S -“Don’t be afraid, Daniel,” he said to me, “for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your prayers were heard. I have come because of your prayers. ¹³ But the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me after I had been left there with the kings of Persia

Daniel 10:12–13 CSB

O – Commentary:

God has arranged the angelic realm in differing ranks referred to as “rule, authority, power, and dominion” (Eph. 1:21). Gabriel and Michael have been assigned authority over angels who administer God’s affairs for the nation Israel (cf. Michael in Dan. 10:21; 12:1; Jude 9). In imitation Satan has also apparently assigned high-ranking demons to positions of authority over each kingdom. The prince of the Persian kingdom was a satanic representative assigned to Persia. To seek to prevent Gabriel’s message from getting to Daniel, the demonic prince attacked Gabriel as he embarked on his mission. This gives insight into the nature of the warfare fought in the heavenlies between God’s angels and Satan’s demons to which Paul referred (Eph. 6:12): “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of the dark world, and against spiritual forces of evil in heavenly realms.”

The battle between Gabriel and the prince (demon) of Persia continued for three weeks until Michael, one of the chief princes of the angelic realm (cf. Dan. 10:21; 12:1), came to Gabriel’s assistance. Such angelic-demonic conflict indicates something of Satan’s power. While the king of Persia was fighting Michael, Gabriel was able to bring a message to Daniel concerning the future of Israel, Daniel’s people (cf. “your people,” 9:24). It was to be a revelation of the warfare (10:1) between Israel and her neighbors until Israel is given peace by the coming Prince of peace. This vision contains the most detailed prophetic revelation in the Book of Daniel.

 J. Dwight Pentecost, “Daniel,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 1366.

A – “We wrestle not against flesh and blood…”  The spiritual realm is real and it isn’t as depicted by movies or shows.  There is a war going on between God and Satan.  The good news is that we know that God already holds the victory.  We can defeat the attack of the enemy by the blood of Jesus, the word of God and our testimony of our relationship with God.  The key is to be on God’s side.

R – Heavenly Father, you are victorious.  Thank you for fighting for us in our daily walk.  We recognize there is a war going on in the spirit realm.  We will walk in a place of victory today.

S – I continued watching in the night visions, and suddenly one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him. ¹⁴ He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one 

that will not be destroyed. 

Daniel  7:13–14 CSB

O – Commentary:

In the third major portion of this vision Daniel saw the Son of Man approaching the Ancient of Days. Jesus Christ, taking the title “Son of Man” from this prophecy, frequently used it to refer to Himself (as recorded in the Gospels; cf. comments on Mark 8:31; John 1:51). When the Son of Man was brought into the presence of the Ancient of Days, all the authority, glory, and sovereign power that had been exercised by rulers in the four kingdoms over all peoples, nations, and men of every language (cf. Dan. 3:4, 7; 4:1; 5:19; 6:25) was conferred on Him and those peoples worshiped Him. This is in keeping with the Father’s promise to the Son in Psalm 2:6–9, and will be fulfilled at Christ’s Second Advent (Matt. 24:30; 25:31; Rev. 11:15).

The Son of Man will establish an everlasting dominion or kingdom (cf. Dan. 4:34; 7:27). That kingdom will never be conquered by another (cf. 6:26). His reign will be established on earth (Rev. 20:1–6). At the expiration of the 1,000 years of the Lord’s millennial reign, He will surrender the kingdom to God the Father, after which Christ will be appointed as Ruler over God’s eternal kingdom forever 

 J. Dwight Pentecost, “Daniel,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 1351.

A – Fascinating to see the same events depicted in Revelation, Isaiah and now Daniel.  There is a time coming where there will be tribulation ending in Jesus coming to judge the world.  We need to make sure our hearts and relationship with him is strong and healthy.

R – Heavenly Father, you are righteous judge and God.  Thank you for the opportunity to know you through the blood of Jesus on the cross.  Empower us to accept and know you more in our relationship with you today.

S – Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! ²² My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.”… ²⁴ And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces

Daniel 6:21,22,24 ESV

O – God demonstrates his power and protection of Daniel in an impossible circumstance.  He also eliminates Daniel’s accusers.  All of this is done before a pagan King who proclaims the power and bigness of God.

