Gabriel, Go Visit Daniel

Daniel 9 tells of Daniels sorrowful repentance that made way for the divine revelation that came to him. There came upon him a time of brokenness and confession of sin. Both his own and that of his people. After searching the prophetic word of God and finding it was time for Israels deliverance, he laid himself open before God and saw that the departure of Israel was his own departure. In his praying, He never said, THEY have sinned. He said, WE have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments. Dan. 9:5

Throughout the chapter, as Daniel confessed the sins of Israel, he did it as though they were his own. The sorrow and repentance was genuine and deep. He repeated, WE have sinned, WE have done wickedly in verse 15 of that same chapter.

Then something wonderful happened. A release came from the heavens. It was as though God said to His angel in charge of divine revelation, Gabriel, go visit Daniel. He has a broken heart. He is sorrowful over sin. He is ready to receive understanding.

Daniel gave testimony of what took place when Gabriel came. And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God...Yea, while I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. (Dan. 9:20,21).

Then Gabriel said unto Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding; Therefore understand the matter. Dan. 9:22-23.

Brokenness over iniquity - both his own and that of Gods people - brought about that release from the heavens. Gabriel touched Daniels mind and released in him the understanding of supernatural things. Suddenly, he could know things he never could have known through a learning process.

The brokenness that come to Daniel and allowed the revelation of things divine was not the sorrow over the sins of others only. Though, as a Prophet he saw the sins of others, he sorrowed over them as though they were his own. In brokenness and humiliation, and perhaps in the aloneness of a midnight hour, he confessed his own sin with the sins of others. In this, his heart became open and he received a divine visitation. The messenger dispatched from God said to him, Understand.

Purity is a principle that flows out of sorrow for sin and there are three terms that describe the prerequisite of understanding. Many shall be (1) purified, and (2) made white, and (3) tried; but none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand Daniel 12:9.

The word purified, could have been translated purged. It is not speaking of the purity of one who has always been free from sin (Indeed, only Jesus attained that place). Rather, it is the purity that has come to one broken over his own sin. The very word itself tells there has been a process through which the soul has passed. It declares there was a time when it was not pure, but something has happened that has made it pure.

The religious soul who performs all things right, that is, in his own eyes, may never receive any revelation from God. This is because Gods greatest works are performed by grace. All his revelations have within them the strong element of mercy. My own life has been broken by failure. At one time I despaired of ever having any purpose again in Gods Kingdom. It seems that God, in choosing and leading me, has never been very concerned with my reputation. But He has been concerned with my brokenness and with how I have regarded sin.

What makes a person unacceptable in some religious movements, brings that same one ready to receive some of the greatest gifts God has to offer gifts like propitiation, redemption, atonement, forgiveness, reconciliation, and acceptance before the Throne. And one more the ability to say to any sinner in the world, God loves you and will redeem your life too.

A Pastor that I know struggled long with sin but kept it hidden from his congregation. Although many were troubled over his lack of anointing, there was never any outward fault until his sin became known. Then, with brokenness and humility, he sought deliverance. For the first time since he had been a young boy, he became free in his spirit. The power of a sin with which he had wrestled for years was broken. After years in the ministry, finally he was ready to become a channel for Gods grace and healing toward others. A purified ministry was ready to evolve. and the Spirit of revelation was upon him. Many dismissed him and turned their backs of him. He thought he was finished. But God doesnt dismiss those who become broken in their spirits over their sin. It is only then they become ready for His cleansing and the revelation of His grace, and also, the revelation of His Kingdom.

We can learn some things about purity from David. In one of his Psalms he used the same word Daniel used and with it gave a powerful promise, To the pure thou wilt show thyself pure Psa. 18:26. This presents something like a picture of the long arm of God reaching out to embrace others in His bosom. His purity is absolute, wholly removed from sin. It draws unto itself those who have embraced purity and longed after its goodness. To these He makes known Himself and reveals the mystery of His makes known Himself and reveals the mystery of His will. For these, fear goes, faith comes, and a new kind of knowledge is born bathed with peace in the face of all the fury and fire sent by Satan. Purity begins when Gods grace reaches into a soul and receives it just as it is. This purity is carried forward when that soul submits to Gods Spirit and to His Word, and to the discipline for which the Word calls.

Lucinda Evans