When I read the lessons for today, I felt sorry for Daniel.  God really put him through a lot to send us a hopeful message.  God’s messengers were and are chosen people, to be sure, but that didn’t or doesn’t make their lives easy.  Especially in the Old Testament!  In Chapter 7, we read that Daniel was terrified of the visions that his mind received, and his spirit was anguished by what this all meant.  Yet, Daniel’s faith did not waver.  Instead of shutting it out as a bad dream, Daniel asked for clarification, and he got it.  But that didn’t lessen his anxieties.  Just like us, he didn’t fully comprehend God’s ways. 

Despite its alarming content, Daniel was told that the perplexing vision was one of good news.  The power of the opposition to the Lord Most High will be taken away and the kingship and dominion and majesty shall be given to the holy people of the Most High, whose Kingdom shall be everlasting.  The holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingship to possess forever and ever.  Despite his ongoing anxiety, Daniel rejoices in that good news in his psalm of praise.  In it, he further encourages all servants and the Lord, holy people of humble heart, spirits and souls of the just, to bless the Lord; praise and exalt Him above all forever.  Daniel’s response is instructive.

I am pretty sure that we too are those servants of the Lord, holy people of humble heart, and spirits and souls of the just that Daniel refers to in the Old Testament, and that doesn’t make our lives any easier either.  Whether we are called to prophecy, witness, or teaching, we can be sure that we will experience some anxieties when God puts us to work to send a message about salvation.  Yet we like Daniel should also bless the Lord and praise and exalt Him above all forever.  Lucky for us, unlike the prophets in the Old Testament, God chooses not to reveal certain things to us like He did to Daniel.  There is still an element of mystery surrounding it all even though the Scriptures reveal what is necessary for us to know.  But this is where faith comes in, at least for me.  Our response to those who say they can’t believe in a God that they don’t see or talk to everyday or understand is to share the good news of salvation that Jesus brings.  As servants of the Lord, we don’t have to interpret dreams anymore.  We can live our lives wide awake without fear!  We also need to share the good news of Jesus humbly and patiently with those who have a lot of anxieties about the kingdoms of this earth.  Especially so these days, we also need to give glory and eternal praise to the Lord who reveals to us the Kingdom of God is eternally ours in Christ Jesus.