GABRIEL COMES SPEEDILY

While Daniel is yet praying, the angel Gabriel appears.  He says:  "O Daniel, now i have come forth to make you have insight with understanding.  At the start of your entreaties a word went forth, and I myself have come to make report, because you are someone very desirable. So give consideration to the matter, and have understanding in the thing seen." But why does Daniel speak of him as "the man  Gabriel"?  (Daniel 9:20-23) Well, when Daniel sought understanding of his earlier vision of the he-goat and the ram, "someone in appearance like an able-bodied man" appeared before him.  It was the angel Gabriel, sent to give Daniel insight. (Daniel 8:15-17) Similarly, after Daniel's prayer, this angel came near to him in human like form and spoke to him as one man does to another.  

Gabriel arrives "at the time of the evening gift offering."  Jehovah's altar had been destroyed along with the temple in Jerusalem, and the Jews were captives of the pagan Babylonians.  So sacrifices were not being offered to God by the Jews in Babylon.  At the prescribed  times for the offerings under the Mosaic Law, however, it was appropriate for devout Jews in Babylon to praise  and supplicate  Jehovah.  As a man deeply devoted to God, Daniel was called "someone very desirable."  Jehovah, the "Hearer of prayer," took pleasure in him, and Gabriel was dispatched speedily to answer Daniel's prayer of faith. -Psalm 65:2. 

Even when praying to Jehovah had imperiled his life,  Daniel continued to pray to God three times a  day. (Daniel 6:10, 11) No wonder Jehovah found him so desirable! In addition to prayer, Daniel's meditation on God's Word  enabled him to determine  Jehovah's will. Daniel persisted in prayer  and knew how to approach Jehovah properly so as to have his prayers answered.  He highlighted God's righteousness. (Daniel 9:7, 14, 16)  And although his enemies could find no fault in him, Daniel knew that he was a sinner in God's eyes and readily confessed his sin. -Daniel 6:4; Romans 3:23. 

Next time:"SEVENTY WEEKS" TO FINISH OFF SIN

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