers and wars in the centuries following the Jewish exile in Babylon. It starts with a quick summary of kings of the Persian Empire (v 2). But in verse 3, Daniel is told of a “mighty king” who will arise. Historically, this is Alexander the Great, the Macedonian general who defeated Persia and established the Greek Empire.

The rest of the vision focuses on the complicated military conflicts that happened between two competing kingdoms within the Greek Empire. One is known as the Seleucid Empire, and it controlled western Asia and the Middle East. The other is the Ptolemaic Kingdom, which controlled Egypt and northern Africa. So when the vision talks about the “king of the North” and the “king of the South,” it is talking about various Greek kings who ruled over the Middle East (the North) and Egypt (the South).

Caught in the middle of these great Greek wars, like meat in a sandwich, were Jerusalem and the land of Judea – “the Beautiful Land” (v 16).

Today’s passage is really setting things up for a particular “king of the North” who will rise to power in tomorrow’s reading. For today, spend time interceding in prayer for our Christian brothers and sisters around the world who are caught in warzones: in the Middle East, Ukraine, Myanmar, Sudan and South Sudan, and West Africa.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephen is our Senior Minister.

Daniel 10:1-11:1

Daniel 10:1 - 11:1 - Daily Devotion - 29 July 2025
St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel, who was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, and it concerned a great conflict. And the understanding of the message was given to him in a vision.

2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three full weeks. 3 I ate no rich food, no meat or wine entered my mouth, and I did not anoint myself with oil until the three weeks were completed.

4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, 5 I lifted up my eyes, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like beryl, his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of polished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.

7 Only I, Daniel, saw the vision; the men with me did not see it, but a great terror fell upon them, and they ran and hid themselves.

8 So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision. No strength remained in me; my face grew deathly pale, and I was powerless. 9 I heard the sound of his words, and as I listened, I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground.

10 Suddenly, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 He said to me, “Daniel, you are a man who is highly precious. Consider carefully the words that I am about to say to you. Stand up, for I have now been sent to you.”

And when he had said this to me, I stood up trembling.

12 “Do not be afraid, Daniel,” he said, “for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. 13 However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision concerns those days.”

15 While he was speaking these words to me, I set my face toward the ground and became speechless. 16 And suddenly one with the likeness of a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and said to the one standing before me, “My lord, because of the vision, I am overcome with anguish, and I have no strength. 17 How can I, your servant, speak with you, my lord? Now I have no strength, nor is any breath left in me.”

18 Again the one with the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me. 19 “Do not be afraid, you who are highly precious,” he said. “Peace be with you! Be strong now; be very strong!”

As he spoke with me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, for you have strengthened me.”

20 “Do you know why I have come to you?” he said. “I must return at once to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I have gone forth, behold, the prince of Greece will come. 21 But first I will tell you what is inscribed in the Book of Truth. Yet no one has the courage to support me against these, except Michael your prince.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

1 “And I, in the first year of Darius the Mede, stood up to strengthen and protect him.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Stephen Shead

Chapters 10–12 are the final and longest vision in the book of Daniel. Chapter 10 sets the scene, describing Daniel’s terrifying encounter with a glorious heavenly messenger.

Over the next few days, we will hear the message Daniel is given. It will describe earthly events that will happen after Daniel’s time, especially wars between kings and rulers during the Persian and Greek Empires. But the angel’s strange words in today’s passage show that behind these earthly events, there are spiritual forces and spiritual struggles that we can’t see.

Two things struck me as I read this. First, prayer makes a difference. The angel who speaks with him had been opposed by a spiritual “prince of the kingdom of Persia” (v 13) and had taken 3 weeks to break free … and it’s no coincidence that Daniel had been praying for 3 weeks (v 2-3, 12). God answers our prayers about the biggest spiritual matters.

Secondly, I remembered that while there is still a spiritual battle, Jesus has already won the war. Battles between good and evil angels sound pretty scary, but Jesus has defeated and disarmed every power and authority that exists by his death on the cross (Col. 2:15). We can struggle and pray knowing that God will answer, and that Jesus has triumphed (Rev. 5:5).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephen is our Senior Minister.

Daniel 9:20-27

Daniel 9:20-27 - Daily Devotion - 28 July 2025
St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

20 While I was speaking, praying, confessing my sin and that of my people Israel, and presenting my petition before the LORD my God concerning His holy mountain— 21 while I was still praying, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. 22 He instructed me and spoke with me, saying: “O Daniel, I have come now to give you insight and understanding. 23 At the beginning of your petitions, an answer went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are highly precious. So consider the message and understand the vision:

24 Seventy weeks are decreed for your people and your holy city to stop their transgression, to put an end to sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place.

