Help May Already Be On the Way

After Daniel acknowledged God’s justice and asked for God’s mercy in Daniel 9:1-9, something happened that we might not expect.

While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the Lord my God for his holy hill— while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice.
Daniel 9:20‭-‬21 NIV

https://bible.com/bible/111/dan.9.20-21.NIV

While we should be careful not to worship angels, they are real, and these messengers of God actively intervene in human beings’ lives when God calls them to.

As a side note, notice in verse 20  that Daniel isn’t just confessing sins about “other” Israelites.  He is including himself in those whose sins need to be confessed.  When we ask God for His mercy, let’s be careful that we’re not just confessing “other people’s sins”.

In verses 22-23 we learn that the word that Gabriel brought went out at the start of Daniel’s prayer, even if that’s not exactly when Daniel got the message.  Sometimes, God may be working as soon as we start to pray, even if we don’t see the answer from Him until later.  In fact, I’m convinced that God is sometimes working even before we start praying to Him, and answers to our prayers are just waiting for us to ask and wait on Him.  However, that still doesn’t mean that we always see the answers to our prayers instantly.

Gabriel’s role here is to educate Daniel with more information.  Like other visions of Daniel that are recorded in this book, God often shares the meaning with Daniel (even if that meaning still might be complicated, especially to us).

There are different ways to interpret the next few verses (Verses 24-27).  One example would be that of Isaac Newton, who interpreted things like this:

• The “seventy sevens” (see verse 24) Sir Newton considers to be 490 years, starting from when Ezra returned with a group to Jerusalem, and they were given the ability to self-govern (at least to an extent).  By Newton’s calculations, this would be about 457 B.C., 490 years before Jesus’ crucifixion in 34 A.D. (again, according to Newton’s calculations).
• For the 62 weeks (see verse 25), Newton calculates 434 years from Nehemiah’s rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem to the birth of Christ.
• For the 1 week in verse 27, Newton considers the church to have been started for 7 years (since Pentecost) when Peter was sent to talk with Cornelius, confirming Gentiles’ role in the body of Christ.
• The half-week in that chapter Newton ascribes to a 3-½ year battle when the Romans eventually burned the temple in Jerusalem.

I’m not saying that Isaac Newton’s interpretations are necessarily correct.  We could get into all kinds of other interpretations here, but without trying to make the passage say more than it does, let’s consider what it may have meant to its original recipient: the aged exile Daniel.  Gabriel’s message from God confirmed that:

• Jerusalem would be rebuilt.  This is what Daniel was seeking in his prayers, and even if his math was off or his interpretation of Jeremiah’s prophecy wasn’t exact, his prayers would be answered.
• The Messiah would come.  Even more exciting than the restoration of Jerusalem and the temple, the promised Anointed One would come.
• Things would be messy along the way.  What Daniel had experienced was not all promotions and wealth.  He was still living in exile.  He had previously had to deal with pressure to eat royal food.  Ge saw at least one major regime change.  And, he faced down lions.  I doubt that what we have recorded are even all of the challenges that Daniel experienced.  However, challenges in life – trials, tribulations, troubles, and even terrors – do not mean that God’s plan is broken, or that He has left.  Instead, it was all part of the plan for Daniel.  In fact, things might not have seemed like they were getting any better “externally” (from a political standpoint) even when the Messiah arrived.

So, what do we do with Daniel 9?  There’s a lot here, but let’s consider a few ideas to get started.

• Let’s remember that we are saved by God’s mercy, and not by our works.
• Let’s remember that others are saved by God’s mercy, and not by their works.
• Let’s be willing to call upon God’s mercy, whether for ourselves, our loved ones, our church, or our country.
• Let’s be willing to plead with God on behalf of others, and not just “phone in” a quick request as part of a rote list of prayers.
• Let’s remember that when things are really messy, God is still in charge, and His plan is still being worked out.

From Sunday School lesson prepared for June 30, 2024

References:

• The Lookout, June 30, 2024, © 2024 Christian Standard Media.
• Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
• The College Press NIV Commentary – Esther & Daniel, by Mark Mangano.  © 2001 College Press Publishing Co.
• The Bible and Archaeology, by J.A. Thompson, © 1962, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., p.166-171.
• The Chronology of Ancient Kingdoms…, by Sir Isaac Newton, London, 1728.
• Observations upon the Prophecies of Daniel, and the Apocalypse of St. John, by Sir Isaac Newton, London, 1733.