Daniel in a Deep Sleep - Daniel 8:18

In the book of Daniel, Daniel said, “And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man. And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision” in chapter eight and verse eighteen of his book Daniel said,  “as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground” where we read,

Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: 

but he touched me, and set me upright.

The verse reads, “Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground:” Daniel began with the words, “now as he was speaking with me” or “at the time he, Gabriel, was conversing and making declarations with me, Daniel”, “I was in a deep sleep” which means “I, Daniel, was within a fast and heavy sleep” “on my face” or “upon my, Daniel’s, forefront of his head or face” “toward the ground” which means “to the earth”. Daniel shared how he was fast asleep with his face toward the earth while Gabriel was conversing with him. 

The verse goes on to say, “but he touched me, and set me upright.” Daniel continued with the words, “but he touched me” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover he, Gabriel, reached, applied and aroused me, Daniel”, “and set me upright” which means “me, Daniel, to stand to a risen position”. Daniel shared how Gabriel aroused him and stood him up.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Daniel how he was in a deep sleep with his “face” toward the earth when Gabriel was conversing with him, so Gabriel aroused him and stood him upon his feet. God used Gabriel to talk with Daniel, and because He wanted Daniel to know what his “vision” meant, God caused Gabriel to put him in a position to learn. God will do the same with us because we must be “aroused” concerning the sin, error and wrong that is in our lives before we will receive His Son Jesus who died on the cross and was resurrected from the grave after three days as our “Savior and Lord”. When we put our faith and trust in Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and gain our attention so we may be instructed by His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth. (See Proverbs 6:9-10; John 16:13; Ephesians 5:14)

Next time Daniel shares how Gabriel said “I will make you know what shall be in the last end of the indignation”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".