25 Know and understand this: From the issuance of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, until the Messiah, the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of distress.

26 Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and will have nothing.

Then the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood, and until the end there will be war; desolations have been decreed. 27 And he will confirm a covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of the temple will come the abomination that causes desolation, until the decreed destruction is poured out upon him.”

REFLECTIONS

Written by Stephen Shead

There’s a difference between being fascinated by something and being excited by it. I’m fascinated by how planes can stay up in the air. I’m excited when I fly on an overseas trip.

I’ve always found this passage fascinating. Here’s the short version of how I understand it. The “weeks” represent periods of seven years – so “seven weeks” is 49 years, and so on. The basic message was to prepare Daniel and his people for a much longer time of waiting and suffering ahead. At the start of the chapter, Daniel learned that the physical exile of the Jews in Babylon was nearing an end. But now God reveals that they will suffer a kind of spiritual exile that will last much longer. It will be centuries before God’s greatest plans for them are fulfilled.

On the surface, the timing of the “weeks” points to the same traumatic event that the previous visions have pointed toward: the arrival of a cruel Greek king who, in 167 BC, desecrated the temple in Jerusalem. But as we saw in our sermon on Mark 13, there were other, deeper fulfilments to come – and the deepest fulfilment of the “abomination that causes desolation” (v 27) was the cross itself.

That leads to the part which I find not just fascinating, but exciting. God’s ultimate purpose for his people, after the centuries of waiting, would be: “to stop their transgression, to put an end to sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place” (v 24). As I read this again, I realised that God has done all these things, gloriously and completely, through the death and resurrection of Jesus for us – not just for the Jewish people, but for everyone who turns to Jesus in thankful trust.

The message about being prepared to suffer and wait patiently is still relevant to us today. But we get to hear that message knowing that all the best bits have already happened in Jesus. We can look in the rear vision mirror and see the event that gives us complete assurance and peace, so we can look forward with eager anticipation for the day when Jesus will return and raise us to life in his kingdom of peace and joy.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stephen is our Senior Minister.

Daniel 9:1-19

Daniel 9:1-19 - Daily Devotion - 26 July 2025
St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

1 In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes, a Mede by descent, who was made ruler over the kingdom of the Chaldeans — 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the sacred books, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. 3 So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petition, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.

4 And I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed, “O, Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of loving devotion to those who love Him and keep His commandments, 5 we have sinned and done wrong. We have acted wickedly and rebelled. We have turned away from Your commandments and ordinances. 6 We have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, leaders, and fathers, and to all the people of the land.

7 To You, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but this day we are covered with shame—the men of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, and all Israel near and far, in all the countries to which You have driven us because of our unfaithfulness to You. 8 O LORD, we are covered with shame—our kings, our leaders, and our fathers—because we have sinned against You.

9 To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, even though we have rebelled against Him 10 and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God to walk in His laws, which He set before us through His servants the prophets.

11 All Israel has transgressed Your law and turned away, refusing to obey Your voice; so the oath and the curse written in the Law of Moses the servant of God has been poured out on us, because we have sinned against You. 12 You have carried out the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing upon us a great disaster. For under all of heaven, nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem.

13 Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us, yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our iniquities and giving attention to Your truth. 14 Therefore the LORD has kept the calamity in store and brought it upon us. For the LORD our God is righteous in all He does; yet we have not obeyed His voice.

15 Now, O Lord our God, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and who made for Yourself a name renowned to this day, we have sinned; we have acted wickedly. 16 O Lord, in keeping with all Your righteous acts, I pray that Your anger and wrath may turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; for because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people are a reproach to all around us.

17 So now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of Your servant. For Your sake, O Lord, cause Your face to shine upon Your desolate sanctuary. 18 Incline Your ear, O my God, and hear; open Your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears Your name. For we are not presenting our petitions before You because of our righteous acts, but because of Your great compassion.

19 O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For Your sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people bear Your name.”

REFLECTIONS

Written by Susan Duc

Daniel realised, from Jeremiah’s prophecy, that the exile in Babylon was nearing an end (Jer 25:11-12). In light of that news, he is prompted to pray (v1-3).

Daniel begins his prayer with praise for God’s greatness and faithfulness to his promises (9:4). Daniel then confesses his sins and the sins of the people (9:5) and calls on God’s mercy and compassion before he petitions God to act quickly to restore the city, the temple and his people.

Daniel’s impassioned prayer is a great model for how to approach God. As you pray today, try following Daniel’s pattern for prayer – Praise, Confession, Petition.  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Susan is one of our Assistant Ministers.

