In the Book of Daniel, chapter 9, Daniel pours out this impassioned prayer of contrition and confession, just pleading with God to look with mercy upon His people. Daniel admits that his people are all getting what they deserve according to the Law – their situation is a direct result of their own rebellion from God – but Daniel asks God to look with mercy on His people, forgive them of their sin, and rescue them from the consequences of their sin.

And then in verse 23, the angel of the Lord brings a response to Daniel from God, saying,

“As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed.”

“You are highly esteemed.” What a wonderful response from God in response to Daniel’s prayer!

Daniel’s interaction with the angel of the Lord continues into chapter 10. Daniel is overwhelmed by the angel’s presence: Daniel goes into shock (v.8) and passes out (v.9). The angel revives Daniel (v.10) and then tenderly speaks this affirmation to him in verse 11:

“Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,” he said. “Peace! Be strong now; be strong.” When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.”

There it is again: “You are highly esteemed.” What a kind message from God’s angel to Daniel!

Back on his feet, Daniel hears the response of the angel in v.12-14. Daniel then begins having a panic attack (v.15-17). Have you ever had a panic attack? I’ve had them off-and-on for years, and this is what one feels to me: I can feel my heart beating in my chest, and I feel breathless even though I may be sitting still…

The angel responds again to Daniel’s fear and panic with tenderness from the Lord:

Daniel 10:18-19 – Again [the angel] touched me and gave me strength. “Do not be afraid, you who are highly esteemed,” he said. “Peace! Be strong now; be strong.” When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.”

There it is a third time: “You are highly esteemed.”

The first time I noticed this repeated statement in Daniel 9-10, I was reading through the New Living Translation of the Bible, the “NLT.” I first noticed in Daniel 9:23, where it said, “you are very precious to God.” And those words struck me!

I was like, “Wow – that is a very warm and personal way for God to describe how He feels towards us…”

“You are very precious to God.”

The next day in my time alone with God, I read Daniel chapter 10, and when I got to verse 11, there it was again! “You are very precious to God,” and I was like, “Whoa, twice in two chapters – this is powerful!”

And then, just eight verses later, there it was again! “You are very precious to God.” God takes special care all throughout His Word – not only with what He says, but also with what He repeats. When God says something three times in short succession, it’s like He’s saying, “Listen to this! This is extra important – give special attention to this!”

Every word God speaks is important and worth our attention, but when He says something three times, He is being emphatic – it is something we need to pay special attention to and seek to understand.

Here, three times in two chapters, God uses this specific phrasing, which is so warm and loving and heartfelt:

  • NIV: “You are highly esteemed.” x3
  • NLT: “You are very precious to God.” x3

Take a moment now to just meditate (think attentively) about the phrasing of those words from the Lord. Allow yourself to “receive” these words, from the heart of God, into yours:

“You are highly esteemed.”
“You are highly esteemed.”
“You are highly esteemed.”

“You are very precious to God.”
“You are very precious to God.”
“You are very precious to God.”

We’ll talk just a bit more about the power of these repeated words in the next post.