Daniel Receives Help

Daniel is a man deeply distressed. He is in mourning, and not for a day or two, but for three weeks.  He doesn’t feel like eating.  Putting on lotions and oils to make himself more comfortable seems like a waste of time, because nothing could make him feel better.  He is distressed.  Now, what is it that is making Daniel’s life so miserable?

He is distressed about the present.  We find an important clue in Daniel 10:1. This event took place, “In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia.”  Now, this puts Daniel well into his 80’s.  More importantly, it tells that the exile is over.  God’s discipline of His people is complete.  In the first year of king Cyrus, just as the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah had prophesied, the king released the exiles from captivity.  Nearly 50,000 Jews have returned to Jerusalem to begin the task of rebuilding the city and re-consecrating the temple of God.  Isn’t that great news?  The day Daniel has waited for his whole life to see is finally here, so why is he so distressed? 

When the exiles returned to Jerusalem, they did not find things to be easy at all.  They ran up against great opposition.  Under Ezra and Zerubbabel, the people began an ambitious plan to rebuild the temple and the city.  But their neighbors did not want that to happen. So, they wrote a letter to the king of Persia, asking him to put a stop to their work.  They told him that Jerusalem had always been a city that caused trouble, and if he allowed it to be built, they would not remain loyal to Persia.  The king considered this and put a stop to the work (Ezra 4).

Additionally, Daniel is distressed about their future. Recently, through the vision recorded at the end of chapter 9, God has told Daniel that this seventy year of captivity was not all the discipline Israel would receive from the Lord.  They would continue to reject His ways and would reject even His Messiah. As a result, God would utterly destroy them. In a matter of moments, Daniel went from the joy of God’s people being released from captivity, to the horror of her future demise. This resulted in his deep distress. He set his mind to understand (Dan. 10:12), and God gives him a vision (Dan. 10:14).

Daniel prays and he is allowed to see something closer to God than he has ever seen before. This profoundly affected him (Dan. 10:4-9). Then something amazing happens. God hears his words and Michael the arch angel comes to him (Dan. 10:13-14).  He comes to give Daniel understanding of what will happen to His people in the latter days. Three times Michael touches him. Each time is in preparation for a revelation from God. Daniel sees his own unworthiness and inadequacy.

God tells Daniel, “Yes, it is bad on earth but that is not the only place a battle is going on.”  Michael had been fighting the prince of the kingdom of Persia for twenty- one days and the battle was still not over (Dan 10:13,20). All through this, Daniel is encouraged not to be afraid but to be strong (Dan. 10:12,19).

Bringing it home: No matter our struggle on earth we are not alone. The knowledge that God is ever working on our behalf should give us peace in a world where we feel so alone.  It should give us strength to live for Him, even when others are not.  It should give us the courage to say, like Daniel, “Speak, my Lord, since you have given me strength” (Dan. 10:19).   

No individual is ever alone who has fellowship with God. God is fighting for us in ways we do not know, and we do not understand. Daniel was allowed to see that

Daniel 9

In Ezekiel we are told that Daniel had the kind of faith and righteousness that men like Noah and Job possessed (EZEK 14:14, 20). One of the reasons Daniel had such a strong faith in God is because he was a man of prayer. Chapter 9 of Daniel records one of his prayers.

This chapter begins telling us that Daniel has devoted his time to studying the Scripture, specifically the book of Jeremiah. He reflected on God’s promise of punishment on Jerusalem, and the ending of the punishment 70 years later. With those truths on his mind Daniel opens his heart and his lips in prayer to God.

Daniel expresses his appreciation for God, His righteousness (v. 7, 14, 16), His mercy and forgiveness (v. 9), His faithfulness (v. 12). He also admitted the fault of the people, how they have sinned and rebelled, and have been punished for their disobedience (v. 6, 13, 15-16). But Daniel ends with a plea—(1) restore the sanctuary (v. 17), restore the people (v. 19), and restore your name (v. 18). He pleas for forgiveness (v. 19) - the request came not because they were so righteous, but because God is so merciful (v. 18).

The amazing thing is how this chapter ends. Often we end our prayers and wonder what God thinks—how will He respond? When will He respond? Daniel didn’t have to wonder because while he was still praying the angel Gabriel appeared . He brought a swift and soothing words (v. 23), but also troubling words that God’s people would not remain faithful to the Lord and they would be punished once again (v. 24-27).

What’s the point from today’s reading? Men and women of faith build the habit of praying to God—thoughtful, consistent, humble prayers. Prayer connects us to God. Prayer renews our admiration for our King on the throne. Prayer realigns our purpose – no longer is it my will be done, but from leaving that prayer it is, “Your will be done.” Prayer reinforces our trust in God – the things I cam asking of God, bringing before Him, I am trusting that He will answer and handle in His time. Thus I won’t worry, I won’t complain about it, I won’t let it eat me away – not if I truly trust in the One I have cast my burdens upon.

