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Redemption Baptist Church, Unit 31b Blyry Industrial Estate, Athlone (2026)

04/06/2026

The Dirty Laundry of Sin—and How to Remove It!

Part 4: The Crown of Priestly Service

“And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.”
(Zechariah 3:5)

In our last post, we saw that the Angel of the LORD (who is Christ, the second Person of the Godhead) had just commanded for the high priest Joshua to have his filthy garments removed, and to be clothed with a “change of garments.” This scene represents the future day when Israel, as a nation, will have all their sins removed by repenting and believing on their Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth (Romans 11:26-32). At that point, they will then truly become the priestly nation that God intended them to be. This scene also pictures the removal of sin that every sinner (whether Jew or Gentile) experiences when he repents of his sin and believes on the Lord Jesus Christ. At the moment of salvation, the believer is sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:12-14), and is set apart as a king and priest before God (1 Peter 2:9-10; Revelation 5:8-10).

Now, at this point in Zechairah’s vision, Zechariah himself was so excited about what was happening, that he excitedly blurted out, “Let them set a fair mitre upon his head!” Apparently, every other piece of Joshua’s high-priestly garments had been placed on him by now, except for the mitre. The mitre was the linen turban that the high priest wore; and attached to this turban was the golden crown with the words קֹדֶשׁ לַֽיהֹוָֽה (Qodesh la’Hovah, meaning “Holiness to the LORD”) engraved on it (Exodus 28:36-38).

Although Zechariah had “spoken out of turn,” in a sense, the Angel of the LORD (Christ) approvingly “stood by,” because Zechariah had spoken rightly. The crowning of Joshua with the mitre and golden crown pictures the full reinstatement of Israel into their priestly office before God. This reinstatement will not be possible until Israel, as a nation, is spiritually cleansed and regenerated by repenting of their sin and believing on their Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Although this vision of the changing of Joshua’s garments is a picture of the future national cleansing of Israel’s sins, there clearly is an application here for every individual believer in Jesus Christ. This vision pictures the removal of sin for every believer (both Jew and Gentile), and the imputation of Christ’s perfect righteousness to that person.

Just as Satan is the accuser of the nation of Israel, so he is the accuser of every believer. He goes before God day and night to throw our sins and failures at God (Revelation 12:9-10). Sometimes, his accusations are unjust—just as they were in the case of Job. In his own wicked, perverted mind, Satan cannot believe that anyone would serve God because he actually loves God; thus, he often wrongly accuses God’s people, just as he did Job (Job 1:9-111). Yet, on the other hand, Satan's accusations against us are often right. Our lives are often filled with sin and unfaithfulness to God; and from the standpoint of God's Law, Satan has good ground to accuse us. Even one sin condemns man to spiritual death (Galatians 3:10; James 2:10). Like Joshua, we are all, as individuals, bespattered with moral filth. That is why it is necessary for God to remove our "filthy garments" (symbolic of sin), and to clothe us with "change of raiment" (symbolic of Christ’s righteousness).

Paul pointed out that the righteousness that he had was not his "own righteousness," but rather "the righteousness which is of God by faith” (Philippians 3:4-9). God looks at Christ's imputed righteousness, which has been applied to the believer, as though it were our own. It is because Christ shed His blood for us, and because we have trusted in His blood, that we are redeemed. The accuser is "overcome" by the "blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 12:10-11).

In contrast, those who think themselves "good enough" to please God, and who thus reject Christ's gracious offer of His own imputed righteousness, cannot stand against Satan's accusations. For example, in Psalm 109, it was prophesied that Judas Iscariot would have a "wicked man" (literally "wicked one") set over him, and that Satan would "stand at his right hand” (Psalm 109:1-8). Tragically, when Satan stood at Judas’s right hand (Psalm 109:6), Judas had no one to help him.