Daniel 8:15-27

Daniel 8:15-27 - Daily Devotion - 25 July 2025
St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

15 While I, Daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it, there stood before me one having the appearance of a man. 16 And I heard the voice of a man calling from between the banks of the Ulai: “Gabriel, explain the vision to this man.”

17 As he came near to where I stood, I was terrified and fell facedown.

“Son of man,” he said to me, “understand that the vision concerns the time of the end.”

18 While he was speaking with me, I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground.

Then he touched me, helped me to my feet, 19 and said, “Behold, I will make known to you what will happen in the latter time of wrath, because it concerns the appointed time of the end.

20 The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia. 21 The shaggy goat represents the king of Greece,[B] and the large horn between his eyes is the first king. 22 The four horns that replaced the broken one represent four kingdoms that will rise from that nation, but will not have the same power.

23 In the latter part of their reign, when the rebellion has reached its full measure, an insolent king, skilled in intrigue, will come to the throne. 24 His power will be great, but it will not be his own. He will cause terrible destruction and succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men along with the holy people. 25 Through his craft and by his hand, he will cause deceit to prosper, and in his own mind he will make himself great. In a time of peace he will destroy many, and he will even stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be broken off, but not by human hands.

26 The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been spoken is true. Now you must seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.”

27 I, Daniel, was exhausted and lay ill for days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business. I was confounded by the vision; it was beyond understanding.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Susan Duc

In the hit sci-fi movie, the ‘Matrix’, there’s a scene where the lead character, Neo, sees the same black cat twice in succession. It was a case of ‘déjà vu’, where you feel like you’ve experienced the exact same event before – and in Neo’s case, it clues him to the fact that danger is just around the corner.

This second vision must have filled Daniel with that dreaded sense of déjà vu. Once again, he sees terrifying animals that symbolise powerful kingdoms. In this case, the two-horned ram represents Medo-Persia, and the goat is Greece. Daniel sees that the ram (Medo-Persia) will be an irresistible force and will become great (v 4) … that is, until the goat (Greece) arrives from the west. Then it is Greece which will become very great and conquer the world (v 8).

The vision then focuses on a ruler, a ‘little horn’, who would attack the ‘Beautiful Land’ of Jerusalem. He would set himself up against God, destroy God’s city, plunder God’s temple in Jerusalem, and persecute God’s people.

It’s no wonder that Daniel hears one angel ask another: ‘How long?’ How long will God allow this evil to endure? The answer comes: for 2,300 evenings and mornings (about 3½ years). But then God would act to deliver his people and restore the temple (v 14).

Although the timing is debated, this probably points to the same arrogant and cruel Greek king Daniel learned about in chapter 7 – a king called Antiochus who, in 167 BC, slaughtered the people of Jerusalem and desecrated the temple in Jerusalem. But as Daniel foresaw, God delivered his people and the temple was restored 3½ years later.

Even the mighty kingdoms of the Medo-Persians and Greeks were under God’s sovereign will – and by his will, they faded away. But just as God chose to love Israel, the most insignificant of all peoples, so he is continuing to build his forever kingdom – by choosing the weak things of the world to shame the strong and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are (1 Cor 1:27). What a joy and relief for us!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Susan is one of our Assistant Ministers.

Daniel 8:1-14

Daniel 8:1-14 - Daily Devotion - 24 July 2025
St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

1 In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar, a vision appeared to me, Daniel, subsequent to the one that had appeared to me earlier. 2 And in the vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa, in the province of Elam. I saw in the vision that I was beside the Ulai Canal.

3 Then I lifted up my eyes and saw a ram with two horns standing beside the canal. The horns were long, but one was longer than the other, and the longer one grew up later. 4 I saw the ram charging toward the west and the north and the south. No animal could stand against him, and there was no deliverance from his power. He did as he pleased and became great.

5 As I was contemplating all this, suddenly a goat with a prominent horn between his eyes came out of the west, crossing the surface of the entire earth without touching the ground. 6 He came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the canal and rushed at him with furious power. 7 I saw him approach the ram in a rage against him, and he struck the ram and shattered his two horns. The ram was powerless to stand against him, and the goat threw him to the ground and trampled him, and no one could deliver the ram from his power.

8 Thus the goat became very great, but at the height of his power, his large horn was broken off, and four prominent horns came up in its place, pointing toward the four winds of heaven.

9 From one of these horns a little horn emerged and grew extensively toward the south and the east and toward the Beautiful Land. 10 It grew as high as the host of heaven, and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the earth, and trampled them. 11 It magnified itself, even to the Prince of the host; it removed His daily sacrifice and overthrew the place of His sanctuary. 12 And in the rebellion, the host and the daily sacrifice were given over to the horn, and it flung truth to the ground and prospered in whatever it did.

