Daniel 11

“Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him.” (v. 1)

One must wonder how this could have strengthened the king, with such unbelievable and fantastic news from Daniel, but I have found that to be forewarned is a great comfort when the trials come, and there is strength in knowing. As a young man, my preacher taught me what to expect from the world, and my “friends” as I began the new life in Christ. This helped me immensely later on, when the persecution and the heckling came, and I was able to endure. I knew that it would happen, because I was taught that it would, and therefore I was not taken by surprise. These things, of course, did not affect the king at this time, and so he could take comfort in that also, but it was written for future generations, and for the confirmation and strength of others, though it was addressed to Darius the Mede. God accomplished two purposes in His work here. Darius was warned, and could have begged God for mercy as Hezekiah did, but he did not do that; he could have found forgiveness and OBtained a new heart and a new life. God was working on the king, and He was also foretelling the future for others to see that judgment is of the Lord. What is a history lesson for us was a future revelation for king Darius, and a shocking report of what will come to pass, and a testimony as to the foreknowledge of God.

Daniel became a strength and a comfort to kings because the Lord had exalted him to greatness. All of these things which shall be either already have, or will come to pass. There is great comfort in knowing the future, especially when it is revealed by God Himself. Daniel had become rather famous, after serving three kings faithfully, and his words carried a lot of weight with king Darius; he spoke of wars and of kings and of mighty kingdoms, but all to reveal God’s plan for His people and His land. This was a vision of God’s plan for mankind, and it would definitely come to pass.