On the other hand, when Satan stood at Joshua's right hand to accuse him, his accusations could not prevail, because Joshua had Christ's imputed righteousness (which was applied to him on the basis of what Christ would do in the future) (Romans 3:25). The "angel of the LORD," Jesus Christ, was Joshua's Advocate. He defended Joshua on the basis of His future sacrifice on the cross (Isaiah 53:1-12; 1 John 2:1-2). However, when Satan stood at Judas' right hand to accuse him, Judas could not stand under his accusations, because he was still in his sin. Tragically, Judas died in his sins, with the wrath of God still upon him. He did not have Christ's imputed righteousness. That is why Jesus solemnly stated that it were better for His betrayer that he had never been born (Matthew 26:20-25).

We who know Christ as Saviour should continually thank God for His imputed righteousness. You may be sure that your sin has been brought up before the throne of God by Satan and his emissaries—many times! Yet, God, in His mercy, receives the blood of His Son as acceptable payment for you, and His righteousness as an acceptable garment!

29/05/2026

The Dirty Laundry of Sin—and How to Remove It!

Part 3: Joshua’s New Garments!

“Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.”
(Zechariah 3:3-4)

As the high priest Joshua stood before the Angel of the LORD in Zechariah's vision, he was representing the entire nation of Israel. Sadly, he represented all that Israel had failed to be. Both in the past, and to this very hour, Israel’s moral condition has been one of moral pollution and filthiness. In fact, the word for “filthy” is probably the most powerful word that the Hebrew language can muster. The word "filthy" is translated from the word tsoeym, which literally means “excrement-soiled”! How could Joshua minister before God as high priest, when his spiritual condition was utterly repugnant to God? To be sure, the LORD had just rebuked Satan for attempting to throw accusations at Israel (Zechariah 3:2); yet, how could God's rebuke of Satan change the fact that Israel was utterly defiled, and unfit for service?

This brings us to the LORD’s solution. In verse 4, the Angel of the LORD (who, you’ll remember, is Christ, the second Person of the Godhead) spoke to “those that stood before him.” Those who “stood before him” were, undoubtedly, some of God’s holy angels, who were also standing in God’s presence. Christ commanded these angels to do two things.

First, He commanded them to “take the filthy garments” from Joshua. What kind of garments were being removed from Joshua? Were they old, raggedy clothes? No. They were the very garments that were supposed to be holy! They were the white, linen garments which the high priest wore on one day of the year—the Day of Atonement. How do we know that Joshua was wearing these special linen garments? Because in this vision, Joshua was attempting to minister “before the LORD.” The high priest was the one man who was permitted to minister “before the LORD” (in front of the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant); and he was permitted to do this only on Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). On that day, he was clothed with pure, white linen (Leviticus 16:1-23, 32-34).

These very linen garments, which were supposed to symbolise holiness, were instead bespattered with excrement—thus showing that Israel, as a nation, was sinful and defiled. Yet, God commanded the attending angels to remove these vile garments from Joshua. This is a beautiful picture of the removal of Israel’s sin. When Christ returns to earth after the battle of Armageddon, He will remove the sin of the nation in one day (Zechariah 3:9; Romans 11:26-32). Those Jewish people who rejected Jesus as their Messiah will be judged and cast into hell (Ezekiel 20:33-38); and only the redeemed, blood-bought Jewish people will enter into the Kingdom age. All Israel will literally be saved in a day!

The second thing that God commanded the attending angels to do was to clothe Joshua with a “change of raiment.” The Hebrew word for “change of raiment” is machlatzoth. This word indicates costly, beautiful garments—the kind which would be worn only on a special occasion. Apparently, these clean garments with which Joshua was clothed were the “holy garments” which were worn by the high priest for “glory and beauty” on every day of the year except Yom Kippur, as he ministered to the nation. These garments consisted of a robe of embroidered gold, blue, purple, and scarlet; a coat of fine linen; the “robe of the ephod”; and a seamless robe of blue linen, with golden pomegranates and golden bells dangling from the bottom fringe. It also consisted of an ephod of linen, embroidered with gold, blue, purple, and scarlet; shoulder pieces made of onyx stones, with the names of the 12 tribes of Israel engraved on them; a square breastplate, with 12 precious stones engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel; a Urim and Thumim, which were connected to the breastplate; a linen mitre for his head; a golden crown with the words Qodesh laHovah (“Holiness to the LORD”) engraved on it; and linen trousers to be worn under his garments (Exodus 28:1-38).

