MONDAY, MAY 7
Daniel 5:30-31
Psalm 119:125, 130

“I am thy servant;
give me understanding …”

GOD’S WORD HISTORICALLY ACCURATE

One of the claims of modern critical scholarship is that the biblical records are inaccurate. For example, some critics charge that Daniel 5:30 is an error because secular history reveals that Babylon fell without a battle. But we see no contradiction in the verse, which does not say that there was any battle. It simply states the fact of Belshazzar’s death the same night.

What power was there that could overthrow the great Babylonian empire? Xenophon mentions the deflecting of a river which flowed through Babylon. When the Babylonians were observing a night festival with drinking and revelry, Cyrus turned aside the course of the river and his men gained an entry into the city. One of them named Gobryas entered the palace and slew the wicked king. (E.J. Young)

So Darius the Mede took the kingdom at about the age of sixty-two (Dan 5:31). Here is a significant comment by Whitcomb: “Who was this ruler? Negative biblical scholarship of our day insists that he was a mere figment of imagination … But we may be perfectly sure that God permits no such errors and historical blunders in His infallible Word. ‘All Scripture is inspired by God …’

Professor H.H. Rowley of England labored mightily to destroy the confidence of Christians in the historicity of Darius the Mede. He concluded his volume on Darius the Mede … by assuring his readers that, in spite of all the errors, God still speaks through the book of Daniel … Many prominent authors … have thus rejected the historicity of major portions of the book of Daniel. But our Lord Jesus Christ exhibited a totally different attitude when He rebuked two disciples on the road to Emmaus: ‘O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken (Luke 24:25).” Our Lord confirmed the historicity and accuracy of the Old Testament records.

THOUGHT: If our Lord did not question the Old Testament historical records, who are we to do so?
PRAYER: Lord, may I always love, believe and defend Thy Word.