Year 3, Day 344: Daniel 10

Theological Commentary: Click Here 

Discipleship Focus: Pioneers/Developers

• Pioneer: One who goes into the world under God’s authority to claim ground for God’s Kingdom that is not currently claimed.
• Developer: One who through God’s power develops and strengthens territory claimed by pioneers so that it is not lost again.

This may seem like an unusual perspective about which to speak today with respect to Daniel 10.  But there are two main reasons that these topics comes to mind.

First, we must understand the spiritual warfare given in this chapter.  Several times we see Daniel weakened.  We hear about the messengers of God struggling against the powers of this world.  Doing kingdom work is a struggle.  It is difficult.  Being a pioneer means going into enemy territory and struggling against those who oppose God’s ways.  But pioneers are desperately needed, and developers need to be mindful that pioneers need to be covered in prayer by those who will develop the fruit of their struggle!

Second, we must understand that Daniel has this vision as the first wave of Jewish settlers head back to Jerusalem to develop the land that has been reclaimed for the Hebrew people.  Daniel – a pioneer – prays and fasts as a group of developers heads off to do the task that God has called them to do.  They are going to develop Jerusalem and the surrounding land once more.  These developers need prayer as they try to hold onto what has been claimed for God’s kingdom!

God’s kingdom needs both pioneers and developers working in conjunction with each other.  Territory should be claimed for God, and that is hard work.  Claimed territory must be developed lest it is lost, and that is hard work, too.

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