August 29: FROM PRESENT OBEDIENCE TO FUTURE BLESSINGS

In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar. The message was true, but the appointed time was long; and he understood the message and had understanding of the vision. Daniel 10:1

In chapter nine we were given details of the climactic week of the seventy. Remember that these seventy weeks (9:24) are the first 490 of the 2300 (8:14). The last three chapters of Daniel cover the 2300-year prophecy and fill in details. As we begin chapter 10, Daniel tells us that he had understanding of the vision (which extends all the way to the time of the end (8:17)). As the rest of the book unfolds, we will see that God was at work to expand and deepen his understanding…

But what about the message revealed to Daniel in today’s verse? Let us plug into the timeline here. This is two years after King Cyrus had issued the initial decree, in a marvelous gesture of goodwill, for the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. It is helpful to look back to 536/535BC, the year that marked the end of the seventy-year exile in Babylon that Jeremiah had prophesied (Jeremiah 25:11-12). The book of Ezra begins with the decree of Cyrus: Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus… “Who is among you of all His people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel (He is God), which is in Jerusalem.” (Ezra 1:1,3)

Daniel had been taken captive to Babylon as a teen, and now he is in his late 80s. He was not able to travel with those of his fellow Jews who made the journey for the rebuilding of the temple. But he was deeply involved through prayer, and with great interest he followed the progress of the project through reports. When a message reached him about the discouraging actions of the Samaritans of the land, including false reports about the Jews to King Cyrus (Ezra 4:5), Daniel wrote:

In those days, I was in mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. Daniel 10:2-3  

In confirmation of the false reports given to King Cyrus, Daniel perceived a negative shift in the king’s attitude toward his people and a lessening of support for the temple rebuilding. We already know Daniel’s prayer warrior status, but now he is afflicted to the point of mourning and fasting as he intercedes for his people. His response to discouragement is more prayer. This must also be our response, for future blessings are contingent upon present obedience! This temple is to be built – and the Lord’s glory will enter it as Jesus in the flesh: The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former (Haggai 2:9a).

I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory, And in this place I will give peace, says the LORD of hosts.  Haggai 2:7,9b