Daniel 10:11-12 NET 11 He said to me, “Daniel, you are of great value. Understand the words that I am about to speak to you. So, stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up shaking. 12 Then he said to me, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel, for from the very first day you applied your mind to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard. I have come in response to your words.
“Daniel, you are of great value.” Imagine how hearing those words made Daniel feel. Especially after Daniel was in mourning for three weeks, he had fasted and prayed, (see Daniel 10:2-3). At the end of Daniel’s mourning, an angel visited him. The name of the angel was not given in this chapter, but scholars believe it was the angel “Gabriel”, because Gabriel’s name was mentioned as visiting Daniel in Daniel 8 and 9.
Sidenote: Gabriel and Michael are the only angels mentioned by name in the Old Testament. Scholars believe that when you see a scripture that says “an angel of the Lord” that it refers to an angelic being. But when there is a scripture that says, “the Angel of the Lord” that it refers to Jesus in the Old Testament. Word studies are a wonderful way to study the bible. When I do a word study I will either use a bible concordance or I will do a word search on a bible app or a website like BibleGateway.
As I had mentioned in my post called, “Priceless – God Values Us, pt. 1” that everyone likes to feel valued. It is important to us to feel valued, especially when it helps us to feel loved, respected, and important too. Feeling valued lifts our mood, gives us confidence, and a sense of security. In Daniel 10:11 the word “great value” also means “treasured person” or “highly esteemed.”
When we feel valued, we also feel treasured. As God’s children we are valued by Him, we are treasured and highly esteemed by God! We are priceless and treasured by God.
Daniel was also reminded in Daniel 9:23 and Daniel 10:19 that he is “of great value” and “highly valued”. Talk about feeling validated when you know that you are of great value in God’s sight! But Daniel already knew who his God is before he was validated with the words “of great value”. Daniel was already confident and secure with who God is. Remember when Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den in Daniel 6? He was sent to the lion’s den for defying the king’s decree that no one was to pray to any god or human other than the king for 30 days. Daniel defied that decree and still continued to pray to God, 3 times a day. Because of Daniel’s obedience to God, he found favor with God, and God saved him from the hungry lions. We all want to have favor with God, but are we willing to have an active relationship with God like Daniel did? Daniel did not allow anything, nothing, from keeping him from praying, fasting, and seeking God.
Daniel 9:23 NET 23 At the beginning of your requests a message went out, and I have come to convey it to you, for you are of great value in God’s sight. Therefore consider the message and understand the vision:
Daniel 10:19 NET 19 He said to me, “Don’t be afraid, you who are highly valued. Peace be to you! Be strong! Be really strong!” When he spoke to me, I was strengthened. I said, “Sir, you may speak now, for you have given me strength.”
If you are troubled by the chaos around you, and what is going on around the world then look to Jesus. Because of what Jesus did on the cross we are able to spend eternity with Jesus. He endured the cross because He treasures us. Values and treasures us so much that he suffered the crucifixion just for us!
Hebrews 12:1-3 NET 12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, 2 keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Think of him who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up.
Let us look at Hebrews 12:2 again, “for the joy set out for Him, He endured the cross”. What joy? How is there joy in suffering, facing being beaten and ridiculed, just for us?
Years ago, I was at the altar praying to God and I asked Him to show me what it was like when Jesus died on the cross. At the time I could not fathom why He would be willing to give up His life for us. Why was it so easy for Jesus to die for us when there are times, we struggle living for Him. At that moment God gave me a vision and I saw my self standing on a side of road leading up a hill. It was dark like nighttime, but I was standing next to a single light post. I saw Jesus walking up the hill carrying the cross, He was beaten and bruised. I ran over to Him and pleaded with Him, I was crying out to let me help Jesus carry the cross, I could tell it was heavy. But Jesus looked at me and said, “climb on to my back”. So, I climbed on to Jesus’ back and then He proceeded to walk up the hill still carrying the cross and with me on His back.
God showed me in that vision that Jesus was able to endure the weight of the cross because the weight of our sin was far greater than the weight of that cross. Despite to weight of the burden He carried for us, Jesus still persevered and completed His mission to die for our sins!
In reference to Hebrews 12:2, Jesus was able to endure the cross because we are the joy that was set before Him! We were on His mind, we are His prize, we are His joy! How much of great value and treasured are we that Jesus would endure so much for us! Despite our sin, despite Him being rejected, despite the pain, Jesus still died on the cross for all. So that all would repent and turn from our wicked ways. So that all would believe in Him and would follow Him. So that all would spend all eternity with Him! We may not always feel worthy of His love, but Jesus considered us to be worth it all! No one values us or treasures us like God does!
I pray that if you have not accepted Jesus yet as your Lord and Savior that you will give your life to Him. No matter what is going on in your life right now or in your past, just turn to Jesus. No matter how big or little the sin is, Jesus forgives all who repents of their sin. We do not know what tomorrow holds for us, but we know of Who holds tomorrow. God is waiting on you; He values you that much that He is waiting for you to live for Him. Do you value God as much as He values you? Call on Jesus today, right here, right now. He is the greatest treasure we could ever receive!
One last scripture: Malachi 3:16-18 NKJV – “A Book of Remembrance” 16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another,And the Lord listened and heard them;So a book of remembrance was written before HimFor those who fear the LordAnd who meditate on His name.17 “They shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them As a man spares his own son who serves him.” 18 Then you shall again discern Between the righteous and the wicked, Between one who serves God And one who does not serve Him.
