Daniel 10:10-14 - Daniel Strengthened to Stand

Introduction

[READING - Daniel 10:1-6]

Daniel 10:1–6 NASB95

In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar; and the message was true and one of great conflict, but he understood the message and had an understanding of the vision. In those days, I, Daniel, had been mourning for three entire weeks. I did not eat any tasty food, nor did meat or wine enter my mouth, nor did I use any ointment at all until the entire three weeks were completed. On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, while I was by the bank of the great river, that is, the Tigris, I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, whose waist was girded with a belt of pure gold of Uphaz. His body also was like beryl, his face had the appearance of lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a tumult.

[PRAYER]

[CONTEXT] I think it was four weeks ago that we began to consider Daniel’s final vision in Daniel 10-12. Please allow me to introduce it the same way I did four weeks ago.

This final vision takes us behind the scenes of the oppression of God’s people already foretold in earlier visions, and it provides reassurance of God’s deliverance through the Messiah.

In Daniel 10, Daniel sees a vision of a heavenly messenger.

In Daniel 11, the heavenly messenger reveals to Daniel future conflicts between kings of the north and south.

In the first part of Daniel 12, God promises judgment and reward.

And in the second part of Daniel 12, God commands Daniel to seal up the vision for a future time.

This vision is the culmination of all of Daniel’s visions in chapters 7-12.

[INTER] Why should you care about this?

Well, we should care because this is God’s Word.

And we should care because this is God’s Word to God’s people today just as much as it was God’s Word to His people back in Daniel’s day.

[PROP] In his commentary on Daniel, Iain Duguid said, “Daniel 10-12 helps us to understand that life is hard, (it helps us to understand) why its hard, and (it helps us to understand) that we’re not alone in our struggles.”

[TS] Last time we look at Daniel 10:1-9 and saw Daniel’s concern in vv. 1-3 and Daniel’s vision in vv. 4-9.

Daniel was likely concerned about God’s people who had been allowed to return to Jerusalem by the decree of Cyrus, King of Persia, but were immediately met with resistance as they began to rebuild the city, its walls, and temple.

By this time, the work of rebuilding had completely stopped and Daniel was in extreme mourning, not eating and not practicing normal hygene, as a result.

Daniel was grieved for God’s people; more precisely, Daniel was grieved to hear of God’s purposes going unaccomplished among God’s people back in Jerusalem.

In his vision, Daniel saw a heavenly figure. Some think this heavenly figure was a preincarnate appearance of the Lord Jesus. His clothing, body, voice, and effect on Daniel all remind us of Jesus especially as described in Revelation 1 as He walked among the churches.

But it’s hard to accept that this heavenly figure as Jesus because this heavenly figure had been delayed by ‘the prince of the kingdom of Persia’ and was only able to come to Daniel when the help of the archangel Michael.

He was, however, presented to Daniel with features that were meant to remind Daniel of God’s forgiveness and God’s faithfulness.

The linen garments would’ve reminded Daniel of God atoning for the sins of His people on the Day of Atonement when the High Priest put on His linen garments and made the sacrifice for God’s people.

The lighting would’ve reminded Daniel of God’s power and glory at Mt. Sinai when God made His covenant with His people.

God was perfectly faithful to that covenant, but God’s people broke it repeatedly.

As a result, God’s people incurred the wrath of God repeatedly, but the linen and the lightning reminded Daniel of God’s forgiveness and faithfulness.

Sinclair Ferguson writes, “Daniel was rightly concerned for the prospects of God’s kingdom and mourned deeply over the sins and shortcomings of the people. His God, however, remained the same. He had not changed. The God of the past—of the covenant at Sinai and the sacrifices at Jerusalem—was still all-sufficient to meet the needs of His people. By reminding Daniel of the past, God was giving him encouragement to trust His adequacy for a future that looked increasingly bleak.”

Things looked dire, maybe even close to hopeless, but Daniel’s God—the God who never changes, the God of forgiveness and faithfulness—He had everything under control.

Surely, Daniel felt the encouragement, right?

Well, look at vv. 7-9…

Daniel 10:7–9 NASB95

Now I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, while the men who were with me did not see the vision; nevertheless, a great dread fell on them, and they ran away to hide themselves. So I was left alone and saw this great vision; yet no strength was left in me, for my natural color turned to a deathly pallor, and I retained no strength. But I heard the sound of his words; and as soon as I heard the sound of his words, I fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.

Daniel was concerned.

Daniel saw a vision the communicated God’s great forgiveness and faithfulness, but Daniel was still left in the dirt.

Tonight, we see him strengthened to stand.

