As the time approached for the close of the seventy years' captivity,
Daniel's mind became greatly exercised upon the prophecies of Jeremiah.
He saw that the time was at hand when God would give His chosen people
another trial; and with fasting, humiliation, and prayer, he importuned
the God of heaven in behalf of Israel, in these words: "Oh Lord, the great
and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him,
and to them that keep his commandments; we have sinned, and have committed
iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing
from thy precepts and from thy judgments; neither have we hearkened unto
thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes,
and our fathers, and to all the people of the land" (Dan. 9:4-6).
Daniel does not proclaim his own fidelity before the Lord. Instead of
claiming to be pure and holy, this honored prophet humbly identifies himself
with the really sinful of Israel. The wisdom which God had imparted to
him was as far superior to the wisdom of the great men of the world as
the light of the sun shining in the heavens at noonday is brighter than
the feeblest star. Yet ponder the prayer from the lips of this man so highly
favored of Heaven. With deep humiliation, with tears and rending of heart,
he pleads for himself and for his people. He lays his soul open before
God, confessing his own unworthiness and acknowledging the Lord's greatness
and majesty.
Earnestness and Fervor
What earnestness and fervor characterize his supplications! The hand
of faith is reached upward to grasp the never-failing promises of the Most
High. His soul is wrestling in agony. And he has the evidence that his
prayer is heard. He knows that victory is his. If we as a people would
pray as Daniel prayed, and wrestle as he wrestled, humbling our souls before
God, we should realize as marked answers to our petitions as were granted
to Daniel. Hear how he presses his case at the court of heaven:
"Oh my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold
our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name; for we do not
present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for
thy great mercies. Oh Lord, hear; Oh Lord, forgive; Oh Lord, hearken and
do; defer not; for thine own sake, Oh my God: for thy city and thy people
are called by thy name" (verses 18, 19).
The man of God was praying for the blessing of Heaven upon his people
and for a clearer knowledge of the divine will. The burden of his heart
was for Israel, who were not, in the strictest sense, keeping the law of
God. He acknowledges that all their misfortunes have come upon them in
consequence of their transgressions of that holy law. He says, "We have
sinned, we have done wickedly. . . . Because for our sins, and for the
iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach
to all that are about us" (verses 15, 16). The Jews had lost their peculiar,
holy character as God's chosen people. "Now therefore, O our God, hear
the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to
shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate" (verse 17). Daniel's heart turns
with intense longing to the desolate sanctuary of God. He knows that its
prosperity can be restored only as Israel shall repent of their transgressions
of God's law, and become humble, faithful, and obedient.
The Heavenly Messenger
As Daniel's prayer is going forth, the angel Gabriel comes sweeping
down from the heavenly courts to tell him that his petitions are heard
and answered. This mighty angel has been commissioned to give him skill
and understanding--to open before him the mysteries of future ages. Thus,
while earnestly seeking to know and understand the truth, Daniel was brought
into communion with Heaven's delegated messenger.
In answer to his petition, Daniel received not only the light and truth
which he and his people most needed, but a view of the great events of
the future, even to the advent of the world's Redeemer. Those who claim
to be sanctified, while they have no desire to search the Scriptures or
to wrestle with God in prayer for a clearer understanding of Bible truth,
know not what true sanctification is.
Daniel talked with God. Heaven was opened before him. But the high honors
granted him were the result of humiliation and earnest seeking. All who
believe with the heart the word of God will hunger and thirst for a knowledge
of His will. God is the author of truth. He enlightens the darkened understanding
and gives to the human mind power to grasp and comprehend the truths which
He has revealed.
Seeking Wisdom From God
Upon the occasion just described, the angel Gabriel imparted to Daniel
all the instruction which he was then able to receive. A few years afterward,
however, the prophet desired to learn more of subjects not yet fully explained,
and again set himself to seek light and wisdom from God. "In those days
I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, neither
came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all. .
. . Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed
in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz. His body also
was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his
eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished
brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude" (Dan.
10:2-6).
This description is similar to that given by John when Christ was revealed
to him upon the Isle of Patmos. No less a personage than the Son of God
appeared to Daniel. Our Lord comes with another heavenly messenger to teach
Daniel what would take place in the latter days.
The great truths revealed by the world's Redeemer are for those who
search for truth as for hid treasures. Daniel was an aged man. His life
had been passed amid the fascinations of a heathen court, his mind cumbered
with the affairs of a great empire. Yet he turns aside from all these to
afflict his soul before God, and seek a knowledge of the purposes of the
Most High. And in response to his supplications, light from the heavenly
courts was communicated for those who should live in the latter days. With
what earnestness, then, should we seek God, that He may open our understanding
to comprehend the truths brought to us from heaven.
"I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not
the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide
themselves. . . . And there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness
was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength" (verses 7,
8). All who are truly sanctified will have a similar experience. The clearer
their views of the greatness, glory, and perfection of Christ, the more
vividly will they see their own weakness and imperfection. They will have
no disposition to claim a sinless character; that which has appeared right
and comely in themselves will, in contrast with Christ's purity and glory,
appear only as unworthy and corruptible. It is when men are separated from
God, when they have very indistinct views of Christ, that they say, "I
am sinless; I am sanctified."
Gabriel now appeared to the prophet, and thus addressed him: "Oh Daniel,
a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and
stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this
word unto me, I stood trembling. Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel:
for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and
to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come
for thy words" (verses 11, 12).
Royal Honor to Daniel
What great honor is shown to Daniel by the Majesty of heaven! He comforts
His trembling servant and assures him that his prayer has been heard in
heaven. In answer to that fervent petition the angel Gabriel was sent to
affect the heart of the Persian king. The monarch had resisted the impressions
of the Spirit of God during the three weeks while Daniel was fasting and
praying, but heaven's Prince, the Archangel, Michael, was sent to turn
the heart of the stubborn king to take some decided action to answer the
prayer of Daniel.
"And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the
ground, and I became dumb. And, behold, one like the similitude of the
sons of men touched my lips. . . . And said, O man greatly beloved, fear
not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken
unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast
strengthened me" (verses 15-19). So great was the divine glory revealed
to Daniel that he could not endure the sight. Then the messenger of heaven
veiled the brightness of his presence and appeared to the prophet as "one
like the similitude of the sons of men" (verse 16). By his divine power
he strengthened this man of integrity and of faith, to hear the message
sent to him from God.
Daniel was a devoted servant of the Most High. His long life was filled up with noble deeds of service for his Master. His purity of character and unwavering fidelity are equaled only by his humility of heart and his contrition before God. We repeat, The life of Daniel is an inspired illustration of true sanctification.
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