Daniel (Greek) 10:1-6: a reflection

1In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a revelation was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar. The revelation was true, even a great warfare. He understood the revelation, and had understanding of the vision. 2In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three whole weeks. 3I ate no pleasant bread. No meat or wine came into my mouth. I didn’t anoint myself at all, until three whole weeks were fulfilled. 4In the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel, 5I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a man clothed in linen, whose thighs were adorned with pure gold of Uphaz. 6His body also was like beryl, and his face like the appearance of lightning, and his eyes like flaming torches. His arms and his feet were like burnished bronze. The voice of his words was like the voice of a multitude.

Before Daniel receives the great revelation of this chapter, he spends three full weeks in mourning and self-denial: eating no rich food, no meat or wine, not anointing himself, seeking God earnestly through a long season of humbling. And it is after this prolonged seeking that the heavenly messenger comes to him with the vision. Daniel's persistence in seeking God, over three weeks of mourning and prayer, preceded the revelation he received.

Notice the persistence in Daniel's seeking. He did not seek God for a moment and then give up; he humbled himself and sought earnestly for three full weeks, denying himself, mourning, praying, before the answer came. His seeking was not casual or brief, but sustained, patient, earnest, continuing through a long season before God met him. The revelation came to one who had sought with persistence and self-humbling, not to one who asked once and moved on.

That persistence is worth learning in our own seeking of God. We can be tempted to seek God briefly, casually, and to give up if the answer does not come at once. But Daniel humbled himself and sought earnestly over a long season, and it was to such seeking that God responded. When you seek God, seek him with persistence, not giving up if the answer is not immediate; humble yourself, and keep seeking, as Daniel sought through three weeks of mourning. God is often found by those who seek him earnestly and persistently, not by those who ask once and move on. Do not grow discouraged and abandon your seeking if God seems slow to answer; keep seeking, humbling yourself before him, as Daniel did, and trust that God meets the persistent seeker in his time.

Lord, before Daniel received the great revelation, he spent three full weeks in mourning and self-denial, seeking you earnestly, and it was after this prolonged seeking that the answer came. Teach me that persistence in seeking you. I can be tempted to seek you briefly, casually, and to give up if the answer does not come at once. But Daniel humbled himself and sought earnestly over a long season, and it was to such seeking that you responded. When I seek you, help me seek with persistence, not giving up if the answer is not immediate; help me humble myself, and keep seeking, as Daniel sought through three weeks of mourning. You are often found by those who seek you earnestly and persistently, not by those who ask once and move on. Keep me from growing discouraged and abandoning my seeking if you seem slow to answer; help me keep seeking, humbling myself before you, as Daniel did, and trust that you meet the persistent seeker in your time. Make me persistent in seeking you, Lord.