Heavenly Living in Hostage Times Daniel 10
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1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, but the appointed time was long; and he understood the message, and had understanding of the vision. 2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. 3 I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
Tonight, we are afforded another opportunity to know that God from heaven above is providentially at work down here. Regardless of our actions, God is working His plans in us and through us many times in spite of ourselves.
Chapter 10 is an introduction to the final vision that covers Chapters 10-12.
Daniel Original Meaning
1. Introduction to the Vision (10:1–11:1)
2. The Vision (11:2–12:3)
3. God’s Instructions to Daniel (12:4–13)
Our time together tonight is a future focus.
As your Pastor, consider this. Most everything that creates a stir in your life that you seek out your Pastor usually relates to your future. The loss of a loved one is a present situation that affects your future. A sickness or tragedy is a fear of the unknown or the future.
The book of Daniel has stories and visions of both individual lives as in Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego where God is keenly engaged in their lives due to some difficulty, but we see from our time tonight and through these visions that God is engaged in our corporate welfare.
I have heard many of you share in testimony as a member of Mt Zion Church that you have seen the church up and down many times over the years you have attended. I’ve heard Mrs. Betty make that statement. I imagine as Billy has been the longest standing member, He could make that statement. As a Pastor that will have completed my ninth year this summer, I as well can now say that I have been here when our membership was up and my membership is down.
Like many of you at some point in time, you have asked the question, I have asked the question, “Lord, what is going to become of Mt. Zion Baptist Church?” “Lord, I do not understand your plan, I question If I’m administering your plan here as I should.” “Lord, what is the future of this church?”
And you know, for any of us that have ever fretted over thoughts like that, God knows what the future holds and that should be enough. Amen? That is what Daniel teaches me. God loves us and He is keenly aware of what He is going to do and at what times He is going to do it and we just need to be found faithful. Amen?
God’s aim was to provide comfort to Daniel as He provides comfort in our hearts.
Oh dear brothers and sisters, to know that a great salvation is coming encouraged Daniel and it encourages us.
I’ve read the rest of the story.
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.”
Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
This three chapter unit is the third major vision concerning future prophesy in the second part of Daniel, Chapters 7-12.
Chapters 10-12 are a drill down or a micro account of a more macro vision in Chapters 7-8. We know from Chapter 9 that prayer propelled God to offer up to Daniel some certainty of his future. God received His prayers well. Daniel prayed from a truly contrite heart and God heard his words.
Theme: Comfort and encouragement in spite of present suffering.
I know in recent days many of your own testimonies of matters happening in your life. Daniel offers us comfort and encouragement despite present circumstances.
Listen closely: In spite of present circumstances, God is in control and will win the victory.
I received a call last night at almost 9 pm. I knew for Marge Suhr to call me that late that she was alarmed over something. Her sister, Miriam Almonson that we prayed for Sunday was to go in yesterday and remove her gall bladder. Her blood pressure was low and they would not proceed with the surgery. Furthermore, they found something they did not like with her liver. Obviously, it concerned Marge who is a thousand miles away and can not be an active in the sense she is too far removed from her presence, and so her call to me was to draw spiritual strength for fear of the unknown.
Lets’ get into our text. We look at the introduction to the vision. We see Daniel’s distraught state of mind which led to a deepened prayer. And as God does, God responded to Daniel’s prayer with a messenger. God’s messenger provides revelation concerning the future.
Our text is divided into two sections:
A Heavenly Vision (10:1-9)
A Conversation with a Heavenly Being (10:10-11:1)
A Heavenly Vision (10:1-9)
We see commonality with the last three chapters. Date and details of events of the day.
3rd year of King Cyrus of Persia.
The King that conquered Babylon-539 BC. Appointed Darius the Medes in charge.
Three years after the takeover and over the Jewish deported population.
IN Ezra 1-2, we note that some have already returned home under Sheshbbazzar and Zerubbabel. Others decided to stay in exile as in the case of Daniel. We can only assume that Daniel being a man in his 80’s did not want to deal with any more change than he had to. Daniel receives his final vision in this year and it covers Chapters 10-12.
Interesting thought. Daniel has not been called Belteshazzar since Chapter 5. He was given that name in Daniel 1:7 “7 To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.”
Maybe it was the reminder that Daniel had been exiled the majority of his life. It may be that the exile and living in that region to this point was his life and we know that names reveal attributes in Bible times. There was no escaping his world identity, but that never changes our identity in Christ. Amen.
1 Samuel 16:7 “7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.””
1 Samuel 16:11–12 “11 And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.” 12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!””
