“But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.” Daniel 12:13
Daniel was quite a man. Scripture tells us that he was “greatly beloved” by God. And yet, God would allow him as a young man to be deported to Babylon as a servant. Why did God allow him to suffer, seeing Jerusalem destroyed, and the destruction of his nation, only to be enveloped into the godless, and defiant culture of the Babylonians? It was most certainly to bring Daniel to trust in God alone, seeking Him above all things, having surrendered all to Him. It would be in the context of the Babylonian culture, with a ruthless despot on the throne, that God would bless Daniel, and others of his acquaintence. His hand would be upon them, and His blessing, since they had made up their minds to trust in the living God, being His servants, whether by life or death. The testimony of God, as a result of Daniel, was so very clear, even in the face of death, because, as Darius the king declared: “(Daniel) believed in His God.
What was the key to Daniel’s life, and how could he live and conquer, overcoming opposition to his faith in a godless context? It was the practice and power of individual worship. Daniel discovered that even in Babylon, and the kings’s court, God could be the greatest reality of his life if he attended to the matter of worship. And this he would come to do, maintain, and not let go of, even in the face of possibly dying in a lion’s den. What about all that God revealed to him of Himself, and of things to come? Was he not overwhelmed by the glory of God, the judgment of God upon the sin of the world, and yet, the blessing of His people, in fulfilling His promise of bringing them out of captivity, and back to the promised land?
There is no doubt that in God’s revelations of Himself to Daniel, Daniel was overwhelmed, once even to the point of death, there remaining no more strength in him. But God would sustain him after receiving that cherished, and blessed vision. Daniel had seen a vision of the eternal God, revealed in his glory in the measure and way that he could receive it. It was a gift to Daniel, for God found in him a true worshipper, and faithful servant, one who loved God, and sought to trust Him fully. But there was also that which God revealed concerning Israel, and the return from the captivity. God would enable Daniel to understand what He was going to do after the declared seventy years of the captivity was completed. Daniel, on the basis of the revelation, would interecede for the people of Israel, and their returh to the land, eventually to rebuild the temple, build the city, and rebuild the wall. This, in and of itself, was overwhelming to grasp and to pursue God for.
There was another subject which would overwhelm Daniel, and it would concern the last days, and God’s judgment upon sinful, defiant man, who would resist utterly the revelation of God, and His glory. The circumstances that would break like a storm against mankind, coupled with the powerful working of Satan and his angles, was almost too much to face, not only with regard to the magnitude of the matter, but the absolute destruction of both men and devil. Great suffering would come, but God would reign, and show forth His glory, regardless of the futile fighting of both men and devil, to oppose the coming of Christ’s kingdom. So, how does this man Daniel, overwhelmed by so much, prosper? He simply responds in obedience to the God that he adored, for the Lord told him, “…go thou thy way till the end be.” (Dan. 12:13) God called Daniel to faithfulness to the opportunity at hand. The promise before him was, “…for thou shalt rest,” and be securely and certainly rewarded.
Dear Father, Make us faithful today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.