The removal of Joshua’s soiled linen garments pictures the truth that in the future, the nation of Israel will have their sins removed by believing on Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God; and the clothing of Joshua with his daily high-priestly garments pictures the fact that Israel will then come forth from God’s presence redeemed and washed, and “dressed” in their costly priestly garments, to minister to all the nations of the earth. This priestly role is God’s “calling” for Israel; and this calling is “without repentance” (Romans 11:29). In other words, God will not go back on what He has chosen to do through the nation of Israel.

The application of these verses to Christians' lives is easy to see. We who have placed our faith in Christ have had our sins removed; and, in its place, we have received Christ’s imputed righteousness (Romans 4:1-8). As justified and redeemed people, we are now able to fulfil our calling to be “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation” (1 Peter 2:9). We are now able to minister to a sinful world, by showing forth “the praises of whom who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9).

As you go about your day, Christian, never forget that you are a “priest” before God! You are washed and justified; and God wants you to minister to others, and draw them to Him.

21/05/2026

The Dirty Laundry of Sin—and How to Remove It!

Part 2: The LORD’s rebuke of Satan

“And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?” (Zechariah 3:2)

In our last post, we began to examine the meaning of the prophetic vision that God gave to the prophet Zechariah in 520 B.C. In this vision, Israel’s high priest, Joshua, was standing before the Angel of the LORD, to minister in his role as the high priest of Israel. However, Satan was standing on Joshua’s right hand, to accuse him. As the representative of the nation of Israel, Joshua was a type of the nation itself; and the filthy, bespattered garments that hung from his body were a fitting picture of Israel’s spiritual and moral failure. Israel was constantly rebelling against their God, and grieving His heart; and that is why Satan gleefully accused Israel before God. The crux of Satan’s accusation was, “How can wicked, sinning Israel be your chosen people?”

Yet, what was God’s response to Satan’s accusation against Israel? His response was, “The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?” This is an amazing statement, on several counts!

First, this verse is a powerful testimony to the deity of Christ, the Son of God! Clearly, the speaker is “the Angel of the LORD,” because we were told in verse 1 that the “angel of the LORD” is the one before whom both Joshua and Satan were standing. Yet, here in verse 2, we are told that “the LORD” spoke to Satan. Obviously, the Angel of the LORD is none other than the LORD Himself! This “Angel” is not a created spirit being: He is THE malak (“minister,” or “messenger”) of the LORD. As the second Person of the Godhead, the Son of God is always serving God the Father: yet, He Himself is God!

There is another way in which we can see Christ’s deity in this verse, as well. We are told that as the LORD spoke to Satan, He said, “The LORD rebuke thee.” Why would the LORD speak of “the LORD” as though He were a distinct Person from Himself? The answer is simple: one member of the Triune Godhead is invoking another member of the Godhead! The LORD (Christ, the Son of God) is invoking God the Father (who is also the LORD), and is requesting that He rebuke Satan. Everything that God the Father and God the Son do, they do together. They are distinct from each other, yet identical to each other in being, essence, power, and glory (John 5:17-27; 1 John 5:7). Together, the Son of God, and God the Father, rebuked Satan.

Yet, what was the basis upon which the LORD rebuked Satan? He rebuked him upon the immutable truth that He has “chosen Jerusalem.” God’s message to Satan is clear: “How dare you rail against the nation that I have chosen?” If God have chosen Israel to be His special people forever, and if His choice of them be based upon His own faithfulness, and not upon Israel’s faithfulness, then how dare Satan accuse them, and demand their annihilation? If God, who is immutable, have chosen Jerusalem as His habitation forever, then how dare Satan say otherwise (Numbers 23:7-9, 18-23; Psalm 48:1-8)?