13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, “How long until the fulfillment of the vision of the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, and the surrender of the sanctuary and of the host to be trampled?”

14 He said to me, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be properly restored.”

REFLECTIONS

Written by Susan Duc

In the hit sci-fi movie, the ‘Matrix’, there’s a scene where the lead character, Neo, sees the same black cat twice in succession. It was a case of ‘déjà vu’, where you feel like you’ve experienced the exact same event before – and in Neo’s case, it clues him to the fact that danger is just around the corner.

This second vision must have filled Daniel with that dreaded sense of déjà vu. Once again, he sees terrifying animals that symbolise powerful kingdoms. In this case, the two-horned ram represents Medo-Persia, and the goat is Greece. Daniel sees that the ram (Medo-Persia) will be an irresistible force and will become great (v 4) … that is, until the goat (Greece) arrives from the west. Then it is Greece which will become very great and conquer the world (v 8).

The vision then focuses on a ruler, a ‘little horn’, who would attack the ‘Beautiful Land’ of Jerusalem. He would set himself up against God, destroy God’s city, plunder God’s temple in Jerusalem, and persecute God’s people.

It’s no wonder that Daniel hears one angel ask another: ‘How long?’ How long will God allow this evil to endure? The answer comes: for 2,300 evenings and mornings (about 3½ years). But then God would act to deliver his people and restore the temple (v 14).

Although the timing is debated, this probably points to the same arrogant and cruel Greek king Daniel learned about in chapter 7 – a king called Antiochus who, in 167 BC, slaughtered the people of Jerusalem and desecrated the temple in Jerusalem. But as Daniel foresaw, God delivered his people and the temple was restored 3½ years later.

Even the mighty kingdoms of the Medo-Persians and Greeks were under God’s sovereign will – and by his will, they faded away. But just as God chose to love Israel, the most insignificant of all peoples, so he is continuing to build his forever kingdom – by choosing the weak things of the world to shame the strong and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are (1 Cor 1:27). What a joy and relief for us!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Susan is one of our Assistant Ministers.

Daniel 7:15-28

Daniel 7:15-28 - Daily Devotion - 23 July 2025
St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park

15 I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit, and the visions in my mind alarmed me. 16 I approached one of those who were standing there, and I asked him the true meaning of all this.

So he told me the interpretation of these things: 17 ‘These four great beasts are four kings who will arise from the earth. 18 But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever—yes, forever and ever.’

19 Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others—extremely terrifying—devouring and crushing with iron teeth and bronze claws, then trampling underfoot whatever was left. 20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn whose appearance was more imposing than the others, with eyes and with a mouth that spoke words of arrogance. 21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and prevailing against them, 22 until the Ancient of Days arrived and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for them to possess the kingdom.

23 This is what he said: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on the earth, different from all the other kingdoms, and it will devour the whole earth, trample it down, and crush it. 24 And the ten horns are ten kings who will rise from this kingdom. After them another king, different from the earlier ones, will rise and subdue three kings. 25 He will speak out against the Most High and oppress the saints of the Most High, intending to change the appointed times and laws; and the saints will be given into his hand for a time, and times, and half a time.

26 But the court will convene, and his dominion will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. 27 Then the sovereignty, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey Him.’

28 Thus ends the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts troubled me greatly, and my face turned pale. But I kept the matter to myself.”

REFLECTIONS

Written by Susan Duc

Daniel’s terrifying vision leaves him feeling grieved and alarmed (v 15). He’s desperate for answers and reassurance – but even after he hears an explanation from one of the angels he sees standing there, his thoughts are still troubling him greatly (v 28).

Today’s passage also has a surprise. Yesterday, we had read that God would judge the four kingdoms and give dominion and his everlasting kingdom to “one like the Son of Man” (v 13-14). But in verses 22 and 27 of today’s passage, it is ‘the saints of the Most High’ – that is, all God’s people – who will inherit God’s kingdom.

If this will be the final outcome, why does Daniel respond with dismay? Maybe he is shaken by all the frightening things that need to happen beforehand.

Whatever the cause, Daniel decides not to ask more. We can learn from his wisdom in this. Sometimes, when someone is facing a hard situation, I’ve heard them say, “I really wish God would just make it clear to me.” But the Bible tells us that “the secret things belong to the LORD our God” (Deut 29:29). Daniel’s experience suggests that maybe God reveals to us just as much as we need to know at the right moments in time.

But God has also graciously revealed to us what we really do need to know. Today, we are reminded that God is sovereign over all human rulers, will save his people from persecution, and will ultimately establish his forever kingdom for them. Praise God!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Susan is one of our Assistant Ministers.