The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 314

. Vers_. 20-27.-Praye,· opens wider horfrons of God's kingdom. We havo here R ~1gnRl rnst,mce of the fact that God not only answers human prRyer, hut gives II more than we RSk" or conceive. The tliino- which Daniel asked was small cotnpared with what God bestowed. Compared wi1h contemporary men, Daniel etood above them brad nnd fboulders. Compared with God, he was but a pigmy. L PRAYER JS TIIE DEST PREPARATION FOR RECEIVING LARGER REVELATION, Tho exercise of real prayer develops humility, dcpen,lence self-forgetfulness· and theso ~!ates of mind are favourable to ingress of light. ,: The meek will G~d show hiij w~y;" "'l'o that man will b~ l~k, who is of humble and contrite heart." Pray,•r brmgs t~e soul near to God; 1t hfts us up to heavenly elevations; it clears tho eye from nmt and darkness. The Apostle John was engaged in lonely worship when the final revelation of Scripture was made to him. Our Lord wae in the 'act of prayer when heaven came down to earth, and his whole Person was enwrnpt in alory. The response to Dauiel's prayer was immediate. He bad not ceased to pray whe'ii the answer came. Swifter than the electric current came the oracle's response. II. LARGER REVELATION COMES BY A PURE AND PERSONAL SPIBIT. We mav fairly conclude that angels have larger knowledge of God's will than have we, becauiie they are free from the darkness and the doubt which sin generates. If they are not counsellors in the heavenly court, they are heralds, ambassadors, couriers. What God wills should happen they know is wise and right and good. In their estimation it is an incomparable honour to be engaged on Divine errands. Swift as their natures will allow, they fly to convey instruction or help to men. It is consonant, no less with reason than with Scripture, that there are ranks and orders of intelligent bein<>'s with natures more ethereal than ours, and that communication between us and thetll is possible. Every form of service is attributed to the angels. An angel ministered to our Saviour's bodily hunger. An angel strengthened him in the garden. An angel rolled the stone from his sepulchre. An angel released Peter irom prison. Gabriel interpreted the vision to Daniel. Gabriel aunounced to Zacharias and to Mary the approaching advent of a Saviour. III. LARGER REVELATION 18 AN EVIDENCE OF GoD's BPECUL LOVE. The·despatch of a special messenger from the court of heaven was in itself a signal token of God's favour. Not often in the history of our race had such a favour been shown. Further, Gabriel was well pleased to assure the man of prayer that, in hcaven,"he was " greatly beloved." Every act of devotion to God's cause had been graven on the memory of God. His character was an object of God's complacency. On account of God's great love for Daniel he gave him larger understanding, and disclosed to him the purposes and plans for man's redemption. God's intention was that Daniel should enlarge the area of his vision, and look with solicitude, not on Israel after the flesh, but on the true Israel of God. Yet all revelation is a mark of God's love to men. Because men are "greatly beloved" of God, therefore he has given them this complete canon of Scripture, therefore be gives them understanding to discern the mea.ning, therefore he leads them further into the truth. IV. LABGER REVELATION Ill FOUNDED UPON A TYPICAL PAST. The thoughtful love of God adapted this new revelation to the capacity and mood of Daniel's spirit. Daniel had been dwelling on the seventy years which Jeremiah ha.d declared to be the full period of Israel's captivity. His hope was resting on the fact that the seventy years were accomplished, and that God was faithful to his word. Gabriel was charged to assure the prophet that restoration was nigh at hand, but that other epochs of "seventies" were opening. The desolation of Jerusalem in the past was a type of a sadrler desolation yet to come. The visible reconciliation between God a1,d fuael (implied in the restoration of the Jews) was a type of a more complete reconciliation when sin should be purged away. By ideotifyi □ g himself with tho nation and confessing its sins as his own, Daniel himself had become a type of that lJelive'rer who should "bear our sins" and "make intercession for the transgressors." Time is reckoned in weeks, to remind Israel of the perpetual obligation of the sabbath, After each cycle of desolation rest shall follow, until the world shall enter into the e11joymeDt of Jehovah's rest. 'l'he mind of Daniel is thus carried onward from tl,e cun-umm:itiou lie so much desired to a grander consummation still-the a1,pcaraoce of Israel's Messiah; and this vital truth is impressed upon 4is BOl!l,  CJI, X, 1-21,] 'l'HE DOOK OF DANIEL. 287