God’s gracious purpose toward the nation of Israel has not changed. Though God has had to chastise Israel sorely for their disobedience throughout the entire history of their nation, they are still His “chosen” nation. As the LORD put it, they are like a “brand plucked out of the fire.” This “fire” from which Israel has been plucked is the “fire” of suffering. At the time of this vision, Israel had very recently been plucked from the “fire” of suffering in Babylon, where they had been captives for 70 years. However, the “fire” that the LORD speaks of here in verse 2 is panoramic in scope. It refers to all the suffering that Israel has already endured, and will endure, right up to the time of Christ’s future return to earth, to set up His Kingdom. Just as the burning bush in which the Angel of the LORD appeared to Moses burned, yet was not consumed (Exodus 3:1-5), so Israel is constantly “burning” with chastisements and sufferings—yet, she is never consumed. No wonder the N***s scornfully called them “Der Ewige Jude” (“the eternal Jew”)! Though the N***s meant this moniker to be an insult, it nevertheless revealed a truth that ever frustrates Israel’s enemies—namely, that no matter how hard they try to destroy Israel, they are never destroyed! Millennia pass by, and kingdoms and empires rise and fall: yet, Israel remains. As a nation, they will never be destroyed, because, unworthy though they are of their elect position, they are elect nonetheless. God is constantly protecting Israel, because they have been sovereignly “chosen” by Him.

Zechariah 3:2 is a wonderful reminder of God’s mercy and faithfulness to the nation of Israel. However, it also is a powerful picture of the Christian’s standing before God. How can Satan say anything against Christ’s redeemed ones, when they are His elect? It is God who has justified the believer in Christ; therefore, the believer cannot lose his justified position. Rather than Satan being at the “right hand” of advantage in heaven, it is Christ who sits at the Father's right hand, where He intercedes for all true believers.

Just like the nation of Israel, we who have placed our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are a sinful, unworthy people. Nevertheless, God, the righteous Judge, does not see our sin: instead, He sees His Son’s perfect righteousness, which has been imputed to us (Romans 4:1-8). That is why the Apostle Paul said, “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us” (Romans 8:34).

Of course, the fact that God does not judicially see believers’ sin does not give them cause to be lax or indifferent about the sin in their lives. To the contrary, it gives them the motivation to die to sin and live unto righteousness, out of love for the One who saved their souls. It also gives them a holy confidence before God (Hebrews 10:10-23). Though Christians should sorrow over their sin, and repent of it daily, they needn’t be paralyzed with fear that they have lost their salvation. God the Father loves His redeemed ones with an everlasting love; and nothing can change His purpose to keep their souls for all eternity, and to conform them into the image of His Son (Hebrews 13:5; John 10:27-29; 1 Peter 1:3-5; Romans 8:28-30)!

If you have been redeemed by the blood of Christ, think on this truth today, and rejoice in your standing before God!

13/05/2026

This year's Holiday Bible Club (for children ages 4 to 13) is just around the corner! On 27-31 July, at Redemption Baptist Church, children will be learning the amazing story of Esther--the courageous queen whose prayers, faith in God, and courageous action, saved an entire nation from destruction. For more information, details are below. Hope to see you and your children there!

11/05/2026

The Dirty Garments of Sin—and How to Remove Them!

Part 1: Satan’s accusations

“And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.

And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?

Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.”

(Zechariah 3:1-3)

In 535 B.C., many Jewish people returned to the land of Israel from Babylon, by decree of King Cyrus of Persia (Ezra 1:1-4). Soon, the Jews began the work of re-building the Temple, which King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had destroyed 70 years earlier. However, the re-building effort had scarcely begun before it came to a halt. Filled with envy of their Jewish neighbours, the Gentile peoples who had taken up residence in Israel’s land during the 70 years of captivity sent a letter to King Artaxerxes of Persia, to convince him that if the Temple were re-built, the Jews would strengthen themselves, and would raise insurrection against Persia (Ezra 3 and 4). Believing this report, King Artaxerxes put a stop to the work; and the foundation of the Temple lay untouched for 15 more years.

During those 15 years, the Jewish people lost their zeal for rebuilding the Temple. They stopped trying to petition the kings of Persia to allow them to build God’s House. Instead, they focused on building their own houses, and on tending to their own affairs. However, God would not allow the people to prosper in their personal affairs, while ignoring His house. No matter how hard they worked to enrich themselves, they couldn’t get ahead. Plagues and drought continually decimated their crops, so that they had little produce (Haggai 1:3-11). God allowed these things to happen to His people so that their hearts would be humbled, and turned back to Him.