A – God uses trials and circumstances to affect us, others and far beyond the circumstance.  Daniel’s faith in God delivered him from the lions.  It gave Darius the ability to eliminate the jealousy and backbiting satraps and their families.  It proclaimed to his people they should worship Daniel’s one, true God.  What can God do in the situations of faith we are facing today?

R – Heavenly Father, you are the one, true God.  We set our faith that you will fight our battles we cannot fight so you will be glorified.  We entrust those who challenge us to you.  Most importantly, let every situation bring glory to your name.

S – Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” ²⁵ He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” 

Daniel  3:24–25 ESV

O – Commentary:

The men who had been tied up were walking around in the furnace, unbound. And instead of seeing three men in the furnace, he saw four, and he said the fourth was like a son of the gods. This One was probably the preincarnate Christ (cf. comments on Gen. 16:13). Though Nebuchadnezzar did not know of the Son of God, he did recognize that the Person appearing with the three looked supernatural.

 J. Dwight Pentecost, “Daniel,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 1340.

A – God shows up at the right time.  What an incredible miracle.  God honored their faithfulness and conviction to uphold his ways and honor.  God shows up for us when we trust him, his timing and surrender to him.

R – Heavenly Father, we worship and surrender to you.  In all that we face, we know you are present and able to do whatever you will.  We surrender to your sovereignty to work what is best for our lives.

S – Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him. ⁴⁷ The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.”

Daniel 2:46–47 ESV

O – Commentary:

The king was so moved at Daniel’s interpretation that he prostrated himself before Daniel and ordered that an offering be made to Daniel, an honor that would normally have been given only to the gods of Babylon. Such was Nebuchadnezzar’s recognition of Daniel’s divine authority. Through Daniel’s revelation and interpretation of the dream, Nebuchadnezzar was led to confess that Daniel’s God is superior to all the gods of Babylon and that He is Lord over the earth’s kings. Daniel’s God was exalted in the eyes of Nebuchadnezzar because He through Daniel revealed the course of forthcoming history. God is, the king said, a Revealer of mysteries, as Daniel had said (cf. v. 28). Nebuchadnezzar apparently accepted the fact of his own appointment to power by Daniel’s God (cf. vv. 37–38) and recognized His authority.

 J. Dwight Pentecost, “Daniel,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 1336–1337.

A – The commentary reflects a theme in the first two chapters – Daniel stays true to his God in a world who doesn’t honor God and God distinguishes him.  Daniel’s commitment to God and his ways makes him unique but he also delivers the best results. We have the opportunity to do the same thing in our world.  As we stay committed to God’s ways and his Word, he will distinguish us from others who do not.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the one, true God.  Empower us today in our commitment and observance of your word.  As we remain faithful, we ask that you allow us to stand out so your name will be glorified.  We want to honor you today.

S – Knowing their works and their thoughts, I have come to gather all nations and languages; they will come and see my glory

Isaiah 66:18 CSB

O – Commentary:

When God reveals his glory to all people, the nations join in God’s plan of redemption; they can even serve as priests and Levites before him. The godly from all nations last from generation to generation as they serve the living God.

 New Living Translation Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008), Is 66:18–23.

A – It will be a different relationship with God when Jesus returns.  We will experience the weight of his splendor in a different way.  We now know God through his word and the presence of the Holy Spirit – both carry a weight of his glory.  When Jesus returns, we will see him “face to face” and in a more revealed form.   Everyone will see it  either through judgement or relationship.

R – Heavenly Father, you are glorious and worthy to be praised.  We only see you dimly today.  Empower us to build our relationship with you so we are prepared for when you return.  

S – If only you would tear the heavens open and come down, so that mountains would quake at your presence—² just as fire kindles brushwood, and fire boils water—to make your name known to your enemies, so that nations would tremble at your presence!

Isaiah 64:1–2 CSB

O – Commentary:

Realizing their uncleanness (64:5–7), they would ask God to smite their enemies (vv. 1–4). They would pray that the Lord would rend the heavens (the sky is pictured as a piece of cloth He would tear), come down (vv. 1–2; cf. “look down,” 63:15), and execute judgment on the nations. Fire and boiling water picture judgment

 John A. Martin, “Isaiah,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 1118.

