Daniel opens confirming his understanding of how God spoke to the prophet Jeremiah. His words of how to pray and willingness to sacrifice to serve are a powerful example to all of us.
3And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: 4And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; 5We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: 6Neither 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. – Daniel 9:3-6 KJV
These verses are a beautiful reflection of humility, praise and glory to God. I have read and reread verses 3-19 many, many times as a reminder and inspiration. Remember the churches in Revelation? The most prominent message to the churches was one of repentance. These verses reflect a heart of humility, acknowledgement of our own weaknesses and the weaknesses of God’s people collectively. Daniel lays it all at the feet of God. He confesses his own sin and denies himself by fasting to purge the sinful ways from his earthly body. He repents of the sin conducted by God’s people and is willing to own their iniquities too.
Think about those messages, repenting for our own iniquities and in prayer taking on the iniquities of the sin of others. This is what Jesus Christ has done for us. And we are called to do the same for others, to love as He loved, not ignoring or excusing sin, but loving the person first and then encouraging them to sin no more. See the person first and recognize it may have been the sin of others that led them down an unrighteous path and away from God. Again, not excusing or glossing over sin, but loving the person with the love of Jesus first and then presenting a better way. Showing through our own example that sin can be left behind. We all struggle with sin of different forms in our own lives and that will not change until we are with God and Jesus for eternity. Discern God’s view of a situation through Holy Spirit to gain the wisdom to address any and all situations faced. We each have the opportunity to live more righteously.
Daniel speaks of the mercy, love and forgiveness that he knows is available from God almighty to those who seek with a pure heart. This is the same hope Jesus Christ provided to the churches in the opening of the book of Revelation. When we repent of sin and seek God and His ways, there is forgiveness and a way forward to accomplish His will for us!
This cycle of repentance, prayer, confession, and fasting will shepherd us through the chaotic times of the last days. When this process is complete for Daniel, the angel Gabriel came with a message from God, adding details to the times of the antichrist rule on earth.
22And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. 23At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.
24Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. 25Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 26And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 27And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. – Daniel 9:22-27 KJV
Gabriel tells Daniel he is sent by God to bring “skill and understanding” and that Daniel is “greatly beloved.” Daniel is receiving wisdom from God because he has followed God’s commands, been devoted, fasted, prayed and was willing to take on the suffering of the sin of God’s people. Daniel prayed to God with a pure heart and God responded. By choosing to dedicate our lives to God and showing our devotion as Daniel did, we too have the opportunity to be beloved by God!
Timelines presented by God in these verses:
- 70 week period will: finish transgression, end sin, reconcile iniquity, bring righteousness and anoint the most High.
- Commandment to rebuild Jerusalem begins period of 7 weeks, 3 score and 2 weeks (7 weeks + 60 weeks + 2 weeks = 69 weeks) “the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times”.
- After 60 weeks + 2 weeks, Messiah is cut off, city and sanctuary destroyed, desolations until the end.
- Covenant made for 1 week.
- Summary: 70 week period = 7 weeks + 60 weeks + 2 weeks + 1 week
Daniels vision in chapter 9 was during the first year of the reign of Darius. His next vision mentioned in chapter 10 occurs during the third year of the reign of Cyrus. It came after a 3 week period of mourning and denial of earthly comforts.
7And 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. 8Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. 9Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground. – Daniel 10:7-9 KJV
Daniel stood to receive God’s message while the earth quaked and all others with him fled. What will we do when the ground quakes below us? Recognize that all the busy in our everyday lives causes the same quaking, separating us from hearing God. Regardless of how busy your days are, find ways to bring God in. Read a few verses of scripture on your phone while waiting to be called in for an appointment. Listen to God’s Word while commuting in the car. Be encouraged to seek God through His Word directly and not just through someone else’s presentation of God’s Word. Learn to be with God in whatever you face today. Seek His desire for ways to serve Him and His kingdom daily. Truly listen to God with an open heart, especially when He is showing you something you do not want to see. Give it all to God. Seek His priorities for each day and follow. These small choices will prepare you to stand with Him for whatever comes tomorrow. Decide to stand, listen, act and not flee as the others did in this passage.
An angel speaks to Daniel.
12Then 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. 13But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. 14Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days. – Daniel 10:12-14 KJV
Daniel humbled himself before God, mourning and seeking His understanding. He denied himself as he sought God’s wisdom. The angel reassures Daniel that his prayer was heard by God from the first day and that God sent an answer immediately. However, the angel was delayed by “the prince of the kingdom of Persia.” Revelation detailed activities in heaven and on earth and the angel here speaks of battling in heaven, specifically in the principality of Persia that exists in heaven. Michael, the archangel God spoke of in Revelation, helps this angel break free to travel to Daniel on earth.
18Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me, 19And 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. – Daniel 10:18-19 KJV
Again, hope is given to Daniel. He is reminded he is beloved. He should not fear. Peace and strength are being given to him. Daniel is restored, physically and mentally. He sought deeper understanding from the Lord and God answered his request with wisdom, validation and restoration. The chapter closes with the angel returning to battle in the principalities of heaven.