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.