Deeper Reflection
In the third year of Cyrus” (v.1), Daniel learned that his people in Jerusalem were greatly discouraged by the hostile opposition that they met in their work of restoration. He then sought God in prayer with mourning and fasting (vv.2-3). In Daniel’s earnest seeking of God, there was also “the desire for further revelation to clarify” the “Seventy Weeks” vision (Dan 9:24-27).⁴¹ God responded to Daniel with “a word” “revealed” to him (v.1). Dabar for “word” is repeated three times in the verse. No content is given in this “word”, because verse 1 “summarises chapters 10 to 12 as a whole, introducing the motifs of the reliability of the revelation Daniel is given, the conflicts chapter 11 describes, and the understanding Daniel is given.”⁴²The interlinked movements of the Word of God and prayer in Daniel 9 to 10 is noteworthy: From the Word (Dan 9:1-2) to prayer (Dan 9:3-19), from prayer (Dan 9:3-19) to the Word (Dan 9:20-27), from the Word (Dan 9:20-27) to prayer (vv.2-3), and from prayer (vv.2-3) to the Word (v.1, Dan 10:4-12). The chained movements begin and end with the Word of God.When we go through discouraging times of difficulty and uncertainty, our only anchor and compass is the Word of God. The Word is “true” (v.1), because it is God’s Word, and God is true and cannot lie (Heb 6:17-18). When our faith is tested, the test is if we really believe that God and His Word are true. Oftentimes, adversities tell us that God and His Word are not reliable. Who or what do we believe in then?

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⁴¹ Earnest C. Lucas, Daniel, Apollos Old Testament Commentary (Apollos, IVP, 2002), 274 ⁴² John E. Goldingay, 290