Treasured and Loved

Daniel 9:20-23 ~

While I was speaking, praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my petition before Yahweh my God concerning the holy mountain of my God— while I was praying, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the first vision, came to me in my extreme weariness, about the time of the evening offering. He gave me this explanation: “Daniel, I’ve come now to give you understanding. At the beginning of your petitions an answer went out, and I have come to give it, for you are treasured by God.

The book of Daniel is full of eschatology and weighty prophecy and yet, there are many wonderful practical nuggets in there as well. As I was reading this morning, I came across these few verses which were an encouragement to me and I hope they are to you as well. 

When we pray we often feel as if our prayers are going no higher than the ceiling. We ask ourselves, "Are they really heard by God? Will He answer? Am I just uttering nonsense to myself?"

We are told in this passage that Daniel was praying, confessing his sin, as well as the sins of the Israel, and asking the Lord to turn His wrath away from Jerusalem. Suddenly the angel, Gabriel, appears before him and gives him God's message.

There are a few things we can glean from these few verses.

God provides for us in our weariness and discouragement. God sent the angel, Gabriel, to strengthen Daniel and let him know that his prayers had been answered. An angel has never visited me, but I've often felt God's strength course through me when I've been the most discouraged. God sees us. He knows what we need. He ministers to our weak and weary souls.

God values humility and submission. Daniel was a righteous man and yet, in the presence of the Lord, recognized his own sinfulness. These verses tell us that he was confessing his sin. His plea was dependent upon God's mercy. When we come before the presence of the Lord, we cannot stand before His holiness without the recognition of our own sin. God, in His great mercy, forgives us and answers our prayers. Sometimes the answer is the forgiveness.

God answered before Daniel even spoke the prayer. The angel told Daniel that as he was praying an answer went out. God hears our prayers and knows what we are going to ask before we say it. At times, the answer is already on the way so we can trust that He is hearing our petitions.

God treasures those who serve Him and are humble before Him. The angel tells Daniel that he is treasured by God. Other versions say highly esteemed or greatly loved. What encouragement that must have been. God not only sees us, but we are treasured and loved by God. We can often feel alone and unseen and yet, the Lord is listening and sees us and values us.

The rest of the chapter goes on to give Daniel a vision of the coming Messiah. The vision gives a beautiful picture of the coming atonement and the ultimate sacrifice given for men's sinfulness. 

Daniel, a man who dedicated his life to the service of God, was valued and loved. His prayers were heard and God swiftly answered. God ministered to Daniel in his weakness and weariness. God gave Daniel exactly what he needed at the moment he needed it. 

He does the same for us. We are treasured by God. He hears and answers our prayers. God ministers to us in our weakness and gives us the strength to keep moving forward. And that is great encouragement to my weary heart.