Daniel 10:11 And he said to me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright… We associate him in our minds with the "disciple whom Jesus loved." Both alike are spoken of in the Church as much for wisdom as for love. In both too there was the love of man as conspicuous as the love of God. For "greatly beloved" the margin of our Bibles has "a man of desires," that is a desire for God. It was this desire after God that made Daniel so earnest in seeing him by humiliation and fasting, and prayer. It was in thus seeking that he was answered; in this steadfast unswerving purpose he continued until he was heard. We may compare Daniel with. Joseph for purity and with Solomon for wisdom. St. observes that, though so approved of for holiness and wisdom, Daniel makes the most earnest confession of sin. He is not a prophet only, but an intercessor with God. From the desolations of Israel he looked forward and prepared for their restoration. He passes, as it were, from the prophet into the saint and martyr: and herein it is given him to resemble, not in character only, but in history also, the disciple of divine love; both were martyrs in will, but not in deed... What was the one great secret of Daniel? It was desire, a soul full of desire, it was to keep his desire alive, nay to increase and intensify this desire that his whole life was spent. Other things followed, as his love for man, the love and honour of all; but these were not what he sought, but the love of God. In that he found all. The flame of his soul ever burned upward, and all human events did but stir and fan that flame. Therefore it was that earthly events, however grievous, troublous and perplexing, did not shake his confidence in God, because he was a man of desires. (Isaac Williams.) Parallel Verses KJV: And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. |
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