Daniel 12:13 But go you your way till the end be: for you shall rest, and stand in your lot at the end of the days. 1. We are all, like Daniel, servants of God, and charged with the performance of that work which He has respectively assigned us, arising out of our situation in life, and the various duties and engagements connected with it. (1) We have our providential work to do. The situation and work of mankind are various, but the appointment is of God. There are some persons who imagine that the labours which arise from providential circumstances are distinct from piety and obstructive of it. They may be made so, but they are not so necessarily. No man has a charter to be idle. Idleness as infallibly destroys the soul as open sin committed against God. We are all stewards of his manifold gifts. (2) Our connection with the Church of Christ opens to us another class of service. As members of religious society we have our duties. When we are ourselves "converted," we are to "strengthen the brethren." No Christian man "liveth unto himself," and no Christian man "dieth unto himself." Every man that professes the name of Christ is bound to promote His cause — not in the spirit of party, but in the spirit of Christianity. We are to stem the torrent of iniquity, promote the influence of truth, and endeavour to extend the religion of the Son of God to every land. (3) There is a work arising out of our personal salvation. The work of salvation can only be elected by strong and vigorous efforts. We cannot of ourselves form a gracious thought or a good desire. We know these things, but let no man plead them as an excuse for his own sloth. God works in us, but He also works by us. He saves us, but He effects our salvation by giving energy and application to our own powers; and in the strength which He imparts He calls us to resist evil, to watch and pray, to mortify our corruptions, to cultivate our knowledge and every grace. This is our personal and our daily work. Every duty assigned to us day by day is the work which God has given us to do. Frequently to reflect on this will produce the happiest results. 2. In the text we have an important intimation of the termination of all things. "Go thy way till the end be." There will be an end — an "end of all things." Strangely, we feel little interest in contemplating the end of all things. (1) There will be an end of the providential dispensations of God. This is strongly marked in the text, which follows a series of prophecies relating to the fate Of empires. An angel reminded Daniel that aa end will be put to the dispensations of Providence with respect to nations and empires. A time will come when all the tumults of earth will be hushed into silence. Why should we feel surprised at the changes in our own circles, when things so vast, so firm, so lasting, must end and be forgotten! (2) There will be an end of that which is of infinitely more importance than the concerns of empires — the mediatorial kingdom of Jesus Christ of that Daniel had an interesting view. Before him the triumphs of the Gospel were displayed. Jesus Christ has a kingdom more extensive than that of any earthly monarch. The Saviour will not always be the Mediator between man and God. He must exchange the office of Intercessor for that of Judge. (3) There will be an end of the world itself. The heavens and earth that are now shall pass away. 3. An interesting view of the state of the pious dead between death and the end of all things. "Thou shalt rest." It cannot mean annihilation, nor a loss of consciousness between death and the termination of all things. This rest is the composure and settled triumph of the spirit, escaped from wind, tempest, battle, danger, and at home with God. Rest from religious labours, and from religious fears. 4. Instruction in the closing part of the angel's address to Daniel. Allusion is to the manner in which the tribes were settled in Canaan. (1) The Christian's Heaven is secured as was Canaan to the Israelites. (2) Rewards relate to character. (3) Both variety and degree are suggested. (4) The full reward will come at a fixed period. Two considerations. The faithfulness of Jesus will conduct you to this happy state if you are found faithful. And this subject is well calculated to encourage the faithful saint. (R. Watson.) Parallel Verses KJV: But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days. |
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