Finally, in 520 B.C., God raised up the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to rebuke the people for their indifference, and to stir them to build the Temple again. Haggai delivered his first prophetic message on Elul 1 (August 29), 520 B.C. (Haggai 1:1); and Zechariah delivered his first prophetic message in Marcheshvan (November) of that same year (Zechariah 1:1). Zechariah’s main message to Israel was that of exhortation and encouragement concerning the re-building of the Temple. However, from the very start of his ministry, Zechariah also made it clear that the condition for God’s blessing was repentance. God can never bless His people until they turn from their wicked ways.

In order to bring the people to repentance, God gave Zechariah a series of eight prophetic visions. Throughout these eight visions, God also wove in many prophecies concerning Israel’s Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. In the coming weeks, we will examine the fourth of the eight visions that God gave to Zechariah, as recorded in Zechariah chapter 3.

Now, in this vision, Zechariah saw an intriguing scene. He saw Israel’s high priest (whose name was Joshua) standing before “the Angel of the LORD,” to serve Him in his role of high priest. [As we will see in more detail in our next post, the “Angel (or “minister”) of the LORD” is the LORD Himself—particularly, Christ, the second Person of the Triune Godhead!] As Joshua stood before the LORD, he wasn’t merely representing himself; he was representing the entire nation of Israel. Whenever one of Israel’s high priests ministered before the LORD in the Temple, he was standing on behalf of the entire nation. Symbolically, the high priest WAS “Israel” whenever he put on his high priestly garments. However, as Joshua was attempting to perform his high priestly duties, there was a big problem. Standing right next to Joshua, on his right hand, was Satan; and Satan was resisting Joshua.

By the way, if you’ve ever wondered what the name “Satan” means, it is taken directly from the Hebrew word "satan," which means “adversary,” or “enemy.” Here in Zechariah 3:1, he is called hassatan, which literally means “the adversary.” Satan truly is “the” enemy of God and man. He is always trying to tempt God’s people to sin, so that he might hinder their service to God, and so that he might have reason to accuse them before God. Satan's other infamous name, “the Devil,” means “the accuser.” Satan still has occasional access to God’s courtroom in the heavenlies; and whenever he appears before God, he accuses God’s people down on earth (Job 1:6-12; Revelation 12:7-10). If you have known Christ as your Saviour for very long, you may be sure that your name has been brought up by the enemy before God’s throne!

Both in Old Testament times, and in our present New Testament age, Satan has constantly opposed and hindered God’s people from serving Him. Satan often uses oppression and persecution from flesh-and-blood enemies in order to resist God’s people; but the most effective way that Satan resists God’s people is by tempting them to sin, and thus bring reproach upon God’s name. Whenever believers sin, they “give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:27), and open themselves up to his influence. Satan and his demons cannot indwell true believers, since believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit (1 John 4:4); however, he can greatly vex and oppress them. The more believers give in to Satan’s wiles, the more “foothold” he has in their lives, to oppose and resist them.

Incidentally, the phrase “to resist” in verse 1 is translated from the Hebrew word l’satan, which could literally be said, “to satanise”! Satan is continually “satanising” (being an adversary) to God’s covenant people Israel, so that they, as a nation, might not be able to be used by God. It is also significant that Satan is seen standing at Joshua’s “right hand.” The fact that Satan was standing at Joshua’s “right hand” does not imply that Satan is in a favoured position: it means that he is in a position of advantage over Israel, on account of their sinfulness. It means that Satan has the right to hinder them, because they have rebelled against God. Whenever there is sin among God’s people (whether individually or collectively), Satan is in a position of “advantage,” because that sin hinders them from being used by God. That is why Paul warned the Corinthian believers to beware “lest Satan should get an advantage" of them, on account of their failure to forgive others (2 Corinthians 2:10-11).

