April 8, 2007
Discovering Inner Strength
Daniel 9:20-23; 10:12-14
Jim Davis
Biblical Hebrew literature reveals, as no other literature does, how the world
order is warring against us. Throughout the Bible we get a glimpse of the
demonic forces seeking total control of our world as they control our thoughts
about ourselves, others and our world. It is very clear that the decisive battle
is won or lost in our minds. Paul says, “For though we live in the world, do not
wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the
world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We
demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the
knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to
Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NIV)
No book of salvation history paints a more graphic earthly picture of the
ongoing conflict than the book of Daniel. Daniel was among the wise young men of
Israel taken to Babylon to be trained in all the ways of Babylon. Babylon sought
to place their stamp on the mind of Daniel by changing his name, his diet and
his associations. The king placed his eunuch over Daniel to insure he was well
fed and taught him the language and literature of Babylonians. Daniel finds
himself in a world completely set against him.
In chapter nine we find Daniel praying to God for wisdom and understanding. It
wasn’t the first time he prayed for wisdom. He first prayed for wisdom as a
young man when he was called upon to tell Nebuchadnezzar his dream and the
meaning of it. Now we find Daniel praying as an old man; he is still praying for
wisdom and understanding.
Daniel 9:20-23
20 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— 21 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. 22 He instructed me and said to me, "Daniel, I have now come to give
you insight and understanding. 23 As soon as you began to pray, an answer was
given, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. NIV
Daniel 10:12-14
12 Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel.
Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble
yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to
them. 13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then
Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there
with the king of Persia. 14 Now I have come to explain to you what will happen
to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come." NIV
An answer was given the moment Daniel started praying. Gabriel the angel was
sent in answer to his prayer, but one of the princes of Persia detained Gabriel.
The prince of Persian was a prince in the spiritual realm fighting against the
angels of God for control of the world order. This reveals the power of Satanic
forces in every life. Michael one of the archangels of God came to Gabriel’s
defense clearing the way for Gabriel to come to Daniel.
We Must See the Unseen
Faith in God is about our ability to see the unseen. Salvation history makes it
very clear that we are fighting against the rulers of darkness who seek to
engulf the world in total darkness. Daniel tells us that Nebuchadnezzar laid
siege to Jerusalem, but the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah in to his hand
(Daniel 1:1-2). Daniel sees what is unseen in every earthly battle. He sees God.
We look at history and simply tell the story of what happened, but Daniel looks
at history and tells why it happened. Daniel knows why Judah is taken captivity.
He knows why he was taken to Babylon. It was God’s punishment for his sins and
the sins of Judah. God often steps back and allows evil to destroy evil.
Man is active in history, yet, God is at work in every historical event.
It has been suggested that if we could glimpse over into eternity only
for a moment and see the fierce battles being waged in heavenly realms for our
souls, it would scare the HELL out of us!!! Literally speaking; of course. We
would see the demons fighting to possess our mind, souls and our bodies. It
would make all the wars here in the physical world miniscule compared to the
battles between the gods of this world and The Most High God.
We come to the book of Daniel and begin thinking Daniel was given some special
insight and wisdom to see God in all that was transpiring. We think God gave him
something others didn’t have or else how could he say his tragedy was in the
hands of the Lord. But the facts for Daniel were the same for everyone else.
Daniel believed in God’s prophetic word. We find him reading from the prophets
before him. He understood what was happening from the writings of and Isaiah.
Isaiah 39:5-7
5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of
the LORD Almighty: 6 The time will surely come when everything in your palace,
and all that your fathers have stored up until this day, will be carried off to
Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the LORD. 7 And some of your descendants,
your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they
will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon." NIV
Some speculate from these scriptures that Daniel may have been made a eunuch
when he was taken to Babylon, but it didn’t stop him from reading and believing
in God’s word. The prophetic writings of Moses, Jeremiah, of 2 Kings and 2
Chronicles supported him in these difficult times. God makes no effort to give
detailed information, such as exact dates, etc. All he needs to know is that God
is in charge. Daniel simply believed God’s word as a result he was given wisdom
and understanding.
