Readings for today: Daniel 10-12
I will confess that I do not take spiritual warfare as seriously as I should. I am usually blissfully ignorant on some level of the battle being waged in other dimensions for the future of our world and the state of my soul. Yes, I acknowledge there is a real, personal Satan. Yes, I acknowledge his demonic forces are constantly on the attack, seeking to tear me down and that which God loves in my life. Yes, I am fully aware of the many angles the Evil One uses to tempt me or distract me or make me afraid. But in my day to day, I don’t give it as much thought as I should. In my daily prayer life, I don’t give it as much attention as I should. And that’s why passages like the one we read from Daniel today hit me so hard.
“During those days, I, Daniel, went into mourning over Jerusalem for three weeks. I ate only plain and simple food, no seasoning or meat or wine. I neither bathed nor shaved until the three weeks were up. On the twenty-fourth day of the first month I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris. I looked up and to my surprise saw a man dressed in linen with a belt of pure gold around his waist. His body was hard and glistening, as if sculpted from a precious stone, his face radiant, his eyes bright and penetrating like torches, his arms and feet glistening like polished bronze, and his voice, deep and resonant, sounded like a huge choir of voices…I heard his voice. At the sound of it I fainted, fell flat on the ground, face in the dirt. A hand touched me and pulled me to my hands and knees. “‘Daniel,’ he said, ‘man of quality, listen carefully to my message. And get up on your feet. Stand at attention. I’ve been sent to bring you news.’” When he had said this, I stood up, but I was still shaking. “‘Relax, Daniel,’ he continued, ‘don’t be afraid. From the moment you decided to humble yourself to receive understanding, your prayer was heard, and I set out to come to you. But I was waylaid by the angel-prince of the kingdom of Persia and was delayed for a good three weeks. But then Michael, one of the chief angel-princes, intervened to help me. I left him there with the prince of the kingdom of Persia. And now I’m here to help you understand what will eventually happen to your people. The vision has to do with what’s ahead.’” (Daniel 10:2-6, 9-14 MSG)
Daniel mourns over the state of his nation. He mourns over the fate of Jerusalem. He mourns for the pain and suffering of his people. In his mourning, God sends a comforter. A divine messenger to give Daniel hope for the future. But that divine messenger is hindered in his ability to bring Daniel comfort by the work of the Enemy. As powerful as he is as a heavenly being, he faced enemies equally as powerful in the heavenly places. Spiritual forces of evil who waylaid him to prevent him from accomplishing his mission. Thankfully, God sent an even more powerful heavenly warrior to help him which allowed him to continue on his way. It’s one of the few detailed accounts we have in Scripture of the heavenly battle that is happening all around us all the time.
This is why there is so much language in the New Testament about actively resisting the Enemy so he will flee. Taking up the whole armor of God in order to defend ourselves. Praying always in the Spirit. Immersing ourselves in the Word. Raising the shield of faith to protect not only ourselves but those around us. This is why the Apostle Paul tells us the weapons of our warfare are not of this world but mighty in God. With them, we are able to tear down every stronghold and every high thing that sets itself up against God. We are able to take our stand against the devil and his demonic forces. We are able to drive back the powers of darkness with the light of the gospel. But none of that happens unless we get on our knees in prayer. Unless we intercede with weeping and fasting as Daniel did over the state of our loved ones, the state of our families, the state of our nation, and the state of our world.
Friends, the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was to convince the Western world he didn’t exist. Don’t fall into the trap of believing you are safe from his attacks. As I read from another author recently, “I want to live my life in such a way that when I get out of bed in the morning, the devil says, “Oh hell! He's up!” (Steve Maraboli)
Readings for tomorrow: None