Recreate Church, Pastor Michael Shockley—Service, Sunday, May 15, 2022

Daniel and The Unanswered Prayer.

Today, Pastor Michael is continuing his study on Daniel, a hero of the faith.  Daniel had legendary faith, so much that even Ezekiel named only three people: Job, Noah and Daniel, as heroes of the faith.  

Three years after the “Lion’s Den” story, we find Daniel in Chapter 10, no longer a young man.  In Chapter 9, the Lord had promised that the Jews would return to the Promised Land.  Almost all of Daniel’s life, he’s lived in Babylon.  At this point in the story, God has moved the heart of Cyrus of Persia to allow the Jews to return to Jerusalem.

So why didn’t Daniel return to Jerusalem?  Because it was a long journey and Daniel was in his eighties and potentially have to walk a long, long time (insert Proclaimer’s 1980’s song reference here). God wanted Daniel to stay and finish his work in Babylon, so he was there for the Lord’s purpose.

Daniel was in prayer and mourning for three weeks.  He is laboring in prayer at this time.  So why is he so upset?  Didn’t God answer his other prayer…the Jews returning to their homeland?  This is the ‘next challenge’…it’s not over when one prayer is answered!

Not all of the Jews returned to Jerusalem, some (perhaps even a majority) stayed in Babylon.  And Daniel was getting word back that some of those that did return, didn’t finish rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem and some were getting back into pagan idolatry.  

So, Daniel had to be, needless to say, frustrated.  That’s why the laboring in prayer for three weeks., doing nothing but praying.  He wanders out of the city and is distraught.  This is one of the greatest heroes of the faith that has ever lived and he’s prayed for 21 days and he feels his prayer isn’t being answered. 

While Daniel is out wandering around, he notices a white apparition down at the river.  He collapsed at the sight and wondered, “Who is this person by the Tigris River?”.  The being reached down and lifted Daniel up and said, “Daniel, you are greatly loved.  I have been sent with an answer to your prayers.”

The angel, it turns out, was sent the first day Daniel started praying.  But here it is, 21 days later and he’s just NOW getting to Daniel.  The angelic being explains that he was held up by the Prince of Persia.  Who is this Prince of Persia?  The story involves a demon that had taken over the Persian kingdom and the archangel Michael was sent to deal with him.  So while Daniel was praying, the archangel Michael was dealing with a demon!

The angelic being then tells Daniel of God’s peace to him and lets him know that the Persian empire is ending and Greece will be taking over.   Which was a lot for Daniel to take in.

This vision overwhelms Daniel and the angel touches him 3 times to wake him up.  The angel strengthens him and assures him that the Lord loves him and wanted to reveal his plan to him.

If we pray and the answer does not come when we expect it, it doesn’t mean God doesn’t care.  It means the answer will come in His time, perhaps not our time.  

Don’t ever give up!

Verses can be found today in Daniel 10: 1-21 and Ephesians 6: 12.  

Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.