Major Ideas

Strengthened to Stand (Daniel 10:10-14)

Daniel 10:10–14 NASB95

Then behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. He said to me, “O Daniel, man of high esteem, understand the words that I am about to tell you and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. 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. “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. “Now I have come to give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision pertains to the days yet future.”

[EXP] Daniel was overwhelmed by the presence of the heavenly figure in vv. 5-6, so overwhelmed he fell into a deep sleep with his face to the ground.

Then a hand touched him, and Daniel was able to get to his hand and knees although he was still trembling.

Then the heavenly figure spoke to Daniel, and Daniel was able to stand upright .

Then the heavenly figure told him four things in vv. 12-14.

“Do not fear.” = This means that Daniel wasn’t to be afraid in the presence of the heavenly figure and he wasn’t be to be afraid for the people of God.

Daniel had been afraid/worried for the Jews back in Jerusalem, be he was to worry no longer.

“Your words were heard.” = As soon as Daniel began praying for the folks back in Jerusalem, trying to understand why God had allowed the promised restoration of His people and their city to come to a stop, Daniel’s words were heard.

In prayer Daniel sought to understand the situation rather than accuse God of unfaithfulness.

In prayer Daniel humbled himself before God rather than rage against God in pride.

That’s why his words—his praying—was heard.

“I have come to you.” = We this in vv. 11, 12, and in v. 14, but in v. 14 the heavenly figure explained, “I have come to give you an understanding...”

This may have been the understanding that Daniel was looking, but it was certainly the understanding that God knew Daniel needed.

It was an understanding of what would happen to God’s people in the latter days, many days yet future.

“The prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me.” = Daniel had been praying and fasting for weeks, but the answer to his prayers was delayed by the spiritual for forces of evil.

The prince of the kingdom of Persia refused to a fallen angel, a demon, who swayed the Persian Kingdom to act against God’s purposes and God’s people.

The heavenly figure said that Micheal—one of the chief princes (i.e., angels) of God’s people and called ‘the archangel’ in Jude—he came to help the heavenly figure in the battle with the kings of Persia (i.e., other evil forces), so that the heavenly figure could be freed up to bring this message to Daniel.

If he didn’t understand before, Daniel certainly understands now that there’s more going on than meets the eye.

Behind the work stoppage in Jerusalem and the political intrigue in Persia was a cosmic battle between God and evil.

[ILLUS/APP] That’s true for all of God’s people at all time in all places; like it or not, we are in a spiritual war against spiritual forces of evil, and that spiritual war must be fought with spiritual weapons like prayer.

Ephesians 6:12 says…

Ephesians 6:12 NASB95

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Then God’s Word tells us to put on the full armor of God…

…the belt of truth…

…the breastplate of righteousness…

…the shoes of Gospel-peace…

…the shield of faith…

…the helmet of salvation…

…the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

Not one piece of this armor is expendable; it is all absolutely necessary, especially prayer.

Ephesians 6:18 says…

Ephesians 6:18 NASB95

With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

[ILLUS] Christian author, Craig Brian Larson, developed what he called ‘The Bull Moose Principle’. He writes…

10,000 Sermon Illustrations 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

Are we praying now? If our spiritual strength is determined by our prayer diet, how strong are we?

Are we like the heftiest moose with the largest antlers or are we like the scrawniest moose with pitiful antlers?

[APP] In prayer we seek to understand what God is doing just as Daniel sought to understand what God was doing.

In prayer we humble ourselves before God just as Daniel humbled himself before God.

In prayer we have the assurance that God hears us just as Daniel was heard.

In prayer we find strength to stand just as Daniel was strengthened to stand.

Conclusion

The spiritual forces of evil have been defeated by God in the death and resurrection of Jesus. Colossians 2:15 says that God disarmed the rulers and authorities, making a public display of them, having triumphed over them by way of the cross.

What would happen to God’s people in the latter days?

Through them the Messiah would come.

And through Him God would be both just and justifier of the one who has faith in Christ Jesus.

In the Garden of Eden, Satan thought He had won by separating God and man who was made in the image of God.

At the cross, Satan again thought he won as Jesus, the Son of God breathed His last.

Satan didn’t understand that with the resurrection of Jesus, his plan to separate God and man was crushed beyond repair.

In Jesus, God and man are reconciled.

The spiritual battle is won…

…but the full measure of that victory won’t be experienced by us until we are with the Lord.

Until then, Satan still rages against the purposes of God and the people God. Until then we do as Daniel did; we do as Ephesians 6:13 says…

Ephesians 6:13 NASB95

Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

We stand firm by getting on our knees in prayer.

There’s a spiritual war on, are you being strengthened to stand?

Are you praying?