The Test of Daniel (1)

"In those days, Daniel, I mourned for three whole weeks ; I did not eat pleasant bread, and the flesh and wine did not enter into my mouth ; And I did not anoint myself, until three whole weeks were fulfilled." Daniel 10: 2, 3

The prophet Daniel is an almost 90 year old man when he received his last prophetic vision, under the reign of Cyrus, king of Persia. During his long life, Daniel held very important positions at the court of kings in Babylon. But he also experienced great hardships. Honored or persecuted, Daniel has always remained faithful to God. His faith never faltered in the midst of a pagan population and a corrupt court.

In a genuine affliction, the prophet is grieving for three weeks. Had he received bad news from the Jews who had returned to Jerusalem after the decree of Cyrus king of Persia ? Few, they had begun to rebuild the temple, but their impetus soon fell. Their adversaries had even stopped the rebuilding of the house of God (Ephesians 4: 5).

Perhaps the prophet had another reason to grieve: most of the exiled Jews did not want to return to the land God had given them. They preferred their ease in Mesopotamia to the struggle in Israel. Be that as it may, Daniel is going through a very great spiritual and even physical test. For three weeks, he does not touch any refined meter, he stops eating meat and drinking wine. This fast, very severe for a person as old as himself, was not free. Beyond his afflictions for his people, the prophet sought to understand something that he could not grasp, but whose gravity did not escape him.

What lesson can we learn from Daniel's behavior ? We can only identify with the afflictions of the people of God if we are in an intimate communion with God. A moral preparation, depicted here by humiliation and fasting, is necessary to enable us to receive the thoughts of God and to discern his will.

(The continuation to tomorrow)

Source (To pleasing the Lord)