©Laura Haverkamp
Chapter 19:20-23 (ESV) - While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my plea before the Lord my God for the holy hill of my God, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice. He made me understand, speaking with me and saying, “O Daniel, I have now come out to give you insight and understanding. At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved. Therefore consider the word and understand the vision.
Question to consider: Why was Daniel greatly loved?
The opening sentence speaks to the mercy of God and His eagerness to keep His promises. Gabriel, the angel who came to him in the last dream was one who stood in the presence of God. He was described as coming in swift flight. Angels are often depicted with wings because of Isaiah 6:2, “Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.” However, the Hebrew word seraphim meant “fiery serpents” (dragons). From the way Lucifer was described in Genesis and Ezekiel, it is safe to assume that he was among the seraphim before being cast down, having his wings clipped, and being forced to crawl on his belly.
We don’t know whether Gabriel had wings, but he was described as a man and not a serpent. The swiftness of his flight was to show his eagerness to obey the word of God. He came at the time of the evening sacrifice which would have been about three in the afternoon. I don’t think it is a coincidence that the good news being brought by Gabriel occurred at the time in which Christ would be crucified. As we dig into Gabriel’s message, this will become more evident.
When Daniel received the previous message, he was left feeling a sense of dread and desired understanding. Gabriel had come to provide this understanding. As James wrote in his epistle, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.” (James 1:5-6)
Daniel was not greatly loved for his good works. Daniel had faith in God to keep His promises despite the failures of Israel, and this faith was credited to him as righteousness. Daniel was also faithful in conveying the word (and works) of God to others which was demonstrated in the way he faithfully conveyed to the kings the message given to them by God in their dreams— even when they were difficult. Praise God for his faithfulness in doing these things, for I would argue that the understanding given to Daniel proves that Christ came and established His eternal kingdom a little more than two thousand years ago.
Dear heavenly Father, thank You for revealing Yourself to us in Your word. Help us to love it as much as Daniel and be faithful in conveying it to others. We pray for understanding, and in times where understanding is difficult, we pray for eyes that can see Your goodness in the midst of it. Amen.