"Then said he to me, Fear not, Daniel:
for from the first day that you did set your heart to understand, and to chasten yourself before your God,
your words were heard, and I am come for your words." Daniel: 12:12
The Prophet Daniel sought the Lord God of Israel in
the third year of Cyrus King of Persia.
It was the end of the Seventy years of captivity that had been spoken of
by the Prophet Jeremiah, (Jeremiah 29,) yet,
the people of Israel had not made any move to return to their land which God
had given to them. Daniel was moved to understand why his people stayed
in the land of their captivity and not returned home.
Sought Understanding
Israel should have been going back to their
land and fulfill God's purpose for them but they made no sign of leaving. They
had become so much a part of the world of their captivity that where they were
captives seemed to them to be where they belonged.
This realization concerned the prophet, so he sought to understand and set
himself to seek Gods' answer as to why. For three weeks Daniel fasted and
prayed for understanding.
"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, till three whole weeks were fulfilled "Dan:10:2-3
Daniel made understanding a priority, he enlisted the help of others who would
pray along with him for God to send an answer to the situation. Daniel,
and those who agreed to assist in prayer gathered on the banks of the Tigris River,
together they sought Gods' answer.
God Responds
After three week of committed prayer the Lord answers
Daniel.
"And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I
was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel; (Tigris )Then I lifted
up my 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 color to polished brass, and the voice of his words
like the voice of a multitude."(4-6)
Daniel finds God's answer in a vision of a glorious angelic encounter, the
angel appears as the representative of God himself . The angels glorious
appearance is to stress that the One truly being encounters is God
himself , the One who would come through the incarnation in the Person
of Jesus Christ.
"Then I lifted up my 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 color to polished
brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude".(5-6)
Daniels' encounter here is similar to the Apostle St. John’s on the Island of
Patmos where St. John sees the Glorified Jesus.
I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when
I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone
like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a
golden sash around his chest. The hair on his head was white like wool, as
white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze
glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In
his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp,
double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. "Rev: 1:12-16.
Encounter Christ
Both the Prophet and the Apostle encounter the
Supernatural realty of God. This encounter with the Great God reveals the One
who Daniel seeks. This is not only for Daniel, or other Biblical personalities,
but for all Who will seek God, that is, in prayer there is revelation given
about Our Lord. That when we seek him and his purpose, we will encounter Jesus.
In
prayer we gain insight and discernment of the Spiritual and above all, we
encounter our Lord Jesus Christ.
Prayer Opens Our Eyes
Prayer gives us spiritual perception, we can see this
in Daniel's encounter, he was committed to revelation from God but the others who
had offered prayerful support fled in fear when that revelation came.
Only Daniel saw the vision.
"And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were
with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell on them, so that they fled
to hide themselves. Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great
vision" Dan:10:7-8
We again, can see how prayer gives us spiritual
perception in the case of Elisha's servant, who was filled with fear when the
enemies of Israel threaten the town of Dothan. Elisha prayed and his servants’
eyes were opened to the power of God represented by Chariots of Fire upon the
hill tops. 2Kings: 6:15-17
That same power is available to us today as well, prayer opens our eyes
to God's power for each of us. Our God has the power to deliver us in any
and all circumstance even when it seems hopeless.
Touched Before Christ
Daniel at his encounter with the Great God falls as
if lifeless, no strength as if to emphasizes the futility of the power of the
flesh. Daniel falls before the Lord. This tells us that there is no
strength found within us. In a posture of prayerful worship is where we
all should be in relationship with our Lord. It is here
that our Lord's voice is best heard.
"for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I
retained no strength. Yet 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."Dan:10:8b-9
As the Prophet Daniel is before the Lord,
Daniel is touched by the very hand of God, that is in a powerful way our Lord
is giving affirmation and assurances that Daniels' prayers are heard and will
be answered.
When God touches our lives, it is no mere symbolism
it is to tell us that we matter to him, we are loved, wanted and included in
his divine purposes. The Lord God's touch gives strength and comfort
and encouragement and to lift us up to stand in him.
