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After a restless couple of hours of sleep, I felt the prompting to get out of bed to read the Bible
passage in Daniel 10:13-21. In this passage Daniel is spoken to in great detail by an angel, this is usually taken for granted
and skimmed over by me, but as of late I have read too many passages that are similar.
Usually it's an Old Testament reference to an angel visitation such as Gideon, Samson's parents, Jacob's ladder or on
one of the lines that these men needed these visitations due to the not yet wide spread release of the power of the Holy Spirit,
later poured out on the Day of Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ. This may be partially true but there are several
New Testament references to angelic activity after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Lk. 22:43 Acts 12:8 Acts 27:23,24
Rev. 19:10
This activity is not limited to only intervention in situations
such one might think of as a guardian angel's service to the kingdom of God. But the references clearly depict verbal and
visual interaction as guided by the Holy Spirit.
Now before any in depth
thought or study on this subject occurs, keep in mind the words of the Apostle Paul in Col. 2:18 that no angel should take
away your focus on Jesus and his Lordship. Rev. 19:10 refers to this when John fell at his feet and worshipped. He was quickly
corrected on this act whether this be an angel as referred to by the Amplified Bible or a prophet of old. In
any case lets keep things in perspective and revere Jesus as the only supreme being deserving our praise.
After reading these passages for quite some time now, and this recent event of being awakened to read yet another in the book
of Daniel, I paid close attention to not only the content of the verses but the behavior of Daniel.
It is mentioned more than once that Daniel fasted, and in various ways, Dan. 1:8, 10:1-4,12. Daniel prayed Dan. 6:10. Daniel
kept company with people who sought God without wavering Dan. 2:17,18. This verse also shows that Daniel and his friends sought
God together for specific answers to questions; this suggests that in his home was an atmosphere that was conducive to prayer
and worship, such homes rarely exist in America today. Daniel also blessed God when an answer came Dan. 2:20,21.
Daniel 8:15 reads "when I Daniel had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then behold,
there stood before me as the appearance of a man. The Amplified Bible reads " I sought to understand it." This jumps out to me because Paul refers to understanding in Eph. 1:18 "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened".
Eph. 1:16,17 refers to "the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him". Could this be what Daniel and his companions sought after when in
need of an answer rather than a shot in the dark prayer for an answer. Col. 1:9 shows Paul praying in the same manner for
the church in Colosse, "that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding:".
With the church of today in a serious
lack of true prophetic utterances, it is crucial for some believers to rise up with the steadfastness of Daniel your "fellow
servant" and seek the Father for the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, that Jesus may be glorified
alone.
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