Now, at this point in Zechariah’s vision, Israel’s position before God looked bleak. Joshua (who represented Israel) was wearing “filthy garments” (which represents Israel’s sin and defilement); and Satan, who was at Joshua’s “right hand,” was in a gleeful position of triumph and advantage over him. Satan gloated over the fact that Israel—the nation that God had raised up to bring praise to His name—was in such a place of moral degradation. How can a sin-stained nation be used by God? How can unworthy, sinful Israel ever fulfil its priestly role before the nations of the earth? How could they ever be the “kingdom of priests, and an holy nation” that God had intended them to be (Exodus 19:6)? For that matter, how can any individual be used by God when he is stained by sin? How can Christians today (whether they be Jew or Gentile) serve the Lord, when they have sin in their lives?

As Zechariah beheld the high priest Joshua in this vision, he must have been struck by the sobering question, “How can God possibly accept Israel, and use them for his glory, when they are stained with sin?” The foul, nasty garments that hung from Joshua’s frame clearly revealed what GOD thought of Israel's “righteousness.” In men’s eyes, they appeared righteous; but in God’s eyes, their best attempts at righteousness were like “filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). However, God had a solution to Israel’s problem!

As our study of this vision unfolds, we will see how the LORD addressed the problem of Israel’s sinfulness. In coming devotionals, we will examine this vision verse by verse, and behold the wonder of redemption, and of God’s imputed righteousness to the sinner.

In the meantime, I would like to drive home the sobering truth that you and I have an enemy named Satan; and Satan would love to stand at YOUR right hand. Don’t let him have that advantage! If you don't know Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you need to place your faith in Him, so that He can be your Advocate against Satan's accusations (1 John 2:1-2). If you do know Christ as your personal Saviour, claim the power of Christ’s precious blood to cleanse you from sin in your daily life, so that you might be used of God in the priestly position to which He has called you (1 John 1:1-9). Just as God raised up Israel, as a nation, to be a “kingdom of priests,” so today God has ordained every soul that believes on the Son (whether he be Jew or Gentile) to be a royal priest before God. As the Apostle Peter put it:

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9).

03/05/2026

"The Lights of Home"
by F***y Crosby

1. O the friends that now are waiting
In the cloudless realms of day,
Who are calling me to follow
Where their steps have led the way;
They have laid aside their armour,
And their earthly course is run;
They have kept the faith with patience
And their crown of life is won.

Refrain:
They are calling, gently calling,
Sweetly calling me to come,
And I’m looking through the shadows
For the blessèd lights of home.

2. They have laid aside their armour
For the robe of spotless white;
And with Jesus they are walking
Where the river sparkles bright.
We have laboured here together,
We have laboured side by side,
Just a little while before me
They have crossed the rolling tide.

3. On those dear familiar faces
There will be no trace of care;
Every sigh was hushed forever
At the palace gate so fair.
I shall see them, I shall know them,
I shall hear their song of love,
And we’ll all sing 'Hallelujah'
In our Father’s house above.

01/05/2026

While You Pray, Angels Fight!

“And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.
And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.
Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.”
(Daniel 10:10-14)

Christian, have you ever wondered why God doesn’t seem to be answering your prayers? Why does it often seem that God doesn’t hear you when you cry out to Him? There are several reasons—perhaps the number-one reason being that God’s ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). Many times, God knows that the things that we THINK would be good for us would actually be spiritually harmful (Jeremiah 29:11); and in His mercy, He does not grant those requests. That is why believers should always pray “according to his will” (that is, with the willingness to submit to God’s will, even if it should not agree with our own will) (1 John 5:14-15). Oftentimes we ask for things so that we might consume them upon our own lusts (worldly desires): thus, God does not answer those selfish prayers (James 4:3). Oftentimes God doesn’t hear our requests because there is unconfessed sin in our lives, which is hindering our prayers from being answered (Psalm 66:18). Sometimes there is conflict in our relationships with others, which has been caused by our own anger, pride, or selfishness: and God will not answer our prayers until we humble ourselves, confess our wrong, and make things right with that friend or loved one (Matthew 5:23-24; 1 Peter 3:7). Sometimes it is our lack of faith that hinders our prayers from being answered (Matthew 21:18-22; Matthew 9:22-24).

