Daniel 10:10ff - Notes
Introduction
Major Ideas
#1: Strengthened to Stand (vv. xy-xy)
Abraham Kuyper,
If once the curtain were pulled back, and the spiritual world behind it came to view, it would expose to our spiritual vision a struggle so intense, so convulsive, sweeping everything within its range, that the fiercest battle ever fought on earth would seem, by comparison, a mere game. Not here, but up there—that is where the real conflict is waged. Our earthly struggle drones in its backlash.
Daniel was learning that the ultimate power struggle was fought out in a realm of which most people know nothing. It does not lie between Washington, D.C., and Moscow; its central point is not to be found in the Middle East. Indeed, the world crises we identify with these locations are actually reflections of an older, more ruthless, perpetual conflict, namely, that between the city of God with its angelic host and the kingdom of darkness, which seeks to turn the direction of all history against God and against His people.
(2) Christians are inevitably caught up in spiritual conflict. Was it this that so amazed Daniel (v. 15)?
Paul saw this same principle had another application, that is, in our understanding of others’ responses to the gospel. Why do they not believe? Each unbeliever will have an answer, one intellectual, another emotional. Paul, however, speaks of a more sinister reason: “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the God of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them” (2 Cor. 4:3–4). Such spiritual causes can be dealt with only by employing spiritual weapons: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:3–5). No wonder he asks, challengingly: “Do you look at things according to the outward appearance?” (2 Cor. 10:7).
to speak of the power of prayer is potentially misleading. Two things must be added in order to safeguard it from abuse. The first is that the power does not belong to the praying or to the prayer but to God. Prayer has no power in and of itself; prayer is wholehearted dependence on God. It is a confession that we can do nothing and that God alone can work. If in our self-sufficiency and folly we should think otherwise, a rereading of Daniel 10 should act as the cure. Here a man of prayer is mourning, has no strength in him, but finds his vigor has turned to frailty so that he retained no strength. This is what is involved in drawing on the divine power to aid us in our weakness. Spiritual treasure is kept in “earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us” (2 Cor. 4:7).
The second qualification is that the only prayer which has power in its effect is that of a righteous person (James 5:16)—like Daniel (Ezra 14:14, 20). With God there can be no disjunction between the way we pray and the way we live. Prayer is not a piece of magic, a secret trick that we can use because we have a secret knowledge irrespective of our manner of life. The only prayer that is powerful in its lasting effect is the expression of the life and desires of a righteous individual who walks in covenant fellowship with God.
(4) Daniel’s vision reminds us that God’s people are never alone. His angels are “all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation” (Heb. 1:14). There is an indication of this here. As soon as Daniel’s cry is directed toward heaven, it is answered and help is on the way.
There was an earlier indication of this in the deliverances of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego from the fiery furnace and of Daniel from the mouths of the lions (Dan. 3:24–25; 6:22). Here the reason these things could happen is made a little clearer. There is a passage from this world to the heavenly world and vice versa. Not only did Daniel use it, he lived at the point of contact between the two through his communion with God.
Just as it was fitting that Daniel saw the rough shadow of the cross at the time of the evening offering (Dan. 9:21), it was fitting that during this—the climax of all the manifestations of God to him—he was “left alone” (v. 8); “Daniel alone saw the vision” (v. 7). Throughout the book he is obviously a man apart. Now he is a man alone, but the truth of the matter was that he was never less alone in all his life.
The “prince of the Persian kingdom” is an angelic figure who is associated with the Persian empire and who resists God’s purposes. He is therefore an evil angel, an agent of Satan. Satan’s enmity against God’s people is sometimes manifested through the rulers and powers of this present age, and the church’s present experiences are the earthly working out of a parallel conflict in heaven. The vision explains one reason why there is a delay in the fulfillment of God’s promises: the “prince of the Persian kingdom” is a powerful adversary—powerful enough to delay God’s own messenger for a period of three weeks. Yet in the end all he could do was to delay God’s messenger: When the archangel Michael came to help him, the angel who spoke to Daniel was finally able to complete his journey and bring the message of encouragement to Daniel. Ultimately, Satan’s most strenuous activity cannot overthrow God’s purposes or harm his people.
The magnitude and power of the spiritual forces ranged against God’s people were sobering, and the angel’s words opened up a whole new vista on the difficulties facing God’s people who were trying to rebuild Jerusalem. They were not simply facing human opposition and enmity, but opposition and enmity on the part of powerful spiritual beings in the heavenly realms. This explains why the progress in rebuilding their city was so slow. Behind the intrigue at the earthly court of the Persian king lay the satanic “prince of the Persian kingdom.”
Throughout history, Satan’s enmity against the church will be vented time and again. Time and again, however, though the church is bowed to the ground and may feel abandoned and alone, it is not destroyed because God continues to support and sustain it through the strengthening ministry of his own angels. We are not alone in our conflict, and though the promises of God seem slow in being fulfilled, they are nonetheless sure (2 Peter 3:8–10). God’s decrees—the edicts that are written in “the Book of Truth” (Dan. 10:21)—are the ultimate determiner of future realities.
We need to see that the root cause of our difficulties is not the husband or wife that is being so unreasonable, or the work situation that seems impossible, or the rebellious child that is making life miserable. The root cause is not even our own bad habits and the sins that frustrate us so greatly. Rather, it is the underlying spiritual battle in which we are engaged against powerful forces in the heavenly realms. As the apostle Paul put it: “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 6:12). Does that supernatural struggle sound frightening and intimidating? It is meant to! God wants us to see clearly that life isn’t a picnic but a battleground. The devil is a powerful opponent, far too powerful for us to take on in our own strength. We will need patience to endure much while we await the fullness of God’s promise. Arrayed on our side, however, is God’s strength—the might and the power of the blazingly glorious God, who created heaven and earth out of nothing. His triumph may seem slow in appearing, but it will not be denied.
