The Life of Daniel (17)

What an earnest prayer Daniel had offered for his people. It was with an earnest pleading, “Take away the derision, the scorn, for the heathen will blaspheme Thy name.” Poor sinners learn that all their rights are gone, but by the Holy Spirit they may pray, “Do it for Christ’s sake, for His covenant, for His righteousness’ sake.” They may plead upon the covenant, His covenant. Such prayers will be heard. Psalm 122:6, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love Thee.” Also, Daniel’s prayer will receive an answer from the Lord—a rich word of forgiveness. God will save His people for the glory of His precious name only.

A rich promise

A messenger was sent from heaven while Daniel was still speaking in prayer. This indicates that the messenger did not come because of his prayer because he had just begun to speak. It was the angel Gabriel (well known in visiting Zacharias and Mary, the mother of the Lord Jesus). The angel touched Daniel about the time of the evening oblation. Although the temple had been destroyed, the believing Jews still remembered what the time of that sacrifice was. That sacrifice pointed to the offering that once would be brought by the precious sacrificial Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ, on the cursed cross of Golgotha. The angel came with haste. We read “being caused to fly swiftly.” Angels are ministering spirits, sent out to also support, instruct, or encourage the Church militant on earth. They are willing to do what God has commanded them.

We read in Isaiah 65:24, “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” The Lord knew what was in Daniel’s heart; therefore, this messenger was sent with a rich promise. We read in verse 22, “And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.” The angel was going to show something to Daniel, and he called him, “for thou art greatly beloved.” What a wonder if we may be addressed by a messenger from heaven. Also, Daniel was an undeserving sinner, though a dear servant of God. Mary, the mother of the Lord Jesus, was addressed in such an encouraging way in Luke 1:28, “And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.” There is nothing that will humble a poor sinner as much as when the Lord shows His favor though he knows he is utterly undeserving of this.

Daniel had been shown the misery, the oppression caused by the enemy, Antiochus Epiphanes, but now he may hear about deliverance. “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city.” The end of the exile will be after seventy years, and Daniel had been pleading with the Lord to fulfill His word. However, now here is spoken of seventy weeks. That is meant as seventy-year weeks, that is seventy times seven years that are determined upon the holy city. This is a precious promise here. The transgressions, their sins, would be carried away and everlasting righteousness will be brought in. In the temple there would have been the evening oblation; however, that could not take away those transgressions and sins, but there would come a Redeemer to Zion, there would be given a Saviour who would rescue lost sinners and restore them into communion with God. This would happen in the fullness of time when God would show that He had not forgotten His promises. It would be the appointed time according to God’s eternal council. The days would be accomplished, and then a waiting, humbled, needy people would be gladdened with the coming of the Messiah, with His salvation.

The Messiah’s work

This verse says so clearly, He will “finish the transgression,” their apostasy and rebellion, as the prophet had already confessed in his prayer (verses 5-11).

The sin which hitherto had lain naked and open before the eyes of the righteous God will be shut in, sealed up, and hidden by the God of mercy so that it might be regarded as no longer existing. This is a scriptural way of describing the forgiveness of sins. It is the same as “hiding His face from sin,” or “putting away sin,” and here, completing sin or making an end of sin. Sin will be removed out of God’s sight; there will be full reconciliation for all their iniquities. It is the same as Psalm 32:1, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.”

For as the Messiah would bring in everlasting righteousness, He would do this:

a) by His meritorious work,

b) by His gospel which would openly declare it,

c) by faith when He applies and seals it.

This is the perfect righteousness of Christ, sufficient to cover all their iniquities. We read in Isaiah 45:17a, “But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation.” This righteousness implies the blessed condition of “being right with God.” Then there is nothing between a holy, righteous God and a condemnable sinner. Then there is peace with God which passeth all understanding, and a sweetness of communion with Him may be experienced. What a heavy price Christ had to pay for His redeeming work.

We read in verse 26a, “And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for Himself.” The enemy will come and seem to triumph. However, verse 27a says, “He shall confirm the covenant with many.”

The fruits of His work

Thus, there should be hope for the people still being in captivity. The time of their release from exile was drawing near. Indeed, the transgressions were so many and their iniquities made separation between God and their soul. However, God gave a precious promise. The apostle says in 1 Corinthians 15:3b, “how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.” He is the blessed Substitute; He was bound that they might be freed. He was cut off out of the land of the living that they would not die but live and declare the glory of the Lord. Hezekiah could say because of His redemptive work, “for Thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back.” The mountains of guilt and sin are made plain before the greater Zerubbabel. They will be brought back to God and have a place among the children.

The poet says in Psalm 85:10, “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” When this may be experienced, the Church may testify, “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation.”

What a blessed prophecy in dark and troublous times for Israel. We also live in such times, and it is to be hoped that there are still those like Daniel, bowing under God, storming the throne of grace, but also confessing their guilt. No, then we are not looking at others and judging them, but if we truly may bow under God, we will also repent and come with weeping and supplications because of our sins, to Him who sends the callings to us, also in our dangerous days. Then there will be an owning of our sin, not of others, and that will be seen in the fruit. Such truly guilty people do not maintain themselves as we can easily do with a right and orthodox confession, but then we also bow under others. We will with one accord flee to Him, the precious Saviour whose coming, and the time of it, are announced by Daniel. It is such a blessing if the Lord may use His servants for this.

(To be continued)

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