Daniel (Greek) 8:9-13: a reflection

9Out of one of them came out a little horn, which grew exceedingly great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the glorious land. 10It grew great, even to the army of the sky; and it cast down some of the army and of the stars to the ground, and trampled on them. 11Yes, it magnified itself, even to the prince of the army; and it took away from him the continual burnt offering, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. 12The army was given over to it together with the continual burnt offering through disobedience. It cast down truth to the ground, and it did its pleasure and prospered. 13Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who spoke, “How long will the vision about the continual burnt offering, and the disobedience that makes desolate, to give both the sanctuary and the army to be trodden under foot be?”

In this vision, Daniel sees an arrogant power arise, pictured as a horn that grows and exalts itself, throwing down some of the host of heaven and trampling them, magnifying itself even against the Prince of the host, taking away the daily offering and casting truth to the ground. And it prospered; for a time, this power did as it pleased and succeeded. Then Daniel hears a holy one ask the question that rises from every heart watching such a thing: How long?

Notice the disturbing picture, and the question it provokes. An arrogant power tramples the holy, casts truth to the ground, and for a time prospers, doing as it pleases without check. It is a picture of the times when what opposes God seems to triumph, when truth is trampled and evil succeeds, and it raises the cry, How long? How long will this be allowed to go on? Yet the very question carries a hidden hope: this triumph has a limit; it is only for a time, and God has set its bounds.

That speaks to the times when we watch truth cast down and evil seem to prosper. There are seasons when what opposes God appears to triumph, when truth is trampled and the arrogant succeed, and our hearts cry, How long? But the vision reminds us that such triumph is only for a time, held within limits God has set; the horn that exalts itself does not exalt itself forever. When you watch truth cast to the ground and evil prosper, do not despair as though it were the final state of things. Cry How long, as the holy ones did, but hold to the hope that God has set a limit; the triumph of what opposes him is only for a time, and he will bring it to its appointed end.

Lord, in Daniel's vision an arrogant power exalted itself, trampled the holy, cast truth to the ground, and for a time prospered, prompting the cry, How long? Speak to me through it about the times I watch truth cast down and evil prosper. There are seasons when what opposes you appears to triumph, when truth is trampled and the arrogant succeed, and my heart cries, how long? But the vision reminds me that such triumph is only for a time, held within limits you have set; the horn that exalts itself does not exalt itself forever. When I watch truth cast to the ground and evil prosper, keep me from despairing as though it were the final state of things. Let me cry how long, as the holy ones did, but hold to the hope that you have set a limit. The triumph of what opposes you is only for a time; you will bring it to its appointed end. Help me trust you when truth seems defeated.