Thoughts on the Book of Daniel.
Verse 20. And while I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God; 21; yea, while I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. We here have the result of Daniel’s supplication. He is suddenly interrupted by a heavenly messenger. The man Gabriel, appearing again as he had before, in the form of a man, whom Daniel had seen in the vision at the beginning, touched him. A very important question is here to be determined. It is to be decided whether the vision of chapter 8 has ever been explained, and can ever be understood. The question is, To what vision does Daniel refer by the expression, “the vision at the beginning.” It will be conceded by all that it is a vision of which we have some previous mention, and that in that vision we shall find some mention of Gabriel. We must go back beyond this ninth chapter; for all that we have in this chapter previous to this appearance of Gabriel is simply a record of Daniel’s prayer. Looking back, then, through previous chapters, we find mention of only three visions given to Daniel. 1. The interpretation of the dream of Nebuchadnezzar was given in a night vision. Chap. 2:19. But there is no record of any angelic agency in the matter. 2. The vision of chap. 7. This was explained to Daniel by “one of them that stood by,” probably an angel; but we have no information as to what one; nor is there anything in that vision which needed further explanation. 3. The vision of chapter 8. Here we find some particulars which show this to be the vision referred to: 1. Gabriel is brought to view for the first and only previous time in the book. 2. He was commanded to make Daniel understand the vision. 3. Daniel at the conclusion says he did not understand it; showing that Gabriel, at the conclusion of that chapter, had not fulfilled his mission. 4. There is no place in all the Bible where this instruction is carried out, if it be not in chapter 9. If, therefore, the vision of chapter 8 is not the one referred to, we have no record that Gabriel ever complied with the instructions given him, or that that vision has ever been explained. 5. The instruction which the angel now gives to Daniel, as we shall see from the following verses, does exactly complete what was lacking in chapter 8. These considerations prove beyond a doubt the connection between Daniel 8 and 9; and this conclusion will be still further strengthened, when we come to look at the angel’s instructions. Verse 22. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. 23. At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am now come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved; therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. The manner in which Gabriel introduces himself on this occasion, shows that he has come to complete some unfulfilled mission. It can be nothing less than to carry out the instruction to make this man “understand the vision,” as recorded in chapter 8. I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. As the charge still rested upon him to make Daniel understand; and as he explained to Daniel in chapter 8, all that he could then bear, and yet he did not understand, he now comes to resume his work and complete his mission. As soon as Daniel commenced his fervent supplication, the commandment came forth; that is, Gabriel received instruction to visit Daniel and impart to him the requisite information. From the time it takes to read Daniel’s prayer down to the point at which Gabriel made his appearance upon the scene, the reader can judge of the speed with which this messenger was dispatched from the court of Heaven to this servant of God. No wonder Daniel says that he was caused to fly swiftly, or that Ezekiel compares the movements of these celestial beings to a flash of lightning. Eze. 1:14. “Understand the matter,” he says to him. What matter? That, evidently, which he did not before understand, as stated in the last verse of chapter 8. “Consider the vision.” What vision? Not the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s image, nor the vision of chapter 7; for there was no difficulty with either of these; but the vision of chapter 8, in reference to which his mind was filled with doubt and astonishment. “I am come to show thee,” also said the angel. Show thee in reference to what? Certainly in reference to something, wherein he was entertaining wrong ideas, and something, at the same time, pertaining to his prayer; as it was this which had called forth Gabriel on his mission at this time. But Daniel had no difficulty in understanding what the angel told him about the ram, he-goat, and little horn, the kingdoms of Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. Nor was he mistaken in regard to the ending of the seventy years’ captivity. But the burden of his petition was respecting the repairing the desolations of the sanctuary, which lay in ruins; and he had undoubtedly drawn the conclusion that when the end of the seventy years’ captivity came, the time would come for the fulfillment of what the angel had said respecting the cleansing of the sanctuary at the end of the 2300 days. Now he must be set right. And this explains why at this particular time instruction should be sent him after a delay of fifteen years. Now the seventy years’ captivity were drawing to their close, and Daniel was applying the instruction he had before received from the angel, to a wrong issue. He was falling into a misunderstanding, and was acting upon it; hence he must not be suffered longer to remain ignorant of the true import of the former vision. “I am come to show thee,” “understand the matter,” “consider the vision.” Such were the words used by the very person Daniel had seen in the former vision, and to whom he had heard the command given, “Make this man to understand the vision,” and who he knew had never carried out that instruction. But now he appears and says, “I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.” How could Daniel’s mind be more emphatically carried back to the vision of chapter 8, and the connection between that visit of the angel and this, be more distinctly shown, than by such words from such a person? The considerations already presented are sufficient to conclusively show the connection between Dan. 8 and 9; but this will still further appear, in subsequent verses. One expression seems worthy of notice before we leave verse 23. It is the declaration of the angel to Daniel, “For thou art greatly beloved.” The angel brought this declaration direct from the courts of Heaven. It expressed the state of feeling that existed in regard to Daniel, there. Think of celestial beings, the highest in the universe, the Father, the Son, the holy angels, having such regard and esteem for a mortal man here upon earth, as to authorize an angel to bear the message to him that he was greatly beloved! This is one of the highest pinnacles of glory to which mortals can attain. Abraham reached another when it could be said of him that he was the “friend of God.” Enoch another when it could be said of him that he “walked with God.” Can we arrive at any such attainments? God is no respecter of persons; but he is a respecter of character. If in virtue and godliness we could equal these eminent men, we could move the divine love to equal depths. We too, could be greatly beloved, could be friends of God, and could walk with him. And we must be in our generation what they were in theirs. There is a figure used in reference to the last church which denotes the closest union with God. “If any man hear my voice and open the door I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me.” Rev. 3:20. To sup with the Lord denotes an intimacy equal to being greatly beloved by him, walking with him, or being his friend. How desirable a position! Alas for the evils of our nature which cut us off from this communion! Oh! for grace to overcome these, that we may enjoy this spiritual union here, and finally bask in the glories of his presence at the marriage supper of the Lamb.