Old Testament literature goes beyond simply seeing God controlling the larger
picture of future events. It’s not simply a matter of prophetic foretelling; it
has to do with understanding prophetic principles by which God governs his
people. Prophecy was the interpretation of history from God’s vantage point.
They are interpreting what is happening to them in light of what God has said in
his word. The faithful understand God is faithful to his word regardless of the
consequences for himself or his people. Through it all Daniel understands it is
an act of mercy on his behalf. It is very personal to Daniel. He saw God
involved in his personal struggles.
The Strength God Provides
When we are allowed to see the unseen through biblical literature we not only
see the battles, but we also get a glimpse of God’s incomparable power for those
who believe in Christ.
Elisha was surrounded by the army of the Arameans; they came to kill Elisha.
When his servant awoke and realized the city was surrounded, he cried out what
shall we do. Elisha prayed that God would open the eyes of his servant allow him
to see the unseen. His eyes were open and he “saw the hills full of horses and chariots
of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:17). The army of the Arameans was surround
by the army of God. The army of the LORD was at Elisha’s beck and call. This is
the picture we see running throughout Old New Testament literature.
In the letter to the Ephesians and Colossians Paul takes us into the heavenly
realms in order that we might begin to comprehend that Christ is over all the
rulers of this world and every dominion beyond this world.
Ephesians 1:18-23
18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be
enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the
riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great
power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,
20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at
his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority,
power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present
age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and
appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body,
the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. NIV
The scriptures are designed to open our eyes to see into the world beyond. When
we do, we realize we must be totally dependent upon receiving God’s inner
strength to survive the onslaught of darkness.
Ephesians 3:16-19
16 I pray that out of his glorious riches
he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you,
being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the
saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19
and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the
measure of all the fullness of God. NIV
God honors Daniel’s faithfulness as he gives him the inner strength to
stand. Notice how Daniel was brought to the forefront in Babylon through
the strength God provides.
Daniel 1:17-21
17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and
understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could
understand visions and dreams of all kinds.
18 At the end of the time set by the king to
bring them in, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king
talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and
Azariah; so they entered the king's service. 20 In every matter of wisdom and
understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times
better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.
21 And Daniel remained there until the first year
of King Cyrus. NIV
Daniel chose to take a stand in the midst of the magicians and enchanters of
Babylon. The challenges’ of Daniel’s world was no different from the challenge
of our world. It is obvious why biblical literature is constantly reminding us
who is in charge. There is no way we can stand against the powers of darkness
without standing in the strength and wisdom that God provides moment to moment.
When we do take a stand we must believe—God is in charge of the events brought
about by our personal choices to serve him.
Where Does It All Begin?
There is probably no book in the entire Bible that reveals the personal
struggles we face when being attacked by the forces of darkness better than the
book of Daniel. Daniel is interned in a world of darkness. He’s caught up in a
constant life and death struggle against the powers of his world. Yet, we see
God’s power at work throughout his life as he allows Daniel to see the unseen
and gives Daniel the wisdom to understand his mission for his personal life.
We walk by faith in the same God Daniel worshipped as we battle against the same
eternal demons Daniel faced in his world. Our faith allows us to see into the
same unseen world Daniel peered into. We can see Michael, Gabriel and thousands
of angels coming to our defense. Yet, as we peer into that unseen world we see
more than Daniel saw. We see a resurrected SAVIOR who stands above all. He has
all POWER. He has all GLORY. He has all AUTHORITY. No one is above him. He has
won the victory for all eternity. We also see God’s Holy Spirit making requests
as he intercedes to God and Christ for the things we don’t even know we need,
and if we did, we wouldn’t know how to ask for them.
Many Christians dream of being heroes for God on great public occasions. The
faithful heroes of Scripture were first faithful in small things in private.
Nebuchadnezzar’s goal was to brainwash Daniel and his companions. They were
taken to Babylon to serve Nebuchadnezzar, but in their thinking they went to
Babylon to serve God. Not in a spectacular way. It all begins by remaining
faithful in the little private battles they faced. What they ate, to whom they
prayed in private and how they viewed and studied their Scriptures.
