so i’ve begun to read this book i started 4-5 months ago (isn’t that how it always goes?), called Waking the Dead by John Eldredge. He’s the same guy that wrote Wild at Heart that was the staple Christian guy book to read. He is an AMAZING writer and has written MUCH more than just Wild at Heart.
Anyways, in the 2nd chapter of this book he talks about myths and how a myth does not mean false or not factually true, it is a story meant to relay a deep message that “transcends time or space”, “Their appeal lies deeper, in the realm of the heart.” Eldredge then goes on to relay this story of Daniel in the Bible (and no not the typical Daniel in the Lion’s den story). As im reading Eldredge’s take on the story in Daniel 10, i thought at first that Eldredge was just saying a “what if this is how the story ended” kind of point. but i realized that this ACTUALLY is in the Bible. i was floored. how come i didnt learn about this in Sunday school? i find it way more interesting! Here is Daniel 10:
1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, but the appointed time was long;[a] and he understood the message, and had understanding of the vision. 2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. 3 I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
4 Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is,the Tigris,[b] 5 I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waistwas girded with gold of Uphaz! 6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude.
7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. 8 Therefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength. 9 Yet I heard the sound of his words; and while I heard the sound of his words I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.
10 Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. 11 And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling.
12 Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.”
So basically Daniel is troubled by said “message” and “vision”, i am going to quote what Eldredge says about this passage (his take on it is so right on):
“Something has happened that Daniel doesn’t understand. I think we can all relate to that. We don’t understand 90 percent of what happens to us, either. Daniel is troubled. He sets out to get an answer. But three weeks of prayer and fasting produce no results. What is he to conclude? If Daniel were like most people, by this point he’d probably be headed toward one of two conclusions: I’m blowing it, or God is holding out on me. He might try confessing every sin and petty offense in hopes of opening up the lines of communication with God. Or he might withdraw into a sort of disappointed resignation, drop the fast, and turn on the television. In an effort to hang on to his faith, he might embrace the difficulty as part of “God’s will for his life.” He might read a book on “the silence of God.” That’s the way the people I know handle this sort of thing.
And he would be dead wrong.
On the twenty-first day of the fast an angel shows up, out of breath. In sort of apology, the angle explains to Daniel that God had actually dispatched him in answer to Daniel’s prayers the very first day he prayed- three weeks ago. (There goes the whole unanswered prayer thesis, right out the window.) Three days ago? What is Daniel supposed to do with that? ”The very first day?” But…I’ve…I mean, thank you so very much, and I don’t want to seem ungrateful, but…where have you been?” You haven’t blown it Daniel, and God isn’t holding out on you. The angel goes on to explain that he was locked in hand-to-hand combat with a mighty fallen angel, a demonic power of dreadful strength, who kept him out of the Persian kingdom for three weeks, and he finally had to get Michael (the great archangel, the captain of the Lord’s hosts) to come help him break through enemy lines. ”Now I am here, in answer to your prayer. Sorry it’s taken so long.”
There it is – Eternal Truth Number Two: this world is at war.”
sorry this blog is so long but i really think that reading that passage and that excerpt from John Eldredge’s book is REVOLUTIONARY to how we as Believers should be viewing our worldly circumstances. how can we so quickly jump to conclusions on what we think or feel God is doing to us, for us, or not for us. It is a battle. And our part in it, our perspective of it, and how we respond to it is vital in our existence here on earth. Lack of motivation or worldly distractions can no longer be an excuse for what we are called to. a courageous stand to live in His Presence and to carry Him with us in EVERY part of our lives. easy to say (well sometimes its not even easy to say), but so very hard to strike out and do.
lets prepare for battle and fight.
chayil,
natalie
October 2, 2010
songbirdnatalie
