Daniel 10
Notes
Transcript
In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar. And the word was true, and it was a great conflict. And he understood the word and had understanding of the vision.
2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. 3 I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.
This passage describes a vision that Daniel had in response to his fervent prayer for the Jews who had returned to the promised land. It shows how demonic forces were trying to prevent his prayer from being answered so the Jews could not fulfill their God-given purpose: to be the channel through whom God would send His Holy Word and the Messiah into the world.
Daniel received this revelation in 536 b.c., around the same time that the Lord rescued him from the lions’ den (6:1–28). This was in the third year of King Cyrus’ reign. Right after King Cyrus conquered Babylon, he had issued a proclamation of freedom allowing all Jews who wished to do so to return to their homeland. Almost 50,000 chose to return under the leadership of Zerubbabel. When Daniel received this revelation, the Jewish exiles had already returned to Palestine and were rebuilding their homes, shops, businesses, farms, and the temple.
As an official in the governments of Babylon and then Persia, Daniel had access to official records. Therefore, he had probably seen reports that construction of the temple in Jerusalem had stopped due to the opposition of the surrounding peoples which drove Daniel to his knees in prayer to intercede for his people (the Jews).
For three long weeks the prophet was in mourning. He says that did not eat any choice food during that time. He neither ate meat or drank wine, and he did not anoint his body with oil. He was totally consumed by his concern with the fate of his people, the Jews.
Daniel prayed that the Jews would be able to withstand the opposition, remain faithful to God, complete what God had chosen them for, and that the returned Jews would stay faithful to rebuild the temple and the nation.
4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river (that is, the Tigris) 5 I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude. 7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves. 8 So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left in me. My radiant appearance was fearfully changed, and I retained no strength. 9 Then I heard the sound of his words, and as I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my face in deep sleep with my face to the ground.
According to verse 4, Daniel was by the side of the Hiddekel, or Tigris, River when he suddenly saw a man who was more majestic and awesome than any person he had ever seen. Though he was speechless at the time, Daniel would never forget what the man looked like:
⇒ His clothing was linen.
⇒ His belt was made of the purest gold.
⇒ His body looked like a dazzling gem that reflected bright colors.
⇒ His face was as bright as flashes of lightning.
⇒ His eyes were like flaming torches.
⇒ His arms and legs gleamed like polished bronze.
⇒ His voice thundered like the roar of a multitude.
Who was this person? Some interpreters think that he was an angel; others think that he was Christ Himself. Several facts support the view that Christ was the awesome being who stood before Daniel:
⇒ Daniel was helpless with fear in his presence, whereas he was not in the presence of the angel in the previous chapter (9:21).
⇒ The description of him is very similar to the apostle John’s descriptions of the glorified Christ (Re. 1:12–16).
12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
⇒ He knew the future, and he swore a divine oath that only God could fulfill (12:7).
To strengthen Daniel to receive the vision and to stress the tremendous importance of its message, the Lord Himself appeared to the prophet in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Daniel and his companions’ response to the amazing vision was sheer terror. Only Daniel actually saw the vision. His companions did not see the awesome person, but they did sense his presence. And they ran in terror. When Daniel caught a glimpse of the glorified person, he was emotionally overwhelmed and physically weakened. His face turned deathly pale, and he became utterly helpless. Falling to the ground, he heard the awesome, glorified Christ speaking. At the sound of His voice, Daniel swooned and fell asleep.
10 And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. 12 Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. 13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, 14 and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come.”
15 When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and was mute. 16 And behold, one in the likeness of the children of man touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke. I said to him who stood before me, “O my lord, by reason of the vision pains have come upon me, and I retain no strength. 17 How can my lord’s servant talk with my lord? For now no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me.”
18 Again one having the appearance of a man touched me and strengthened me. 19 And he said, “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.” 20 Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? But now I will return to fight against the prince of Persia; and when I go out, behold, the prince of Greece will come. 21 But I will tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth: there is none who contends by my side against these except Michael, your prince.
Still weak and trembling from his encounter with the awesome person (Jesus Christ) described in verses 4–9, Daniel was strengthened by this angel. The angel told the prophet that he was highly esteemed in the eyes of the Lord; so he was to listen carefully to the special message that was now to be given him. Hearing this, Daniel stood to his feet, trembling but fully alert.
The angel then gave Daniel a very special insight into the spiritual warfare constantly being waged between the forces of good and evil. Apparently, the focus of Daniel’s prayer for three weeks had been the future of Israel. Now the angel informed the prophet that his prayer had been answered on the first day that he had begun to fast and pray. God’s heart had been touched by the prayers of his dear servant, so the Lord immediately commissioned the angel to go reveal the future to Daniel. BUT, evil forces had delayed him. For twenty-one days the demonic prince of Persia had resisted God’s angel, delaying the delivery of the answer to Daniel’s prayer. As the conflict and delay continued, God finally sent Michael, one of the chief angelic princes of heaven, to help the angel combat the demonic forces of Satan. Soon thereafter, the angel was able to leave the combat long enough to bring God’s answer to Daniel. Now the angel was going to explain what would happen to the Jewish people in the future, for the message from God was a revelation of events yet to come.
When Daniel learned that spiritual forces had opposed his prayer, he was completely overwhelmed. In utter weakness he collapsed to his knees, completely speechless. Through prayer he had been involved in a cosmic spiritual warfare, and he was totally unaware of the conflict, totally unaware of the importance of his individual prayer. But his prayer was so important that the Lord had sent some of the most powerful angels of heaven to make sure his prayer was answered. How important prayer must be! What a lesson for us to seek God’s face in behalf of others, both individuals and nations!
Once more God’s angelic messenger encouraged Daniel by touching his lips and enabling the prophet to speak. Daniel told the angel that he was terrified at the spiritual warfare that is fought over prayer. He was deeply troubled and filled with anguish, so much so that he could hardly breathe. Again, what a lesson for us about the importance of prayer!
Seeing how emotionally drained and weak Daniel was, the angel again touched him and gave him supernatural strength. He then instructed Daniel not to fear because he was greatly loved. He was a man who was faithful in prayer and consistently obeyed the commandments of God. Therefore, the Lord highly favored Daniel and held him in the highest esteem imaginable. Pronouncing peace upon Daniel, the angel again infused him with strength. The prophet was now strengthened enough to receive the message of the prophecy that was about to be given (chapters eleven and twelve).
The angelic messenger asked Daniel if he knew why he had come to visit him. Interestingly, before Daniel could respond, the angel stated that he would soon return to fight against the prince of Persia. Then sometime later, when the Grecian Empire arose, he would have to fight against the angelic prince of Greece. It would take nothing less than the angels of God opposing these two demonic angels to restrain and control evil on the earth. Apart from God’s righteousness and the restraining power of the holy angels, evil would run rampant across the face of the earth and destroy humanity.
Before the angel could leave Daniel, he first had to tell him why he had come. He had to reveal to Daniel the events in the Book of Truth (v. 21). Evidently this is a book that covers God’s plan for world history, part of which was to be revealed in chapters eleven through twelve.
Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 2008. Daniel-Hosea. The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide