For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

    In the long run people appreciate those who honestly tell them what they are doing wrong more than those who tell them how wonderful they are. As time goes by, people realize that it is the people who tell them how to make themselves better who really care about them. Those who are always flattering us don’t really care about us, they are merely trying to get something from us.

    People will harass and persecute us for following God’s instructions. Nevertheless, God will rescue us from such torment. If we follow God’s instructions and commands we will not fear the actions of mere men. God’s regulations will stand forever. They do not change. If we obey God’s commands he will rescue us. Yet, that is not the reason I obey His instruction. I obey God’s instructions because I love them. I have learned that doing as God directs gives me great happiness and leads to fulfillment in my life.

    The writer starts out by stating that he witnessed Jesus’ life and teaching, that he touched Jesus with his own hands. He goes on to tell us that he is writing so that we can share the joy he gains from fellowship with God and Jesus Christ. God is light. There is no possibility of darkness in Him. This passage reminds me of a fact that was pointed out to me some time back: darkness is not a thing. Darkness is the absence of a thing. Darkness is the absence of light. In the same way, evil is not a thing. It is the absence of a thing. Evil is the absence of good. The writer here is telling us that in the same which the sun is the source of light on the earth, God is the source of goodness. It is only by living in the light, the goodness, that comes from God that we can have fellowship with each other and with God. If we live a life where we are hiding parts of ourselves from God (and thus living in spiritual darkness), we cannot have fellowship with God (or with each other).
    To make sure we get the point he is making the author than modifies his metaphor slightly. If we deny that we sin we are lying. If we believe it when we do so, we are lying to ourselves. More than that, we are calling God a liar. On the other hand, if we confess our sins to God, acknowledging that they are sins (and by calling them sins we are acknowledging that they are things which do not truly bring us happiness), He will forgive them and cleanse us of them (and other wickedness we had not yet realized was in us). I think that parenthetical bit is part of why we are often reluctant to confess our sins. We do not want to learn what other wickedness is in our hearts.

    Over the years I have had many different thoughts about what this passage means. There is definitely a parallel between it and the first dream which Daniel interpreted for Nebuchadnezzar. This vision also represents four kingdoms which will rise on the earth. However, it does not seem to be the same four kingdoms (although that may be a result of not understanding it, or the previous account, properly). I have come to realize that understanding the precise meaning of this vision is not necessary to see God’s message for us.
    The vision describes how worldly powers arise and have dominance for a time, but in the end God will give the earth and all that is in it to His people. In particular, some governments arise which will defy God and attempt to usurp His place. However, God will sit in judgement against them and bring them down in submission to His will. The fourth beast may refer to a particular empire in world history. In many ways it appears to be the Seleucid Empire, one of whose rulers defiled the Temple in Jerusalem. It can also be interpreted as the Roman Empire, which ruled when Christ was born. Or, it can be interpreted as some empire not yet identified which will fall when Christ returns. I have seen and heard all three interpretations presented.
    I believe that the important thing is to recognize when boastful rulers arise who resemble the “little horn”. These rulers will do great evil and lead many to blaspheme against God. Let us be on guard so that such people do not lead us astray.

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

     This passage is a difficult one to understand. I have generally been taught that the four beasts represent the same four kingdoms as those depicted in King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the statue. However, since we are in the middle of Chanukah, I think it is worth considering that the four beasts may represent the four kingdoms into which Alexander the Great’s empire splintered. In this interpretation, the fourth beast is the Seleucid Empire and the horn on its head which supplants three other horns represents Antiochus IV. Such an understanding would be consistent with Antiochus IV’s desecration of the Temple and the rise of the Maccabean Jewish state.
     Having considered this interpretation, I suspect that the traditional interpretation is probably more accurate. I have always been hesitant to connect the apocalyptic prophecies of the Bible to specific events, since to a degree I think that misses their point. The point of this prophecy is not its prediction of some specific event, although it may do that. Rather the point of this prophecy is to tell us that human rulers will rise who will set themselves up in God’s place, and for a time seem to be able to control all around them. However, in due time, such rulers will be utterly destroyed and all of their power taken from them. This world is God’s and ultimately the only kingdom which shall last is His.

     John wrote that God is light and those who wish to fellowship with God must live in the light. This means that we do not attempt to hide any of our actions in the dark, or even in the shadows. There is no darkness in God, not even shadows. If we live in the light and have fellowship with others living in the light, Jesus will cleanse us of our sins. This does not mean that we will be without sin, rather it means that we openly confess our sins both to God and to those around us. If we openly admit our sins, not bragging, but rather admitting them as failure, God will forgive us and cleanse us from all wickedness. The challenging part of this is admitting our sins, both those we admit as sins to ourselves and those we attempt to convince ourselves are not really sin. The key to overcoming sin is to be open about the sin we struggle with, as we bring it out into the open, God’s Spirit will cleanse it, just as sunlight will cleanse corruption that is opened up to it.

     If we remain faithful to God, many will persecute us and seek to bring about our downfall. However, God has promised to be our advocate. He will stand by our side, if we remain faithful to Him. He will listen to our cries and answer our prayers. We may wander away from Him, but He will seek us out like a shepherd seeks out a lost lamb. I ask of God that He keeps me from ever forgetting His commands.

     In the long run people will appreciate honest words of criticism more than dishonest flattery. Those who justify stealing from their own parents are no better than a murderer. If someone will steal from their parents without recognizing that it is wrong, they will find reason to kill another for their own advantage.