21 “…yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. 22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, ‘O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand. 23 At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision…’”
9:21
yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering.
The angel Gabriel again came to Daniel (8:16) to answer Daniel’s prayer. Gabriel came in human appearance about the time of the “evening offering” (3:00 P.M.) There had been no “evening offering” since the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 586 B.C. Daniel’s customary prayer time brought memories to him of the smoke rising from the temple in the evening sacrifice. The sacrifice typified the One who would die for the sins of the world. Gabriel found Daniel in his God-centered approach to life.
He 9:13-14, “For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
9:22
And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand.”
Gabriel’s immediate concern was to give Daniel an understanding of this prophecy. The prophecy involved more than Israel’s return to the land in Daniel’s day; it also referred to the return of Israel at the Second Coming of Christ.
9:23
“At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision:”
God revealed to Daniel the stewardship of the revelation of the seventy units because God loved him “greatly.” The purpose of Gabriel’s coming to Daniel was to help him “understand the vision” of the seventy heptads (vv. 24-27).
Daniel was the object of God’s love because he was a man of the Word and prayer. He based his prayer on the Word. He understood the principle of fellowship with God and how to get into fellowship by confession.
PRINCIPLE:
Believers need a stated time of prayer to develop consistency in their walk with God.
APPLICATION:
We all need a stated time of prayer and Bible study. We need the discipline to walk with God. A regular habit of prayer will strengthen our spiritual life.
Business should not blunt our prayer life. Daniel held a high position in Babylon, yet he found time for prayer and Bible reading.
As Daniel’s prayer focused on the character of God, so should our prayers do the same. God’s righteousness is His absolute integrity. He always conforms to His own attributes and character. He is faithful to His covenants (contracts) with His people. We should never ask God in prayer to renounce His righteousness, for the goal of intercessory prayer is God’s glory. All prayer should redound to God’s glory and His name.