Matthew 16:18 “18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
Listen dear beloved, no matter what the world thinks about you, know who you are in Christ Jesus.
Note some details of this message:
-Its true
-its long NKJV, “and one of a great conflict”-NASB, “great conflict”-ESV, “concerned a great war”-NIV
-its understandable.
Fasting seeks a period of understanding. God’s Word reminds us that in days of confusion that we might:
Psalm 46:10 “10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
How many have heard the word “comfort food?”
Out of curiosity, what are some of your comfort foods?
Breakfast-Waffle House
When we say comfort food, one of the dysfunctions of food, is that if we eat it for comfort, our circumstances have not changed. We call that a patch job. People can become addicted to overcome or patch job some pain in their lives.
4 Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the Tigris, 5 I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! 6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude.
21 day fast-mourning period. What did Daniel’s fast look like?
-no pleasant food
-no meat or wine, did not anoint himself at all. Daniel was not caught up in hygiene.
Fasting for many of us can be to lessen our schedules and our calendaring. Reduce the external demands on our lives.
God calls us to be engaged in community and to serve others, but note that Jesus retreated to pray. It was His fuel for the faith.
Chap. 1 Daniel refrained from rich food. Wasn’t his norm. He would commit to this for a short-term purpose. He denied self to hear from God. Fasting is the act of getting things out of our way to hear from God.
Daniel did not use personal lotions to treat the skin from the arid climate.
All of this to gain a special hearing from the Lord.
21 days fasting, three days-faith-then comes the future information.
24 Days-heavenly vision-by the Tigris. Has a vision with one as a human appearance who looked like a priest.
Leviticus 6:10 “10 And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen trousers he shall put on his body, and take up the ashes of the burnt offering which the fire has consumed on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar.”
Daniel 10:6 “6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude.”
Some similarities to Ezekiel 1. You can go word for word and phrase and move through the first chapter of Ezekiel and see similarities.
Ezekiel 1:7 “7 Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the soles of calves’ feet. They sparkled like the color of burnished bronze.”
I think we can agree that Daniel witnessed an theophany.
7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. 8 Therefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength. 9 Yet I heard the sound of his words; and while I heard the sound of his words I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.
Only Daniel saw the vision, but the vision placed Daniel in such a state that friends fled him.
Paul’s encounter Acts 9.
Zechariah’s encounter in the temple-be told of John the Baptist to come. Luke 1.
Daniel faints and buries himself in the ground.
A Conversation with a Heavenly Being (10:10-11:1)
We se something amazing in this text.
Let’s read:
10 Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. 11 And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling.
12 Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.
How impacting touch is in our lives. Notice Daniel’s bodies response to touch.
made me tremble on my knees and my palms sweated. It was very apparent that Daniel was hungry for a touch from God. Do you understand the power of touch (in the godly fashion) in the lives of this world that need a touch from God?
Physical touch, yes. A touch of contact, a touch of caring, a thoughtful token gift saying you care.
People brought babies to Jesus to be touched. Why?
Luke 18:15 “15 Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.”
Crowds were touching Jesus. Why?
Luke 8:46–47 “46 But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” 47 Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.”
In Luke’s account of the Garden scene, Jesus touched the ear of Malchus and healed him.
Luke 22:51 “51 But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him.”
Daniel 10:18 “18 Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me.”
AS I close, Daniel stated the man that touched him and offered comfort and encouragement, Daniel stated that the theophany, the encounter with the Lord strengthened Him.
In closing, what does a touch from the Lord bring about?
The introduction to the vision refers to the Prince of Persia, and He shares about Michael, a chief prince who will help Me. Listen closely. We will dissect the details of the vision next time. The vision details the emergence of Greece as a force that takes over the Persian empire.
Here is what I want to close with tonight. When you are fearful or concerned or insecure about matters. Begin by a time of fasting, the idea of putting away those matters in life that are keeping you from a very intimate time of the Lord. There needs to be something apparent that your family and friends recognize that you have changed to encourage that intimacy. There is a season of fasting, and then there will be a faith period-3 days, a clear perfected period that God has spoken to you. Lastly, your future will be sure by the feet you put down to act out God’s direction. And, even when that direction is adverse to your norm, out of character to the world, and bizarre to some of the people you know, realize God accomplishes two major things when we have ahd a real encounter with Him and we are obedient to His directive.
He, being God will provide Peace and strength.
Daniel 10:18–19 “18 Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me. 19 And he said, “O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!” So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.””