20140218: Daniel 12:10 Wicked and Wise Understanding

Daniel 12:10"Many shall be purifed, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of  the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand"

We just celebrated Yuan Xiao Jie - the 15th day of the Lunar New Year celebration (Full Moon) and this year it coincided with the western commercialised Valentine Day. We bade farewell to the Snake Year and welcome the Stable year of the Horse.

But not so stable as it sounds as we entered into a new year with news of volcano eruption in Indonesia, snowstorms in Japan and in the states...and financial turmoil all over the world.

I grew up with my late mum who referred to the lunar calendar more than the english gregorian one.  In the younger days, she celebrated my 'chinese' birthdate rather than my 'english' date of birth.  And I used to wonder why I had "TWO" birthdates" .LOL

Telling the times and seasons on earth - one often follows that of the signs of the shape of the moon - full, half of crescent. The high and low tides of the seas are predicted according to that too.  Kind of fool-proof. Interesting isn't it?

The Book of Daniel - written around 605 - 536 Bc by the prophet Daniel. His name speaks volumes " God is my Judge"

Some personal reflections:

Have you been finding a little hard nowadays to share with others about our Lord Jesus Christ and the faith in Him? I do. But I realized perhaps it  cannot be avoided given the social media of the cases that had been brought to court especially the recent CHC case and the S377. People are more 'aware' now. In Dan12:4 Daniel wrote 2500 years back that there will come a time"  where knowledge shall be increased" and we are in this season where news become almost instantaneous given the social network of messaging platform. Where every citizen can be a net-journalist reporting "Live" breaking news on site anytime, anywhere and anyhow! And the word "Trust" is now the in- word of the season. Whom do we trust in the news?

Conclusion
Daniel 12:10 - the wicked shall not understand. But the wise shall understand.

Understand what?

The discernment of the things and events happening around us. Like watching the stars and the moons - the signs in the sky.

Many shall be TRIED - oh yes....for sure....guess before we can be purified and made white.

Ps 20 is a cry to the Lord for help in times of trouble. He is the fulfiller of all our petitions. Petitions from His children.  We will rejoice in our salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners.

As we enter into the Year of the Horse ,  V7 Some trust in Chariots and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord. Be wise.  Trust in Him. That is all we need. Pure and simple.