When we don’t recognize the existence and reality of the devil and his schemes, then we don’t see the need to be encumbered with the whole armor of God. He finds us unprepared and easily overcomes us.
Michael and the other heavenly figure had been engaged in this conflict together on behalf of God’s people since the first year of Darius (538 B.C.), the time when the decree to allow the Jews to return to their homeland had been issued and several years before Daniel’s prayer. Day by day and year after year, there are powerful heavenly forces engaged on our side of the struggle as well as that of the enemy.
In the face of overwhelming situations, unbearable trials, and frustrating difficulties, what can we do? We can pray.
This is the great and mighty God whom we serve. He causes kingdoms to rise and kingdoms to fall. He controls the detailed events of world history, as we shall see in Daniel 11. And this God chooses to work in response to the prayers of his people.
Ultimately, though, our victory doesn’t rest on our faithfulness to pray, or even on the power of the angels who are fighting for us. Jesus Christ is the one who has himself won the victory for us. He took his stand all alone, wearing God’s armor in the decisive battle for our souls. At the cross, Satan did his worst against him and was defeated. Since Jesus won that victory on the cross, no one and nothing can stand against him. Therefore, as Paul tells us in Romans 8, neither life nor death, nor angels, nor principalities and powers, nor anything in all creation can separate us from that victory in Christ.
Yes, the strife is fierce and the warfare is long. Sometimes it may seem that it will never be over. But lift up your eyes to see the coming dawn! Open your ears to hear afresh the distant triumph song. The day is coming when at last the King of glory will come to claim his kingdom.
Michael (whose name means “who is like God”) is the guardian angel of Israel (cp. v. 21; 12:1; Rv 12:7), and he is designated an archangel in the NT (Jd 9).
The prince of Greece is an allusion to the prediction that Greece would follow Persia as the next major world power (8:4–8, 20–22).
The angel revealed that the first purpose of the vision was to reveal what would happen to Israel in the last days.
The angel’s final purpose was to reveal what is recorded in the book of truth (lit “the writings of truth”), a reference not to a particular earthly book but to God’s heavenly decrees about the future of all nations.
10:21 writing of truth. God’s plan of certain and true designs for men and nations, which He can reveal according to His discretion (11:2; Is 46:9–11).
Calvin wrote of God’s purpose in telling us of this host:
We have been forewarned that an enemy relentlessly threatens us, an enemy who is the very embodiment of rash boldness, of military prowess, of crafty wiles, of untiring zeal and haste, of every conceivable weapon and of skill in the science of warfare. We must, then, bend our every effort to this goal: let us not be overwhelmed by carelessness or faintheartedness, but with courage rekindled let us stand our ground in combat.
Bull Moose
Recently National Geographic ran an article about the Alaskan bull moose. The males of the species battle for dominance during the fall breeding season, literally going head-to-head with antlers crunching together as they collide. Often the antlers, their only weapon are broken. That ensures defeat. The heftiest moose, with the largest and strongest antlers, triumphs. Therefore, the battle fought in the fall is really won during the summer, when the moose eat continually. The one that consumes the best diet for growing antlers and gaining weight will be the heavyweight in the fight. Those that eat inadequately sport weaker antlers and less bulk. There is a lesson here for us. Spiritual battles await. Satan will choose a season to attack. Will we be victorious, or will we fall? Much depends on what we do now—before the wars begin. The bull-moose principle: Enduring faith, strength, and wisdom for trials are best developed before they’re needed.
Craig Brian Larson
#2: Strengthened to Speak (vv. xy-xy)
I Cannot Do Without Thee
I cannot do without Thee
I cannot stand alone;
I have no strength or goodness
Nor wisdom of my own.
But Thou, beloved Savior
Art all in all to me
And perfect strength in weakness
Is theirs who lean on Thee.
#3: Strengthened to See (vv. xy-xy)
Alice in Wonderland: “Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”
“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the cat.
“I don’t much care where,” said Alice.
“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the cat.
“So long as I get somewhere,” Alice added as an afterthought.
“Oh, you’re sure to do that,” said the cat, “if only you walk long enough.”
Conclusion
Lack of Touching In a South American Orphanage
No more convincing evidence of the absence of parental affection exists than that compiled by Rene Spitz. In a South American orphanage, Spitz observed and recorded what happened to 97 children who were deprived of emotional and physical contact with others. Because of a lack of funds, there was not enough staff to adequately care for these children, ages 3 months to 3 years old. Nurses changed diapers and fed and bathed the children. But there was little time to hold, cuddle, and talk to them as a mother would. After three months many of them showed signs of abnormality. Besides a loss of appetite and being unable to sleep well, many of the children lay with a vacant expression in their eyes. After five months, serious deterioration set in. They lay whimpering, with troubled and twisted faces. Often, when a doctor or nurse would pick up an infant, it would scream in terror. Twenty seven, almost one third, of the children died the first year, but not from lack of food or health care. They died of a lack of touch and emotional nurture. Because of this, seven more died the second year. Only twenty one of the 97 survived, most suffering serious psychological damage.
Unfinished Business, Charles Sell, Multnomah, 1989, pp. 3