Daniel 9:22-23

Observe the gracious condescension of the man Gabriel. (I say the man Gabriel, because I wish to use the very same name as the Scripture.) Supposing him to have been a created angel, his kindness in his message deserves our thanks. We know that angels are ministering spirits, and commissioned by our Lord God to our good. Hebrews 1:14; Psalms 34:7. But supposing, (what I confess I am rather inclined to believe), that this man Gabriel was the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh! Reader! contemplate his love! Well might Paul desire, as the chiefest of all blessings, to be able to comprehend with all saints, the breadth, and length, and depth, and height of the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge. Ephesians 3:18. When Daniel is said to be greatly beloved, or as the Hebrew hath it, greatly desired, or a man of desires; how blessed is it to consider the loveliness of the Lord's people in Jesus. Ezekiel 16:14; Song of Solomon 4:7. I must detain the Reader with one observation more on this passage. The man Gabriel tells Daniel, that it was at the beginning of his supplication he came forth, to show him the matter of this vision. Consequently, it was not for any arguments Daniel had used in prayer: neither was it for the merit of his prayer that the message came. Sweet consideration this to encourage the Lord's people in prayer! For when the Lord sets his people to pray, he is coming forth in mercy to bless; and their prayers become not the motive for divine favor, but the preparation of the Lord's grace in their hearts to qualify them for the mercy. The Lord teacheth them to ask for what he hath already prepared for them, and is about to give, so that the promise is fulfilled; before my people call, I will answer, and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. Isaiah 65:24.