But They That Know Their God Shall Be Strong and Do Exploits

Daniel 11:32(KJV)

And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.

Daniel, the prophet, received very weighty words of prophecy concerning things to happen in the future, after his time, connected to the visions earlier received in the book.

I had a brief teaching with my disciples over a year ago—Visions in the Book of Daniel, and one salient fact we noted was that these visions are NOT connected to the SECOND coming of Jesus, but to events that HAPPENED in the setting of world history. These events were futuristic to Daniel then but are history to us today because they were fulfilled before/upon/around the FIRST coming of Jesus.

As partial preterists, we believe that although not every biblical prophecy has been fulfilled, many of them have, and these visions are part of them.

Now, to the text, the king of the north would be very prominent in the known world, conquering and exerting dominion.

Daniel 11:15,40(KJV)

[15]So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand.

[40]And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.

One salient detail about this king is that his heart would be lifted up against God and he would do abominable things.

Daniel 11:36(KJV)

And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.

The major abominable thing would be to defile the sanctuary of God (of the temple in Jerusalem). This defilement was basically in bringing his idols into the temple to profane its sanctity.

Daniel 11:31(NKJV)

And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and PLACE THERE THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION.

Jesus used similar words while forewarning his audience about the looming destruction of Jerusalem.

Mark 13:14(KJV)

But when ye shall see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION, spoken of by DANIEL the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains.

Alright, so now to the next and major verse of our text.

Daniel 11:32(KJV)

And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.

“...such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt with flatteries...”

This talks about those amongst the Jews whose hearts were never inclined to God in the first place. With pleasant words and fair speeches, with gifts and presents, the vile king would easily manipulate them to give in to his idolatry.

“...but the people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits.”

On the contrary, those who truly loved and worshipped God would refuse to give in. That's what is meant by "they shall be STRONG."

The word "exploits" here is italicized (The words in italics in the King James Bible are words that were added by the translators to help the reader—Dr. David L. Brown, The Use of Italics in the King James Bible). Words in italics were not there originally. So, we have the prerogative to do away with them, many a time.

The word "do" there is ‛âώâh in the Hebraic lexicon, which means "to take action".

In essence, this verse means that those Jews who sincerely loved God would STAND IN OPPOSITION to the ploys of this corrupt king.

So, this text is not actually talking about Christians going from place to place winning souls and performing miracles, or descending on the business world or politics with the fire of God. It is rather about how the faithful Jews—in the second into the first century BC—would stand against the corrupt prominent king and refuse to serve his idols.

Blessings.

Victor Ibosiola © 2021

In part, an excerpt from The Eternal Salvation Lawsuit series (2020).