There are 3 major questions in this post. (split into more, smaller questions)
"2 In those days I, Daniel, had been mourning for three entire weeks. 3 I ate no tasty food, nor did any meat or wine enter my mouth; and I did not a]">[a]anoint (refresh, groom) myself at all for the full three weeks."
First of all, what is tasty food? What exactly did he eat? Cabbage, and carrots? What is this "Tasty" food that he avoided? ( or "choice foods" in other translations) What are the foods he DID eat? Does mixing foods together in a meal make them no longer simple foods, does that then make them "tasty" if you add spices, etc?
Let's look at the next bit. An angel comes down, and speaks to him.
"12 Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. 13 But the e]">[e]prince of the kingdom of Persia was standing in opposition to me for twenty-one days. Then, behold, Michael, one of the chief [of the celestial] princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision is in regard to the days yet to come.”
His prayers were heard the first day, and an angel came in response to these words, so what did fasting, and praying for 21 days accomplish? Was it necessary?
It says he fought the prince of the kingdom of Persia, and a celestial being Michael helped him. Was he fighting satan/demons who were trying to stop him from delivering his message? WHY was an angel sent to talk to Daniel? Could God not simply answer his prayer directly? He speaks to people in the past directly, why not to Daniel?
Do angels always win when they are sent to answer prayers, and have to fight demons for 21 days?
Are angels always sent to fight demons, or was this a unique thing for Daniel? Is this the reason prayers seem like they are not always answered?
"2 In those days I, Daniel, had been mourning for three entire weeks. 3 I ate no tasty food, nor did any meat or wine enter my mouth; and I did not a]">[a]anoint (refresh, groom) myself at all for the full three weeks."
First of all, what is tasty food? What exactly did he eat? Cabbage, and carrots? What is this "Tasty" food that he avoided? ( or "choice foods" in other translations) What are the foods he DID eat? Does mixing foods together in a meal make them no longer simple foods, does that then make them "tasty" if you add spices, etc?
Let's look at the next bit. An angel comes down, and speaks to him.
"12 Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. 13 But the e]">[e]prince of the kingdom of Persia was standing in opposition to me for twenty-one days. Then, behold, Michael, one of the chief [of the celestial] princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision is in regard to the days yet to come.”
His prayers were heard the first day, and an angel came in response to these words, so what did fasting, and praying for 21 days accomplish? Was it necessary?
It says he fought the prince of the kingdom of Persia, and a celestial being Michael helped him. Was he fighting satan/demons who were trying to stop him from delivering his message? WHY was an angel sent to talk to Daniel? Could God not simply answer his prayer directly? He speaks to people in the past directly, why not to Daniel?
Do angels always win when they are sent to answer prayers, and have to fight demons for 21 days?
Are angels always sent to fight demons, or was this a unique thing for Daniel? Is this the reason prayers seem like they are not always answered?