Deeper ReflectionThe Daniel 10 to 12 vision is “what is written in the Book of
Truth” (v.21), “containing the course of history as shaped by
God”
41 and “what will happen to your people [Israel] in the
latter days” (Dan 10:14). Three interrelated key themes are found
in “the Book of Truth”: sovereignty of God, history of the world
and destiny of God’s people. These three themes are also found in
the visions in Daniel 2, 7, 8, and 9:24-27, with different focuses and
perspectives.A key emphasis in the Daniel 10 to 12 vision is
truth: “the word was
true” (v.1), “the Book of
Truth” (v.21) – “a trustworthy book”
42, “I will
tell you the truth” (Dan 11:2). The source of “truth” is none other than
God Himself, and the truth is given in God’s spoken and written Word.
The ultimate “Book of Truth” is the Scriptures. What is truly true is
not false and never fails. “Truth” gives us certainty and confidence
to live our lives. “Truth” means
what is going to happen in world
history and what
will happen to God’s people. The destiny of God’s
people is a two-sided destiny: tribulations and triumph. And because
tribulations will happen according to “the truth”, we must expect
tribulations. A difficult part in living by God’s truth is when God’s
truth says is going to happen but it
has yet to happen, or
does not
appear to happen. When tribulations get harder, the absence of
God’s sovereignty and His promised deliverance is profoundly felt. Do
we then still hang in there and cling to the “trustworthy book” given by
the trustworthy God?
40 Matthew 24:35; Psalm 119:105, 160; Hebrews 4:12
41 Tremper Longman, Daniel, The NIV Application Commentary (Zondervan, 1999), 252
42 Earnest C. Lucas, Daniel, Apollos Old Testament Commentary (Apollos, IVP, 2002), 278
