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DANIEL'S PRAYERS
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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