Daniel 9:20-23: Gabriel Comes to Daniel
Thursday, February 7, 2019
We know the story of Daniel so well . . . the boys in the furnace . . . Daniel with the lions in their den . . . the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream . . . the handwriting on the wall . . . this bright young man lives in captivity yet never leaves his God . . . and his God never leaves him.
Today’s reading is brief yet it calls us to reflect on the many stories in this book. Who brings the wonderful visions to Daniel which he records? Gabriel. The Announcer. The first angel in scripture to be described as arriving with wings . . . who comes to tell Daniel that their captivity will be even longer than they had anticipated. Rather than the 70 years of waiting which Jeremiah described, God’s people must remain in exile 70 times 70 . . . 490 years. And how are they to abide during such a long time? How are they to know that God is with them? Daniel demonstrates even as Gabriel arrives. He prays, he examines his own conscience and the collective conscience of his people, he petitions God, he seeks the meaning of the things that Yahweh has revealed to him, and he awaits the wisdom of God with a patient and open heart.
It is difficult to wait for justice. It is painful to ache for mercy and compassion. Yet this so many times is the human condition. If Gabriel were to appear before us this very minute to announce that some long-awaited intercession would indeed arrive . . . but in God’s time and plan rather than our own . . . would we react as Daniel does? Are we truly good and loyal servants?
Patience is difficult when we see something floating just beyond our own reach. Yet if we believe that God creates all, loves all, and wants justice for all, there is no other way to live. We must be open vessels which the Holy Spirit fills. We must be clean temples where Christ may act as high priest. We must be like the five faithful virgins who wait outside the inn in the quiet darkness for the bridegroom, conserving their oil, preparing their lanterns and knowing that the day and hour of his coming are a mystery.
When the evening hour approaches, as we go to God in humble yet joyful prayer and petition, let us ready our hearts, let us still our minds, and let us call on the wisdom of God. And if the message which our God sends to us on swift angel wing is a message which tells us that we must wait beyond all waiting, then let us give joyful reply to God. Let us answer him. Amen.
A re-post from February 7, 2012.
Images from: http://www.crystalinks.com/angels.html and http://www.squidoo.com/heavenly-angels?utm_source=google&utm_medium=imgres&utm_campaign=framebuster
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