20While I was speaking, praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my petition before the Lord my God concerning the holy mountain of my God — 21while I was praying, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the first vision, reached me in my extreme weariness, about the time of the evening offering. 22He gave me this explanation: “Daniel, I’ve come now to give you understanding. 23At the beginning of your petitions an answer went out, and I have come to give it, for you are treasured by God. So consider the message and understand the vision…
Daniel 9:20-23
God answers to give understanding
When we come before God with humble expectation…
When we come before God seeking his character, Kingdom and will…
When we come before God asking, pleading for him to work in his name…
God sends answers to give understanding.
I found something interesting in Daniel 9:22 in the KJV…”O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.”
Both words have backdrop in wisdom. The word KJV translated “skill” has the idea of “to act wisely.” Putting the wisdom God gives into action.
God doesn’t want to act just to do stuff for you. Sure. He will. You’ll see miracles that cannot be explained any other way than just “God acted on my behalf.”
God wants to give you wisdom so you can act in such a way that shows his Kingdom wisdom inside your Babylon…the kingdom you’re exiled to while you wait to be brought back fully into God’s eternal Kingdom.
Show up before God expecting him to give you his Kingdom wisdom to act among this kingdom.
God answers to say to you, “You are treasured.”
You may see this and think, “Well, this is a one time deal, for a one time kind of guy. Shoot, Daniel is the one in the lion’s den! Of course he’s treasured!”
Ok. But this wasn’t said to Daniel just once…
10Suddenly, a hand touched me and set me shaking on my hands and knees. 11He said to me, “Daniel, you are a man treasured by God. Understand the words that I’m saying to you. Stand on your feet, for I have now been sent to you.” After he said this to me, I stood trembling.
Daniel 10:10-11
“Well…that’s still Daniel…not me.” You might object. Ok. Fine. Here’s a New Testament one that you know…
16For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
You…me…everyone is a part of the world that he loves…God treasures.
God will answer you because he treasures you. He treasures you so he’ll answer according to his character, Kingdom and will. He answers according to his character, Kingdom and will because that is how he will give Life inside our soul.
And, this Daniel 10 encounter with an angel includes an odd segment about the angel being delayed because of some spiritual conflict in the realms we cannot see.
We have no idea why God maybe delayed in answering.
One last thing you may say to this…”Man, I wish an angel would show up to me like he did to Daniel!”
You don’t want an angel to show up.
God himself has shown up. The Holy Spirit is with you and will answer you. God is Immanuel through the Holy Spirit…so an angel would be a demotion!
You are treasured by God
God gives his wisdom for you to act on behalf of his character, Kingdom and will.
God answers prayer because…1)You are treasured by God. 2)God gives his wisdom for you to act on behalf of his character, Kingdom and will.
Tweet
He answers prayer because of these two realities.
Pray with the humble expectation of Daniel that you are in the Throne Room of your Abba King.
How does God giving you skill and understanding and God treasuring you bring you before God more?