"And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me on my knees
and on the palms of my hands. And he said to me, O Daniel, a man greatly
beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright: for to
you am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood
trembling" (10-11)
In like manner the Apostle St. John is touched by the
Pierced hand of our Lord Jesus even as he, like Daniel falls before the Lord
and is comforted by the words, "do not be afraid", Jesus
then gives revelation to St. John just as he did for Daniel.
Jesus will do the same for each of us, when we pray
and encounter the living Christ, he will touch each of us and give us
revelation and to help us to understand the things we face in life.
"When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he
placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the
Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever
and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. Write, therefore, what
you have seen, what is now and what will take place later."Rev:1:17-19
We all should, when we enter prayer, encounter our
Lord. The one that Daniel and St. John encounter is the same Jesus that we too
can bow before and seek understanding in times of uncertainty, when we need to
understand, to have strength or to be comforted, to be given assurances that he
is with us, that his will is to be accomplished and none can stop it.
From the moment that Daniel set himself to understanding,
it was determined by God that and answer was to come, in spite of opposition
God's answer was to come.
This Great God is with us even now, even if answers
to the challenges we face seemed to be delayed God will answer us in our times
of need and give us revelation that we need.
"Then said he to me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day
that you did set your heart to understand, and to chasten yourself before your
God, your words were heard, and I am come for your words. But the prince of the
kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, see, Michael, one of
the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of
Persia. Now I am come to make you understand what shall befall your people in
the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days."Dan:10:12-14
The Prophet Jeremiah wrote of God's willingness to
answer our prayers when he quotes the Great God.
"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and
unsearchable things you do not know." Jer: 33:3
This is what Daniel did and so might we.
Opposition
When Daniel sought understanding there was opposition
in the spiritual realm that sought to resist Daniel receiving the answer to his
prayer.
"But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and
twenty days: but, see, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and
I remained there with the kings of Persia. Now I am come to make you understand
what shall befall your people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for
many days." Dan: 10:13-14
However, this opposition was manifested it comes from
the spiritual powers in the world around us as Paul wrote the battle is not
against flesh and blood but spiritual. Eph: 6:12
In the early years of the Christian Church there was
opposition to the message of the Gospel, the church dealt with this opposition
that came through the religious leaders by taking their pleas to the very Throne
of God, we see this in Acts:4:27-31.
The church prayed and they were empowered and
embolden to preach the message of our Lord Jesus. The church prayed and God
answered.
The Answer
Daniel is now, after receiving the answer to his prayer,
overwhelmed by the import of the revelation, he bows down again; what the
Prophet has heard is hard to receive.
"And when he had spoken such words to 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: then I opened my mouth, and spoke, and said to
him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned on me,
and I have retained no strength.For how can the servant of this my lord talk
with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me,
neither is there breath left in me." Dan: 10:15-17
God responds again to reassure the Prophet that God
is in complete control and will provide Daniel the help he needs, that God's
purpose will be carried out in the life of Israel and even Daniels' life and in
all of ours.
Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a
man, and he strengthened me,And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be
to you, be strong, yes, be strong. And when he had spoken to me, I was
strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for you have strengthened me. Then
said he, Know you why I come to you? and now will I return to fight with the
prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, see, the prince of Grecia shall come.
But I will show you that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is
none that holds with me in these things, but Michael your prince." (18-21)
The Lord Jesus Christ will help us today as well,
when times and circumstance are difficult, and opposition rises against God's
working in our lives, whatever we face, God is there to help us. Our Lord
invites each and all to call out to him and He will help us regardless of what
we face.
When we pray, we will encounter our Lord Jesus Christ
and receive from Him all that is needed. We gain insight, and power to face all
that is before, all through coming to Our Lord in Prayer. In Prayer we
encounter our Lord Jesus Christ
Benediction: May we each and
all encounter our Lord Jesus Christ as we pray, today, tomorrow and
forevermore. Amen.
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Rev. Todd Crouch, Norman, Oklahoma
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