However, there is yet another reason why God often does not seem to hear our prayers. Sometimes God does grant our requests…but not immediately. Sometimes God delays answering our prayers because He has a perfect timing for the answer of that prayer; and oftentimes, the delay is caused, at least in part, by angelic warfare that is going on behind the scenes! God, in His omniscience, allows this angelic warfare to take place; and while the “delay” is in progress, He tries His people, so as to strengthen their faith in Him.

That is exactly what we see going on in this Daniel 10 passage—intense angelic warfare. The backdrop for the story is that the prophet Daniel had been praying, fasting, and mourning before God for 21 days. The Jewish people had been in captivity in Babylon for 70 years; and Daniel earnestly sought to know the fate of his people Israel in the latter days (Daniel 10:2-3, 14). During those long weeks of prayer and fasting, it probably seemed to Daniel that God was not hearing his prayer. But then, an angel suddenly appeared to Daniel while he was praying by the river Hiddekel (the Tigris River), and gave him the information that he had requested. However, before giving Daniel the revelation, the angel first assured Daniel that God HAD heard his request, from the moment he had begun to pray three weeks earlier. As soon as Daniel began to pray, God commissioned this angel to give Daniel a stunning prophecy of Israel’s future, which would unfold over the course of many centuries (even to this present hour, and beyond) (Daniel 11-12).

Why, then, was there a three-week delay? Simply this: the angel had been engaged in a fierce battle with Satan’s forces all that time. You see, the time was 536 B.C.—just after King Cyrus of Persia had granted the Jews permission to go back to their land. After seventy long years of captivity outside their land, Israel was finally being shown favour by Gentile powers. However, Israel’s favourable status with the kings of Persia could change at the drop of a hat, depending on who was sitting on the throne, and on what that particular king’s feelings toward Israel were. For example, the decree of King Cyrus to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem was reversed (or nearly reversed) several times over the next few decades, due to constant opposition from Israel's enemies (Ezra 4-5). Satan’s demons were working overtime to harden the hearts of the kings of Persia against Israel, so as to stop Israel’s return to their land.

It seems, then, that this angel's ongoing assignment, at that time, was to influence the kings of Persia to help and assist Israel. This assignment from Heaven put this angel in direct conflict with the "prince of Persia" (a powerful archdemon who oversaw Satan’s interests in the Persian Empire). This demon’s power was so great, that God's angel had to receive help from Michael (the archangel who oversees all the affairs of the nation of Israel); and this battle continued for 21 days, until the angel was finally able to get past the wall of demonic forces, and deliver the message to Daniel (Daniel 12:1)! Furthermore, this angel was expecting to engage in battle with the "prince of Grecia" (another powerful archdemon, who oversaw Satan’s affairs in Greece) on his way back to his regular post (Daniel 10:20).

In light of all this, an obvious question arises: Why did God entrust this message to this angel, when He knew that he would meet with intense opposition from Satan’s demons en route to Daniel, and would thereby be delayed? Couldn’t God have simply given Daniel the revelation directly, as He had done to many prophets in the past (including Daniel himself)? Of course! Why, then, didn’t God simply give Daniel his answer immediately, and without a “middle man”?

The answer is: God delights in using His creation to serve Him. God delights in commissioning His angels to assist His people—just as He delights in commissioning His people to take the Gospel to those who have not yet heard how they can be saved (Hebrews 1:13-14; Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). God had a plan of service for that angel, and for Michael, and for Daniel, during those three weeks; and even though Daniel didn’t have a clue as to what was going on in the spirit world, he did know that this was no time for relaxation and pleasure. It was time to be vigilant in prayer, and to humble himself before God.

What, then, would have happened if Daniel had given up praying on the twentieth day, instead of continuing on to the twenty-first day? Would he still have been given the revelation from God? It’s hard to tell; but it is a very scary thought! Believers are far too prone to give up praying when they don't seem to be getting an answer straightaway. Perhaps that is why we don’t see more answers to prayer than we do.

Christian, the next time you are weary and discouraged, and are tempted to skip your prayer time (or to enter into your prayer time half-heartedly), remember that there is a tremendous spiritual battle going on all the time! God does hear your prayers, and angels are being dispatched to assist and protect you. God will answer according to His will, and in His perfect time; but you must keep praying!

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9).

Redemption Baptist Church

04/06/2026

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