At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. – Daniel 12:1

Today's Scripture Reading (August 14, 2020): Daniel 12

Filmmaker Michael Moore argues that "capitalism and democracy are the opposite of each other. Capitalism is a system that guarantees that a few are going to do very well, and everybody else is going to serve the few. Democracy means everybody has a seat at the table. Everybody." He is probably right. But then again, I am not sure that we really understand the idea of opposites. I think most of us would put capitalism and democracy on the same side, standing tall against communism. Yet, I see truth in Moore's revelation. And I also know that we struggle to identify what it is that is the opposite of something.

In Christianity, we often place Satan and Jesus as opposites to each other. But the analogy doesn't really work. For one thing, we believe Jesus to be God incarnate or God who has come down to us. Satan is not God, and neither is he the Son of God. Satan is an angel, and it makes sense that the opposite of Satan would also have to be an angel.

Enter Michael. Like Satan, Michael is often seen as the angel who is involved in our spiritual battles. Satan is the great accuser, pointing his metaphorical finger at our lives and asking the questions that make our heart sink. He knows the evil that lurks in the heart of the human race and seeks to establish that evil as our reality. Satan's argument is often, "you know that you can't do any better, so why not give in to the desires of the heart." End the struggle now. The fight just simply isn't worth it.

Daniel says that it is Michael who struggles on the other end of things. He is the protector, the one who sees the best of what we can do and encourages us toward that end. He knows that the battle is worth our involvement, that we can be better than we are if we can shake the voice of Satan from his perch inside of our heads.

Satan seeks to divide. Michael supports the work of Jesus in our lives, always trying to unite, support, and to save.

And so, Daniel invokes a vision of a time of great distress. There have been many times of great difficulty for Israel and the people of God. But this will be worse than any that has gone before. At that time, a battle will ensue. But all that we need to know is that deliverance will be assured for everyone whose name is written in "the book." It is not a promise that all will be saved. Satan will win the battle with some, convincing them that their lives are evil and that they are not worthy of salvation. Satan will divide the people until they cease to believe that Michael stands ready at their defense. But for those who trust in God and his Messiah, for those who permit for Michael to stand in the struggle on their behalf, he is ready to deliver even us.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Ezra 1 & 2