Daniel

I have been reading in Daniel since I came to Africa.  I have so enjoyed reading this book that I had to share about it.  Although very cliché, I started reading it here because he had lived in a foreign land and that was what I was doing.  Little did I realize that he was such a great man of God.  He is taken from his homeland, not desired to go like I did.  He even does well while in a foreign land, and the royalty and power notice.  I personally would not want to be such a hard-worker for people who took me away from my own people and family.  God uses Daniel to do things no one else is willing to or able to do.  Whenever he interprets a vision, such as for King Nebuchadnezzar, he first gives all credit to God as one “who reveals secrets.”  Other people cannot even find a fault in him “unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”  I certainly wish that was all people could see in my life!  He puts his faith in God first and foremost.  He is even willing to risk his life for it. 

Another thing that really struck me about Daniel was how much he cared about others.  He was a prophet, so I had to do a lot of research and looking at commentaries to understand some of the book, but he has a vision about the Israelites.  He does not just say “here is the horrible vision I had about the destruction of you as a people and your temple.”  He is so moved by this vision.  He cares so much about his people that he was “grieved in my spirit within my body.”  He prayed with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.  He prayed for forgiveness and for God’s mercy (Daniel 9:18-19 show how intensely he prayed and pleaded for them).  How often am I so grieved for people I love that I completely prostrate myself in dirt and forsake food for them?  I am moved and convicted by Daniel’s actions.  The very last verse at the end of Daniel says, “But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.”  In Adam Clarke’s commentary, he writes four points on this verse that I thought were really interesting that say, “1.    Thou hast a way—a walk in life, which God has assigned thee; walk in that way, it is thy way. 2.    There will be an end to thee of all earthly things. Death is at the door, and eternity is at hand; go on to the end—be faithful unto death. 3.    There is a rest provided for the people of God. Thou shalt rest; thy body, in the grave; thy soul, in the Divine favor here, and finally in paradise. 4.    As in the promised land there was a lot for each of God’s people, so in heaven there is a lot for thee. Do not lose it, do not sell it, do not let thy enemy rob thee of it. Be determined to stand in thy own lot at the end of the days. See that thou keep the faith; die in the Lord Jesus, that thou mayest rise and reign with him to all eternity. Amen.”