A – Interesting commentary – “Realizing their uncleanness, they ask God to smite their enemies.”  Said differently – “I am unclean so destroy those against me.”  We need to search our own hearts and ask God to deal with us first.  When we are open and transparent with God, he shows us our own sin and iniquity.  In doing that work, we also see his mercy and compassion he has for us.  Hopefully, that same grace helps us view others in our lives with mercy and compassion.  We don’t call for their judgement; we ask for their salvation.

R – Heavenly Father, you are merciful and just.  You have been so good to us by giving us mercy, grace and forgiveness when we did not deserve it.  Empower us to demonstrate this with others today.

S – The Spirit of the Lord God is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners

Isaiah 61:1 CSB

O – Commentary:

Three factors indicate that Me refers to the Messiah: (1) The association of the Holy Spirit with the anointing points to Jesus Christ. After being anointed with oil, Israel’s first two kings, Saul and David, were blessed with the Spirit’s ministry (1 Sam. 10:1, 10; 16:13). Similarly Christ was anointed by the Holy Spirit (Matt. 3:16–17) to be Israel’s King. The Hebrew word for Messiah (māšîaḥ) means “the Anointed One,” and Christ (christos, from chriō, “to anoint”) is the Greek equivalent of māšîaḥ. (2) Part of this passage (Isa. 61:1–2a) was read by Jesus (Luke 4:18–19) in reference to Himself. (3) The mission of this Anointed One was Jesus’ ministry: to preach good news, to heal and free (Isa. 61:1; cf. 42:7), to proclaim … favor and … vengeance (61:2), and to comfort (vv. 2–3). When Jesus read from this passage He stopped in the middle of the sentence, after the word “favor” (Luke 4:18–19). By doing this He was showing that His work would be divided into two advents. In His First Advent He did the things mentioned in Isaiah 61:1–2a; in His Second Advent He will do the things in verses 2b–3. When He returns He will bring judgment on unbelievers 

 John A. Martin, “Isaiah,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 1116.

A – Isaiah’s words were shared for generations until the arrival of Jesus.  He read them and asserted that he was the promised messiah. This is our mission as well.  Walk with the spirit daily, share the gospel, be a conduit of healing physically, spiritually and emotionally and show the way to freedom in all areas of our lives.  We can do this.

R – Heavenly Father, you are our messiah and savior.  Empower us to walk in the same ministry that Jesus did.  Help us to see the value in others to share the good news with them and help them face life’s challenges.  We have the presence and power of God in us, we can do this.

S – Indeed, the Lord’s arm is not too weak to save, and his ear is not too deaf to hear. ² But your iniquities are separating you from your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you 

so that he does not listen

Isaiah 59:1–2 CSB

O – Commentary:

iniquities have been barriers Sin strains Israel’s relationship with God to the point of total separation. Israel’s actions required the separation—it was not what God wanted.

have hidden his face Symbolizes a break in communication and a denial of physical presence. People hid their faces from the Servant in Isa 53:3 as a sign of rejection. Here, Yahweh is forced to turn His face away from them because He cannot look on sin (Hab 1:13

 John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Is 59:2.

A – This depicts the challenge God faces with mankind.  He created each of them and knows them intimately before birth with all the opportunity to walk in relationship with Him.  Yet, their choice of sin and iniquity keeps distance between them because God is constrained by his own righteousness.  Our best move is to accept Christ and eliminate the barrier between us and God, walking with him daily.

R – Heavenly Father, you are righteous and just.  Empower us to eliminate any barrier between us and you.  Show us our sin and iniquities so we can ask forgiveness and align ourselves with you.  We want relationship today.

S – For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: 

“I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, 

to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

Isaiah 57:15 ESV

O – The God who has no limits, creator of all and Holy sees those who are crushed and bring life to them spiritually and physically.

A – What an amazing picture!  God who is vast in his power, purity, holiness and essence of love and character sees you and I.  We are not one of many…we are THE one.  Life is challenging and hard.  God wants to be a part of all that we are going through.  He wants to bring life to us physically and emotionally.  He also brings promise to us spiritually by Jesus assuring us salvation and life with him.

R- Heavenly Father, you are God.  You have no rival or equal.  You created all things and hold all things.  Yet, you see us and know us physically, emotionally and spiritually.  We invite your Holy Spirit into every aspect of today.  Empower us to live a life that honors you.