#daniel 11:32

Devotions for May 30

MORNING

"The people that do know their God shall be strong." - Daniel 11:32

Every believer understands that to know God is the highest and best form of knowledge; and this spiritual knowledge is a source of strength to the Christian. It strengthens his faith. Believers are constantly spoken of in the Scriptures as being persons who are enlightened and taught of the Lord; they are said to "have an unction from the Holy One," and it is the Spirit's peculiar office to lead them into all truth, and all this for the increase and the fostering of their faith. Knowledge strengthens love, as well as faith. Knowledge opens the door, and then through that door we see our Saviour. Or, to use another similitude, knowledge paints the portrait of Jesus, and when we see that portrait then we love him, we cannot love a Christ whom we do not know, at least, in some degree. If we know but little of the excellences of Jesus, what he has done for us, and what he is doing now, we cannot love him much; but the more we know him, the more we shall love him. Knowledge also strengthens hope. How can we hope for a thing if we do not know of its existence? Hope may be the telescope, but till we receive instruction, our ignorance stands in the front of the glass, and we can see nothing whatever; knowledge removes the interposing object, and when we look through the bright optic glass we discern the glory to be revealed, and anticipate it with joyous confidence. Knowledge supplies us reasons for patience. How shall we have patience unless we know something of the sympathy of Christ, and understand the good which is to come out of the correction which our heavenly Father sends us? Nor is there one single grace of the Christian which, under God, will not be fostered and brought to perfection by holy knowledge. How important, then, is it that we should grow not only in grace, but in the "knowledge" of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

EVENING

"I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labours of your hands." - Haggai 2:17

How destructive is the hail to the standing crops, beating out the precious grain upon the ground! How grateful ought we to be when the corn is spared so terrible a ruin! Let us offer unto the Lord thanksgiving. Even more to be dreaded are those mysterious destroyers-smut, bunt, rust, and mildew. These turn the ear into a mass of soot, or render it putrid, or dry up the grain, and all in a manner so beyond all human control that the farmer is compelled to cry, "This is the finger of God." Innumerable minute fungi cause the mischief, and were it not for the goodness of God, the rider on the black horse would soon scatter famine over the land. Infinite mercy spares the food of men, but in view of the active agents which are ready to destroy the harvest, right wisely are we taught to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread. " The curse is abroad; we have constant need of the blessing. When blight and mildew come they are chastisements from heaven, and men must learn to hear the rod, and him that hath appointed it.

"The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits." - Daniel 11:32

The LORD is a man of war, "Jehovah is his name." Those who enlist under His banner shall have a Commander who will train them for the conflict and give them both vigor and valor. The times of which Daniel wrote were of the very worst kind, and then it was promised that the people of God would come out in their best colors: they would be strong and stout to confront the powerful adversary.

Monday, 5/18/26

SCRIPTURE:

The king will use deceit to win followers from those who are unfaithful to God, but those who remain faithful will do everything possible to oppose him. ~ Daniel 11:32

OBSERVATION:

The king in this instance - to me at least - refers to the enemy...

...who uses "...deceit to win followers from those who are unfaithful to God..."

Remaining faithful means doing everything possible...

...but still realizing as a sinful human I'm not 100% as faithful as I want to be...

...as I can be...

Thankfully - Jesus!

...He is everything I need to oppose the enemy...

APPLICATION:

Do everything possible to oppose the enemy...

...i.e.

- rely on Jesus...

- be observant...

- be obedient...

- be confessional...

- be repentant... 

PRAYER:

Father God Almighty - I have been proven unfaithful in my disobedience, in my following my distractions, and in acting on my selfish willfulness, and I ask Your forgiveness for that I have done and have left undone, said and left unsaid... May I not fall into those same patterns, but instead seek Your face and grace in whatever presents itself today, turning to You and Your Son for strength and wisdom in denying the enemy any chance to keep me from showing and sharing Your glory and offering You the praise only You deserve - in Jesus's Name, and for Your worshipful honor...

Yours - in Him, through Him, and for Him...

𝖌

Tomorrow wraps Daniel... continue into Hosea on Wednesday? or...?

But the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.  Daniel 11:32, NKJV God’s dream for you is that you will be strong and do mighty exploits. No more living intimidated and saying, “I can’t do it. It’s too big.” When you know who you are, when you know your God, you won’t run from the giant, you’ll run to the giant. God didn’t say you’d just do exploits; He says…