Daniel 9: 20-23
(20) Now while I was speaking and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God in behalf of the holy mountain of my God,
You can see the whole content of Daniel's prayer that he was praying in the earlier verses of this chapter.
(21) while I was still speaking in prayer, then the man, Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision previously, came to me in my extreme weariness about the time of the evening offering.
Daniel was interrupted as he prayed, the angel came without waiting for him to finish. Daniel was wearing himself out in his prayer, and it was the late afternoon.
(22) He gave me instruction and talked with me
Gabriel didn't just "instruct" him, but they actually had a conversation.
and said, "O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you insight with understanding.
Gabriel wants to not only give him information, but to help him understand what it is all about. So they probably had more give-and-take conversation than is summarized here. It looks like they're becoming friends!
(23) "At the beginning of your supplications the command was issued, and I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed; so give heed to the message and gain understanding of the vision."
He tells him that as soon as he started to pray, Gabriel got the assignment to go back to him again, to let him know what God is planning. And he encouraged him in telling him how well he is liked! He has friends in High Places!
This is all so amazing! Why would Daniel be so "highly esteemed"? Because he humbled himself before the Lord? Because he remained faithful to the Lord in the midst of interacting with the pagan society that surrounded him, for many decades? Yes, I think so.
I think that God "highly esteems" every person who humbles himself before the Lord in repentance and faith in Christ's taking their death for them on the Cross. That is His desire for every one of us humans. He created Mankind to be His own children, so He is "patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance" (II Peter 3: 9).
But He will still fulfill what He said He would do, in returning to this Earth to judge the wicked and reward the righteous. "But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief" (II Peter 3: 10), "But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the Day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober" (I Thessalonians 5: 4-6).
We are to wake up, be serious and solemn, carefully studying what God has told us to prepare us; so that we will not be surprised at the horrendous goings on around us, as God pours out His wrath on the ungodly, that it will not touch us. All that can touch us is the people who are deceived by the liar, who will persecute the godly.
God esteems each of us so highly that He causes us to be born into His own family (higher than the angels) to sit on thrones to rule in Christ's authority as He rules in the Father's authority. This is the most amazing thing ever!
We are the body of Christ, the bride of Christ, to be united with Him forever! Just as He and the Father are one (John 17: 11). He gave us marriage as a picture of the intimate relationship He wants to have with each of us.
Now Gabriel will give Daniel another vision, the most complicated, detailed and mysterious one yet.
O my Father, please help us also to have understanding of what You showed Daniel, as Gabriel gave to him. Father, we are so close to the fulfillment of this prophesy, we can calculate what has already passed; but we need Your guidance to see what to expect in coming days. It is coming so soon, please let us see it even as we are in the midst of it, so we will know that You will be with us to protect us and strengthen us through it all.
My Father, help us to trust You more through everything You said would be coming before the very end. Show us how we can all work to promote Your Kingdom and Your program. Teach each of us what You have equipped us to accomplish for the benefit of our sisters and brothers and neighbors, and to grow Your Kingdom both in maturity and numerically.
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.
Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!
