Daniel (Greek) 11:36-45: a reflection

36“The king will do according to his will. He will exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and will speak marvelous things against the God of gods. He will prosper until the indignation is accomplished; for what is determined will be done. 37He won’t regard the gods of his fathers, or the desire of women, or regard any god; for he will magnify himself above all. 38But in his place he will honor the god of fortresses. He will honor a god whom his fathers didn’t know with gold, silver, precious stones, and pleasant things. 39He will deal with the strongest fortresses by the help of a foreign god. He will increase with glory whoever acknowledges him. He will cause them to rule over many, and will divide the land for a price. 40“At the time of the end, the king of the south will contend with him; and the king of the north will come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, with horsemen, and with many ships. He will enter into the countries, and will overflow and pass through. 41He will enter also into the glorious land, and many countries will be overthrown; but these will be delivered out of his hand: Edom, Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. 42He will also stretch out his hand against the countries. The land of Egypt won’t escape. 43But he will have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt. The Libyans and the Ethiopians will be at his steps. 44But news out of the east and out of the north will trouble him; and he will go out with great fury to destroy and utterly to sweep away many. 45He will plant the tents of his palace between the sea and the glorious holy mountain; yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.

The vision describes a king who does as he pleases, exalting himself above every god and speaking outrageous things against the God of gods. He honors force and fortresses, rewards those who flatter him, and seems to sweep through nation after nation unstoppable. For a time he prospers, and it looks as though nothing can check his arrogance.

But the passage has already told us the end before it arrives. He will prosper only until the appointed limit, for what is determined will be done. And when his end comes, it comes starkly: he pitches his royal tents, and then he comes to his end, with no one to help him. All his conquests cannot buy him a single ally at the last. The arrogance that magnified itself above God is finally left alone.

History keeps producing such figures, and their apparent invincibility can frighten God's people. This vision steadies you. The proud who set themselves against God run on a leash of God's own appointing; they prosper only until the determined time, and then they fall. Do not envy them or fear them. Keep your trust in the God of gods, whose purpose stands long after every self-made ruler has come to his end.

Lord, God of gods, the proud who exalt themselves against you seem unstoppable for a season, and their arrogance can frighten me. Remind me that they prosper only until the limit you have set, and then they come to their end. Free me from envy and from fear, and keep my trust fixed on you, whose purpose outlasts every ruler. Amen.