The Life of Daniel (18)

It is such a great privilege if there are those who bring the needs of the nation but also of the churches before the Lord. The prophet Daniel was such an intercessor. In this chapter he was now an old man of eighty-nine years. It was already seventy-three years ago that he had been deported from his beloved land of Judah. Two years had gone by since Cyrus the king had allowed the faithful remnant of Israel to return to Jerusalem. It is evident that Daniel did not return to Palestine but remained in Babylon; his work there was evidently not yet complete. We may believe that his heart was with those who had returned, but the Lord called him to remain in the place of exile.

A divine visit

Daniel began a season of special prayer. The reason was perhaps that he had received a report concerning the difficulties the people were meeting in the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the restoration of national life. He probably desired to know what would befall his people in the future. One thing is sure; we read that Daniel was troubled and sad.

We read in verse 2, “In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.” This mourning was expressed in fasting. This may have been occasioned by what he had heard about matters not going well in Jerusalem concerning the rebuilding of the temple, as Calvin mentions, but on the other hand it may have been caused by reflection on the sins of his people. Daniel abstained from delicacies and pleasant food, also ordinary food and drink. That he fasted so long was an evidence of his deep and sincere humiliation.

Verse 4 speaks of where he was at the time that he received a special visit from heaven. It was three days after the conclusion of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Daniel was physically present beside the great river Hiddekel, which is the Tigris River.

Verse 5 reads, “Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen…” appeared. He described the majesty, the dazzling splendor and magnificence with which this Man visited him. Who was this person? The description of His majesty seems to indicate that it is none other than the Lord Himself. It is a so-called theophany, that is, a pre-incarnate appearance of the eternal Son of God. We read a very similar description of Him in Revelation 1:13-15 as the One whom John sees walking in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks which are the seven churches of Asia Minor. The Man was clothed in linen and His loins were girded with fine gold. His body also was like the beryl, which is a beautiful transparent stone; His face was as the appearance of lightning, which shows His heavenly majesty and glory; His eyes were as lamps of fire; His arms and feet like polished brass; and the sound of His words were “like the voice of a multitude.” It is no wonder that Daniel’s companions trembled. It was not because of the thunder and lightning only or because they heard the voice, but because of the nearness of the heavenly Being. Although He was visible to Daniel, they did not see Him. The prophet was left alone, his companions having fled, and then he saw the vision.

We read in verse 8, “There remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength,” so overwhelming were the majesty and the glory of Him who visited Daniel. We all will have to meet Him who appeared unto His servant. How will we stand before His heavenly majesty when He will sit upon the judgment seat? By nature, we are so blind for whom He is. Therefore, we so easily maintain ourselves without the realization that God is a consuming fire and an everlasting burning for those who strive against Him. However, in Daniel’s fear and distress, the Lord spoke His most comforting and cheering “fear not.” This is a word that is often found in Scripture for those who have, by the grace of God, learned to know their weakness, unholiness, corruption, and inability to stand righteously before Him. “Who would not fear Thee, O King of nations? for to Thee doth it appertain.” How many there are who never fear and are sure about their salvation but who have never been humbled before God, who never learned what we read in Psalm 130:3 “If Thou, LORD shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?”

Divine encouragement

The Lord knows our frame, remembering that we are dust. He knows the fears in the heart of His own but also knows how to comfort them. Verse 10, “And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.” This hand as it were shook him, that is, by way of rousing him so that he was upon his knees. Only after he heard the words of comfort was he enabled to stand upright. What a wonderful message he heard from the heavenly Visitor. “O Daniel, a man greatly beloved.” The Messenger encouraged him by assuring him that he was beloved to God. Can that ever be understood that a vile, sinful creature who by his sins has grieved a good-doing God, is loved by Him? Did you ever sink away under that wonder when you experienced you deserved eternal death? Has He spoken to you with Jeremiah 31:3b, “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore, with lovingkindness have I drawn thee”?

The Messenger urged Daniel to give heed to the message and to stand upright since now He has been sent to him. Then the Messenger spoke to him “Fear not, Daniel.” From the time when Daniel first sought to understand the future of his people and humbled himself through fasting and sorrow before God, his words were heard. Upon Daniel’s prayer the Lord would reveal to him what would happen.

Divine explanation

The Lord did not answer Daniel’s prayer on the first day when he began to seek Him. It was not because of a lack of earnestness and humility. Verse 12 makes that clear. It was also not because the Lord had not heard the sighs and the mourning of His servant. Delays to answer do not always mean denials. The Lord explained to the aged intercessor how it happened that he had received no visible answer to his prayer. The explanation was that there had been a conflict between the powers of light and darkness. “The Prince of the Kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days.” Some believe, according to the marginal notes of the Dutch Statenvertaling, that this Prince is not the king of Persia but an evil angel, for the meaning of this is that of a spiritual warfare. This warfare is described in Revelation 12:7, “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels.” There is a spiritual warfare going on; we see that especially in our days. The powers of the devil are not omnipotent, and the ultimate success of the powers of light should not be doubted; however, there can be tremendous opposition to the performance of the commandments of the Lord. The devil uses kings, presidents, and earthly rulers for his purpose.

That purpose is to destroy the church, to harm those who confess the name of Christ who is the Chief Ruler. We can read in Revelation 12:12b, “for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” In the history of the world, it may look like the anti-Christian powers will prevail. Are we not concerned with what is happening in this world and our nation in our days? Do we not see how evil powers assemble together to oppress the church and, if possible, to erase them from this earth—powers of delusion, blinding the people, poisoning the minds of the young, using colleges, universities, and the media to reach their goal that the name of the only King would no longer be openly confessed. We do not have to prophesy, but the Lord has told us what would happen in the last days. Nevertheless, it shall be true: the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church of God. Oh, that prayer may be magnified! Daniel persevered in prayer for three weeks.

Maybe we have to persevere longer, but “pray without ceasing” the apostle says. Such perseverance cannot be in our own strength but through the power of Him who never ceases to intercede for His weak, troubled, fearful, and oppressed people. Jacob said, “I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me.” May the Lord bind us as churches and families, with our children together, in humble prayer at the throne of grace. May He teach us to pray as He taught Daniel. They will not be put to shame that trust in Him.

(To be continued)

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen