Skill to Understand

Daniel 9:20-23 (NKJV) 20 Now while I [was] speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God, 21 yes, while I [was] speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. 22 And he informed [me,] and talked with me, and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand. 23 “At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell [you,] for you [are] greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision:

Consider verse 23. Verse 23 says, “You are greatly beloved!”

In the first nineteen verses, Daniel repents and confesses his sins and the sins of his people, Israel. It is essential to note that God loves us even when we sin. Just as crucial is the truth that sin has consequences, even though God loves us. God does not zap us with lightning, but in a metaphorical sense, our sin does!

Consider also verse 23 when it says, “At the beginning of your supplications the command went out.” Daniel prayed for a while. We do not know how long, but in Daniel 9:3, Daniel says:

Daniel 9:3 (NKJV) Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.

Fasting, sackcloth, and ashes suggest a time extending at least a few days. What could have delayed the answer? Is God somehow limited? No, God is not limited. He entrusted the message to His messenger, Gabriel, and we know from this verse and Daniel 10:13 that Gabriel can be delayed.

God grants understanding through His Holy Spirit, and His written word, the Bible, imparts many truths. However, there are times when we need support from others to help us connect these truths. The Bible tells us that God has provided pastors and teachers for the Church. Teaching is a crucial part of our learning and spiritual growth. This is just one of several reasons why attending church is essential for Christians.

During Daniel's time, no one was available to teach him, and no one alive understood what was being revealed to him. Therefore, God sent Gabriel to explain these things to Daniel. 

Consider verse 22. Daniel says:

Daniel 9:22 (NKJV) And he informed [me,] and talked with me, and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand.

In verse 22, Daniel states, “And he informed me and talked with me.” The details of what Gabriel taught Daniel are revealed in the remainder of Daniel 9. The fact that Gabriel and Daniel “talked” indicates that Gabriel took some time to instruct Daniel. They talked!

God revealed a vision to Daniel, but did not explain it Himself. Despite Daniel being greatly loved, God sent Gabriel to provide the explanation. This approach is generally followed, with a few exceptions. To understand this principle, we can look at an incident in Moses's life while he was leading the Israelites in the wilderness, which is recorded in Numbers 12.

Numbers 12:1-8 (NKJV) 1 Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman. 2 So they said, “Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?” And the LORD heard [it.] 3 (Now the man Moses [was] very humble, more than all men who [were] on the face of the earth.) 4 Suddenly the LORD said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tabernacle of meeting!” So the three came out. 5 Then the LORD came down in the pillar of cloud and stood [in] the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam. And they both went forward. 6 Then He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, [I], the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. 7 Not so with My servant Moses; He [is] faithful in all My house. 8 I speak with him face to face, even plainly, and not in dark sayings; And he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses?”

In verse 6, God says, “If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream.” This is how God made Himself known to Daniel — in a vision.

In verses 7 and 8, God says, “Not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all My house. I speak with him face to face, even plainly, and not in dark sayings; and he sees the form of the LORD.” 

While Moses was on the mountain of the LORD for 40 days and nights, God taught and explained various things to him. They talked! When Moses came down from the mountain, his face shone so brightly that people could not look at him. I am not aware of any Scriptures that mention this happening to anyone else, unless one wants to point out that Jesus’s glory was revealed during the Mount of Transfiguration.

Moses remains a significant figure, and we still have his writings. Jesus is Lord, and He has provided us with the written word, the Holy Spirit, and pastors and teachers. Therefore, it is unlikely that He will send Gabriel again in our day. The last mention of Gabriel speaking to anyone in the Bible is when he tells Mary that she will give birth to the Son of God.

Not all pastors and teachers are reliable, honest, or devoted to the Lord. Therefore, it is essential to compare their teachings with what the Bible says. Faithfulness to doctrine is the reason churches have doctrinal statements.

It’s essential that everything I teach aligns with the Scriptures. Any doctrine that deviates from the Bible should be dismissed, regardless of who presents it—be it me or anyone else. I urge you to exercise caution with quick, one-verse interpretations; true biblical truths are woven throughout multiple passages and must harmonize with the entirety of Scripture.

The truth that Gabriel teaches Daniel is a theme found throughout the entire Bible. Without understanding the meaning of this vision, we cannot grasp what God is doing in the world and why events are unfolding as they are today. The insights Gabriel imparts to Daniel are available to all of us because Daniel wrote them down.

If you desire understanding, 1) ask God for understanding and trust that His Holy Spirit will guide you; 2) search the Scriptures; and 3) ask a teacher you trust to help you.

I urge you to do all three.