Daniel’s prayers affected his daily walk. He was a man who lived as if he had spent one on one time with God. What if we were a people who lived as if we prayed – as if we daily spent time before the throne of God – as if we daily filled our schedule with God’s purposes over our own – as if we daily trusted in God to hear our cries and care for His people? What if we didn’t merely pray, but after amen lived like a people who just spoke with God?

Wonderful God in Heaven, what an honor it is to speak with You this day. I hope to never take for granted the blessing You have given to me of unlimited access to You through prayer. What a blessing to know that I can come with whatever lays on my heart – joy or sorrow – and to know that You are always there, always ready to listen. I’m so thankful for the example of Daniel, this incredible man of faith and prayer. Help me to pray more like Daniel, more often, more focused on You, more shaped by Your words. As You used Daniel for Your will and purpose I ask You to use me. Let my words, my actions, my life be used to teach, to influence, to be of positive service to others, to point others to You. Thank You for this moment spent together. I long for the day we meet and speak face to face. I love You Father. Thank You for loving me.

Daniel 8 

Daniel chapter eight, like much of the latter part of the book, is very strange to read. The visions Daniel was shown are bizarre and often push the limits of our imagination. It is important that we recognize this up front. If we find chapter eight to be strange and difficult to understand, that is okay. Daniel thought the same thing: “I was overcome and lay sick for some days. . . I was appalled by the vision and did not understand it” (Daniel 8:27, ESV). Daniel was shown this vision by God and given the interpretation directly and still had trouble understanding it! It should be no surprise if we face a similar difficulty.

The vision of chapter eight can be summarized fairly quickly. Daniel first saw a ram with magnificent horns, one slightly more magnificent than the other. The ram roamed the earth with great power and nothing was able to stop it. Soon after, Daniel saw a goat with a great single horn on its head, flying in from the west. In a gruesome battle, the goat broke the ram’s horns and trampled him underneath his hooves. Just as the goat reached the height of his power, his mighty horn broke and was replaced by four lesser horns. One of these grew in greatness and power, even to the point of challenging the stars and the “prince of the host.” This little-turned-mighty horn is said to have overthrown the sanctuary of the ruler, leaving it desolate for “2,300 evenings and mornings.”

Yes, that’s a weird vision. A few of the questions we might have are answered shortly when Gabriel interprets the vision for Daniel. The ram’s horns are the kings of Media and Persia. The goat and its first great horn are the king of Greece. The four horns are the four kingdoms that arise from Greece, one of which will rise to power and destroy many righteous people. The ruler of this kingdom will even try to match wits with the “Prince of princes,” but will end up being broken “by no human hand.”

There is much argument and speculation about the application and interpretation of this vision. Should it be taken literally to refer to the kings of the now-ancient nations of Media, Persia, and Greece? Should it be interpreted as some sort of analogy for the end of time here on earth? Could there be elements of both? While some arguments are certainly stronger than others, there are some over-arching principles which remain visible in Daniel chapter eight no matter what the interpretation:

1. No human ruler will last forever. No matter how great or powerful, all nations of men will eventually fall and be destroyed.
2. No power of earth will ever be able to match the power of heaven. To challenge God is to seal one’s own defeat.
3. Even if the powers of evil appear to win in the short term, God will always be victorious in the end.

​​​​​​​How encouraging it is to know that the Lord we serve will always be the victorious deliverer of his people!

Daniel’s Dream

Not everything in the book of Daniel is peachy-keen. In chapters 7-12, there are some real downers. Through Daniel, God reveals colossal events would take place in the world’s history.  What Daniel sees is not comforting at all.  In fact, when he finally sees all that is about to occur, his mind is so troubled that his face turns white.  If these things were to happen, and he did not understand God’s purposes in them, he might well have doubted in God’s love and power. Daniel was allowed to see, that while many things about the future were scary, the people of the Most High had nothing to fear. Because in the end, the true and everlasting kingdom belonged to them.

Much like Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in chapter two, Daniel’s dream is about four kingdoms that will all come and go. Each one will be lifted with her own pride and think she is the most powerful, and no king can stand against their rule.

Both Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel received basically the same revelation about the future, but from a different perspective.  In Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, the focus was on the power of the various kingdoms that are eventually overpowered by the kingdom of God.  In Daniel’s vision, the focus is on the depravity of the various kingdoms that are outlasted by the righteous kingdom of God. 

In addition, Nebuchadnezzar’s dream focuses on that fourth kingdom to tell us what God is going to do in the days of “those kings.” In Daniel’s dream, we learn more about the terrible actions of the fourth kingdom that leads to their divine destruction. 

