0266. Daniel, a Man with a Great Longing for His People

Daniel, a Man with a Great Longing for His People

"In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth; neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled" (Dan_10:2-3).

The passion of Daniel’s heart for his people Israel is most marked. Once and again he set face unto the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplication, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes, in order that he might learn of his people’s lot.

Daniel’s heart throbs are seen in chapter 9, Heb_11:16-19, when he said, "O Lord, according to all Thy righteousness, I beseech Thee, let Thine anger and Thy fury be turned way from Thy city Jerusalem, Thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us.

"Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of Thy servant, and his supplications, and cause Thy face to shine upon Thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake.

"O my God, incline Thine ear, and hear; open Thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by Thy name: for we do not present our supplications before Thee for our righteousness, but for Thy great mercies.

"O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for Thine own sake, O my God: for Thy city and Thy people are called by Thy name."

It was Paul who said, "I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart * * for my brethren, my kinsmen, according to the flesh: who are Israelites."

Daniel’s heart and Paul’s heart burned with the same indescribable yearning in behalf of Israel.

How many of us are there who weep and who mourn because of Israel’s sad condition? It is written "They shall prosper that love thee"–but most of us have dropped no tear and felt no pang because of Israel’s wanderings.

If some one were to argue that Daniel was a Jew and therefore mourned over the estate of the Jews; then we ask, How many Gentiles carry a burden for their people, as Daniel did for his?

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR