The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 312

J'llR~Rge b<>twcen the cutting off of Me~siah and the fall of the city and polity-between Cah·ary and the coming of 'l'it.m (Luke xix. 41-44). When Christ wept over the city, tbe nation in h<>11rt h11d rejected him. Formally, and in so mauy words, in the cour1;e of a few days they discarded their only Saviour. For tlmt rejection, oity and nation descended into the abyss. As it was at the end of the Jewish economy, so shall it be at the close of the Christian. 7'he condemnation will not be sin, but rejection, or neglect of the sinner's Saviour (John iii. 18). Ill. THE 0ONl"IBKATION OF THE OOVENANT. 1. The Oonfirmer. The Lord Jesus. His august Personality has been prominent throughout. The actions described in ver. 24 are his. In Iaa. xiii. 1-7, specially in ver. 6, Christ ill described as Divine Covenant incarnate. 2. The covenant. Neither the old nor the new but that one comprehensive covenant of ealvation, of which they were transcripts. ' 3. Its confir- mation Wllll by the Redeemer's words of grace, miracles, and death ; by the Pentecostal effusion; by tbe first preaching of the gospel, especially to the Jews. 4. The time. From the commencement of the Lord's ministry to about the time of the death of Stephen and the scattering of the Jewish Church-about seven years. By that time the nation rejected both the Messiah and that Spirit who came with Pentecostal power and grace. Then was the nation dead, waiting for the fire of the Divine judgments. The "hebdomads seventy" were ended. Hencefortn the history in the Acts of the Apostles turns to the Gentiles. 5. With whom. "With many." But all showed the nation's sin. IV. THE CESSATION OF SACRIFICE. "He shall cause the sacrifice," etc., that is, Christ the Lord. 1. In mercy. The sacrifices might cease: (1) either literally; (2) or, their objed accomplished, they might become useless, and in time disappear. In the latter sense they wert> made to cease. No need of the finger of the type, when the glory of the Antitype filled the world. Herein mercy. He offered up sacrifice for the people's sins " once, when he offered up himself." "Once in the end of the world " he "put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." 2. In judgment. Not long was it ere in judgment they ceased literally. 3. In permanence. Ceasing, they cease for ever, and no power or man can ever restore what has been doomed by God. (See description of the signal attempts of Julian the Apostate to restore the sacrifices, and its remark- able failure, in Dr. Smith's' Diet.. of the Bible,' art." Jerusalem," by James Fergusson, vol. i. 1015, b.) "The Word of our God stands for ever." V. THE ooNSU.IUIATION, We read, "And upon the wing of abominations, a desole.tor; even until destruction, a.Dd that determined, shall be poured upon the desolate." The passage would be difficult before the events, intentionally so, but not so difficult a[ter. The design was, perhaps, to throw out fragments of thought rather than give a continuons idea; to light up with lightning rather than with sunshine. After speaking of the cessation of sacrifice, attention is fixed on the temple, some high point of it, soaring portion, " wing." A " wing of abominations," the temple hateful on account of its corruptions. The temple must become detestable (1) by corruption; (2) jrom wi,thin, ere any desolator is alwwed to touch it. Note the lesson well. But having become abominable, look ! watch I behold the desolator, i.e. the Roman I But how long shall the Roman eagle look down upon the temple threateningly? "Until destruction, and that which is decreed, shall ·be passed upon the desolate." Daniel's prayer was offered in sight of a desolate Jerusalem; the vision opened by the angel ends with a desolation more appalling. " How unsearchable are his judgments, and his way11 past finding out! "-R. Vers. 1-19.-The omnipotence of prayer. The man of prayer exerts a greater influence over national aflairs than even crowned heads. "Prayer moves the hand that moves the world." Daniel on his knees was a mightier man than Darius on his throne. D:miel was in the service of the King of kings; was admitted to the audience-chamber of the Most High; and received the announcements of the Divine will Darius ww mainly serves as a landmark on the course of time to indicate a date ; Daniel is still the teacher and moulder of men. l. TaUE PRAYER IS FOUNDED ON KNOWLEDGE OF Goo's WILL, The reason why Danit:l prayed so earnestly for this special blessing was that he knew from Jeremiah's prophecies God's purpose concerning Israel. 'l'hie knowledge, instead of rendering prayer needless, ma.de it more necessary. For God i1 no fatalist, He does no\  011. IX. 1-27.) THE BOOK OF DANIEL. 285