So, the two visions taken together provide a more complete understanding of what the future looks like for the kingdom of God and the saints of the Lord. The message still comes through clearly as it did in Daniel 4:17; “Let the living know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone He wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men.”  Daniel also sees a triumphant Son. He will reign victorious and ascend back to the presence of God (Daniel 7:9).

Our take-away is much the same as Daniels. The people of God must never be naïve about the reality, strength, or durability of evil.  Daniel’s sense of horror and his resulting concern for God’s people are an example to us all.  We may live in a day and a place where life is relatively tranquil for Christians.  Do we remember to pray for those who know evil’s full force?  Are we concerned for the saints of God in the future who will face such trials?  If this vision does not produce this spirit in us, we have not really understood its message. 

We must be aware of the suffering in the kingdom of God.  The kingdom of God is a kingdom of suffering. The forces of hell will not prevail against it, but they will do all in their limited power to overwhelm the saints. Suffering of one kind or another is integral to being a Christian. 

“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.  Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory” (Rom 8:16-17).

One last thing this vision teaches us. The Messiah will be lifted up, ascend back to the Father and His rule will never be defeated.  That is reassuring to us!

Bringing it home: We are constantly tempted to live in the present, for the here and now, and when that is our only focus, it’s easy to lose focus on the things that really matter, the things that are eternal.  That’s why it’s important that we remind ourselves of the certain promises of Scripture.  Because a hope in the future, will be a more fervent work in the present. 

Daniel 6

This is one of the most memorable stories in all of the book of Daniel. Darius is king. Daniel is an old man at this point – likely in his 80’s. Because of his extraordinary spirit Daniel is promoted over all of the Satraps in the Kingdom. It is a position of honor, of rule and authority. It’s as if Daniel was made number two in the land. Well this caught the attention of the other Satraps and they become extremely jealous. Jealousy can lead one to suspicion, to using their words and their actions in evil ways in order to get what they want.

The problem with Daniel was that he was noble, a man of impeccable character and integrity. That’s a problem if you want to find a weakness to expose and exploit (like these Satraps try – v. 4). If they couldn’t catch Daniel morally or ethically, they had to catch him religiously. They knew about his devotion to his God. So they concoct this statute that all the people are to pray only to the king. This would seem unifying (uniting the people under one god rather than many). It would also seem appealing to the pride of the king (describing him as the equivalent of a god). The punishment for breaking this was death by being cast into a lion’s den.

Notice v. 10 – Daniel knew. He knew about the statute. He knew about the consequences. He knew what would happen if he was caught praying. And yet where is Daniel? He is where he has been, on his knees three times a day in prayer to God. Daniel was a man of prayer. A strong prayer life and a strong faith are closely connected. Right is right, no matter what any man, any king, any law will say. Prayer to God is right. Walking with Jesus is right. Reading and speaking the truth of God’s word is right. We obey God rather than man.

Because of his commitment to God, Daniel broke the law and is punished, he is cast into the lion’s den. But that’s not the end of his story. Just as God saved his three friends from the fiery furnace, God saved Daniel from the lion’s den. Do you see the tough lessons from this chapter? We see that sometimes innocent people suffer for doing the right things. Joseph did. David did. Jesus did. You and I will too. We see that God allowed Daniel to go into the lion’s den. He didn’t stop Daniel from being thrown down. He let Daniel spend a night with lions. He let the three young men be cast into the fiery furnace. If we were writing the story we would want God to stop the pain, to take away the pain, to remove the frightful moments we may face – to keep us from the furnace, from the lion’s den. But that’s not how it works. That’s not how faith grows. Peter reminds us that faith is tried by fire (1 Peter 1:7). Those who give their lives to Christ are not promised a life free from storms. What they are promised is a God who will stand with them through the storm.

Standing with God brings friction with the world, but don’t be afraid. Our God has promised victory – not from the pains and sufferings we may experience here in life – but the ultimate victory of life eternal, in His home – free from all pain, all evil, all tears. Do you know what we’ve seen thus far in Daniel? Strong faith, the kind that “shut the mouths of lions” and “quenched the power of the fire” (Hebrews 11:33-34). Faith in a God who is able to deliver His people (Daniel 6:16).

Blessed and holy God, what an honor and privilege to speak to You today. As I’ve read through todays’ reading, men risked death in order to maintain this time of communion with You. It is my prayer today that I can come to see You as Daniel saw You, to trust in You as those faithful Jews in Babylon trusted in You. They faced life threatening moments leaning on You. I know that hardships will arise in my life, that the world will threaten me because I walk with You. Help me in those moments to have a faith and commitment like Daniel to respond with faith, to continue on in what is right, to live a life free from accusation – one that points others to You. You are the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and Daniel; the God who quenches the fire, the God who shuts the mouths of lions, and I know that no problem, no danger, no storm I could possible face today is too great for You to handle. It is an honor to know and serve You. As the culture around me drifts further from Your ways, Father draw me ever nearer to You.