In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, a message was
made plain to Daniel, whose Babylonian name was Belteshazzar. The message was
true. It dealt with a big war. He understood the message, the understanding
coming by revelation: During those days, I, Daniel, went into mourning over
Jerusalem for three weeks. I ate only plain and simple food, no seasoning or
meat or wine. I neither bathed nor shaved until the three weeks were up. On the
twenty-fourth day of the first month I was standing on the bank of the great
river, the Tigris. I looked up and to my surprise saw a man dressed in linen
with a belt of pure gold around his waist. His body was hard and glistening, as
if sculpted from a precious stone, his face radiant, his eyes bright and
penetrating like torches, his arms and feet glistening like polished bronze,
and his voice, deep and resonant, sounded like a huge choir of voices. I,
Daniel, was the only one to see this. The men who were with me, although they
didn't see it, were overcome with fear and ran off and hid, fearing the worst.
Left alone after the appearance, abandoned by my friends, I went weak in the
knees, the blood drained from my face. I heard his voice. At the sound of it I
fainted, fell flat on the ground, face in the dirt.
Let God’s people go—back to Jerusalem to rebuild their city
and their Temple. That was Cyrus’ decree in 538 BC and soon after that in 536
BC Daniel has another vision. He was mourning for twenty-one days because he
was burdened with news that the Jews who had returned to Jerusalem were not
following God’s commands. They were experiencing harassment, discouragement and
had married foreign wives, against God’s teachings. See Ezra 9. So as Daniel
was burdened, he prayed and fasted. And then—there was his vision! An angel
appeared to him—but not to the others who were with him. Just like the way that
Paul (Acts 9) heard the voice of Jesus on the road to Damascus, but his fellow
travelers didn’t hear the voice. This
angel was awesome with a face like beryl, which is a mineral and a gemstone.
Beryl is the root word for brilliant. This angel with fiery torch eyes and a
shiny bronze body was brilliantly dazzling! Even though Daniel’s companions
didn’t see the angel, they ran away—terrified.
Have you ever felt terrified and didn’t know why? I can say
that I’ve felt apprehensive about going into some places, but not terrified or
trembling. Perhaps there were unseen evil beings nearby. Just as God was surely
with Daniel—and we can count on Him to be with us, if we trust and obey. Fear
not, like is written in Jeremiah 1:8, Do
not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.
(NASB) Claim that promise whenever you have fears or doubts.
Thank you, Jesus, that
even when we face spiritual battles You are with us and send angels to be with
us to give us hope.
© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
Scripture from The Message, except where noted.
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