The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 310

G,,d. 2. 77,e adt•ent of rightcournc.;s, "To bring in everlasting righteousness." Mnny ( 'bri~tians overlook this, are content with pardon, forget that the end of the gospel i~ righteousness in heart rind life. N"ote, then: (1) The/act that this great crisis wne tu be signalized by the 11dvcnt of righteousness. (2) The agent. Not named here; hut I he Cliri~t. (3) The mode. (a) By Divine example. (b) Elevated precept. (c) Lo,·ing persua~.:011. (d) I'lacing morals on a better foundation, (e) Inaugurating a government of unprecedented char11.ctcr, viz. medintorial. (/) A grand net of self- 5ac,·ifi~, which should awake for virtue the enthusiasm of mankind. (g) .Atonement. (1,) '!'he coming of the Holy Ghost. (4) Its attribu!e. "Everlasting." (a) The method of ma~ing men ri.~hteous, once introauced, should be unchangeable and perpetual. (b) The ngl,teoUl!fU!M itself should be one th11t no change could affect, and no physical disso- lution impair or decay. 3. The dose Qf prophecy. "'l'o soal up vision and prophet." Four hundred e.nd ninety ye1trs pnssing before the ending of sin, and the e.dvent of righteousness shows the greatness of these events. The sin of all people and of all timo was to be effectu11lly dealt with. This was the aspiration of prophecy-prophecy ful- filled, might cease. (Explain from Oriental usage the significance of the sealina,) Christ's words illustrate," The things concerning me have an end." When once visi~n and prophet are accomplished by the manifestation of the Son of God, though prophecy still remains in some respects immensely important, the adoring gaze of the Church is fixed on the Life and Light of men. 4. The anointing of the Lord Jesus. "And to anoint the holy of holies." Outline of the argument for applying this phrase to the consecration of the Messiah. (1) "Holy of holies" is an indefinite phrase, Therefore examine context e.nd whole field of revelation to determine its application here. (2) The grammatiwl gender is uncertain. May be masculine or neuter. But even if neuter, may apply to Christ (Luke i. 25). A certain grandeur of indefiniteness about the neuter. (3) The name i.s appropriate to Jesus. (Acts iii.14; iv. 27; 1 John ii. 20; Mark i.'.24.) ( 4) The pr~ding clauses of this prophecy lead up naturally to the Messiah. (ii) The ".Anointed" must be the same in vers. 24, 25. "And to anoint the Most Holy . . . unto t'he .Anointed, the Prince," etc. (6) TM chronology favours, demands this conclusion. The '' sevens seventy" terminated with the advent of the Lord, and the confirmation of the Divinity of his mission. (7) Scripture use of the word "anoint," and its application to the Redeemer. (Summarize Scripture teaching on literal anointing; its spiritual significance; and on Jesus as" the Messiah" of the Old Testament and "the Christ" of the New.) A very powerful appeal might well be made to both believer and unbeliever at the close on the following grounds: The great rebellion is broken ; limitation has been put upon sin; atonement has been made; everlasting righteousness has been brought in; attention has been concentrated on the Light and Lile of men; the Saviour-King has been anointed. Have we broken with tho rebellion? Is limitation being put upon our sin? Have we accepted the atonement? Are we putting on the garment of righteousness? Is our gaze on the Life and Light? ls the Anointed our Saviour and King ?-R. Ver. 25.-Ti1nes as evidence. "Know therefore and understand," etc. I. THE STATE OF MIND DElll'il"DED FROM THE STUDENT OF PROPHECY. 1. ..A. certain temper. "Know and understand." The angel anticipates difficulties of interpretation. A skilled and spiritual mind necessary. So also industry, pains, ea.re. The worst temper would be the proud, self-sufficient, and dogmatic. Compare words of Jesus, "\\hoso readeth, let him understand;" "He that bath ears to hear, let him hear." 2. Spiritual irisi_qht. "The going forth of the word to restore." Whoso? (1) God's. To ree a truth like this demands insight of a spiritual kind. The sovereign word of the Eternal King I (2) But given through the edict of Oyrus. II. THE CHRONOLOGY OF THE PASSAGE. We might study separately the prophecy, and then the fulfilment in history. But take them together-study the prophecy in tLe ligLt of its historical development. But consider the kind of agreement we may txi,ect Let~een the prediction and the history. No greater than the circumstances adn,it of. Chronological exactness is only to be looked for when the event is defined and limited to some moment in time. But some events develop slowly; e.g. the resu,ration uf a city, tl,e confirmation of a covenant. If events are not defined, prophecy Dlllst l,e ir,definite. We s11g 6cst the following outline for the preacher, to make all ell. IX, 1-27,] THE BOOK OF DANmL.