A CAUSE FOR ANXIETY

Though Daniel did not return to the land of Judah with the Jewish remnant, he was keenly interested in what was taking place back in his beloved homeland. From reports  that reached him, Daniel learned that all was not going well there.  The altar had been reestablished and the foundation of the temple had been laid in Jerusalem. (Ezra, chapter 3) But the  neighboring nations were in opposition to the reconstruction project, and they were scheming mischief  against the returned Jews. (Ezra 4:1-5) Indeed, Daniel could easily have become anxious about many things.

Daniel  was familiar with Jeremiah's prophecy. (Daniel 9:2) He knew that the  rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem and the restoration of true worship there were closely related  to Jehovah's purpose regarding His people and that all  of this would precede the appearance of the promised Messiah. In fact, Daniel was highly privileged to have received from Jehovah the prophecy of the "seventy weeks."  From it he understood that Messiah would come  69 "weeks" after the going forth of the word to restore and to rebuild Jerusalem.  (Daniel 9:24-27) In view of the devastated state of Jerusalem and the delay in building the temple, however, it is easy to see why Daniel could have become discouraged, dejected, and low in spirits.

"In those  days I myself, Daniels, happened to be mourning for three full weeks," says the account, "Dainty bread I did not eat, and no flesh or wine entered into my mouth, an din now way did I grease myself until the completing of the three full weeks." (Daniel 10:2, 3) "Three full weeks," or 21 days, of mourning and fasting was an unusually long period.  It apparently ended on the "twenty-fourth day of the first month." (Daniel 10:4) Hence, the period of Daniel's fast included the Passover, observed on the 14th day of the first month, Nisan, and the following seven-day festival of unleavened bread.

Daniel had a similar experience on an earlier occasion. At that time, he was perplexed about the fulfillment of Jehovah's prophecy regarding the 70-year desolation of Jerusalem.  What did Daniel then do?  "I proceeded  to set my face to Jehovah the true God," said Daniel, "in order to seek him with prayer and with entreaties, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes."  Jehovah answered Daniel's prayer by sending the angel Gabriel to him with a message that greatly encouraged him. (Daniel 9:3, 21, 22) Would Jehovah now act in a similar way and provide Daniel with encouragement he sorely needed?

 Next time: AN AWE-INSPIRING VISION

From the book: PAY ATTENTION TO DANIEL'S PROPHECY! 1999