Daniel 10.11-The Unidentified Angel Commends Daniel Who Responds to the Angel's Request to Stand Up
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Wednesday February 26, 2014
Daniel: Daniel 10:11: The Unidentified Angel Commends Daniel Who Responds to the Angel’s Request to Stand Up
Lesson # 306
Please turn in your Bibles to Daniel 10:1.
Daniel 10:1 During Cyrus’s third year, king over Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel who was called by his name Belteshazzar. Specifically this message was truth and concerning a great conflict because he understood this message, yes he possessed understanding concerning this revelation. 2 During those days, I myself, Daniel caused myself to enter the state of mourning for three weeks. 3 I never ate expensive choice food or meat. Also, wine never entered into my mouth likewise I never anointed myself with oil until the end of the three weeks. 4 Then, on the twenty-fourth day of the first month while I myself was beside that great river, namely the Tigris, 5 while I lifted up my eyes, I then stared as behold there was a certain man dressed in linen. Specifically, his waist was girded with gold from Uphaz, 6 his torso like chrysolite, his face like a glittering appearance, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms as well as his legs like the appearance of polished bronze, and in addition the sound of his words like the sound of a large crowd. 7 Now, I myself, Daniel alone saw this revelatory vision while the men who were with me never saw this revelatory vision. However, a great panic fell upon them. In fact, they fled because they were hiding themselves. 8 Thus, I myself was left alone while staring at this great revelatory vision. However, absolutely no strength was left in me. Also, to my dismay, my facial appearance was transformed into a deathly pale state. Indeed, I retained absolutely no strength. 9 However, despite this, I could hear the sound of his words. In fact, as soon as I myself heard the sound of his words, I myself was then caused to enter the state of being in a deep sleep on my face, yes my face to the ground. 10 Then, behold, a hand touched me. Next, it set me trembling on my knees and the palms of my hands. (My translation)
Daniel 10:11 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. (NASB95)
“High esteem” is the verb ḥǎmǔ·ḏôṯ (חֲמֻדוֹת) (khaw-mad´), which means “to be highly esteemed, to be respected, to be precious” in the sense of setting a high value on someone, to have a high regard for someone, to consider someone precious.
As was the case in Daniel 9:23, the word here in Daniel 10:11 is used by an elect angel indicating that God and the elect angels “highly esteemed, respected” Daniel.
In Daniel 9:23, it was used by Gabriel but here it is used by an unidentified elect angel.
This word denotes that Daniel was considered by God as precious indicating that God and the elect angels considered Daniel a treasure, someone of great value and worth.
“Understand the words that I am about to tell you” is a request that Daniel understand the prophetic message that the angel was about to communicate to him, which is recorded in Daniel 11:2-12:13 and contains revelation regarding God’s prophetic program for the nation of Israel.
“And stand upright” presents the reason for the angel’s request that Daniel understand the prophetic message he was about to communicate to him.
“For I have now been sent to you” presents the reason why the unidentified elect angel is requesting that Daniel stand on his feet.
“And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling” presents the result of the previous request by the angel that Daniel stand up because he was sent to him by God.
Daniel 10:11 Immediately after this, he said, “O Daniel, a precious man. Please understand the message which I myself am about to communicate to you. Therefore, please stand in your place because for your benefit, I have been sent.” Consequently when he communicated this statement for my benefit, I stood shaking. (My translation)
Immediately after an unidentified elect angel touched Daniel and set him trembling on his knees and the palms of his hands, this angelic being then spoke to the shaken man of God.
This angel communicated to Daniel a commendation as well as a request.
He commends Daniel by informing him that he was considered precious by God as well as his fellow elect angels.
He then requests that Daniel understand the prophetic message he was about to communicate to him.
This prophetic message is recorded in Daniel 11:2-12:13 and contains revelation regarding God’s prophetic program for the nation of Israel.
The angel then tells Daniel the reason for his request.
Therefore, because this angel wanted Daniel to understand this prophetic message, he wanted him stand up because he was sent to Daniel for his benefit.
Daniel then tells the reader that he complied with the angel’s second request and stood up so as to receive this prophetic message.
The book of Daniel reveals there were many reasons why God considered Daniel precious in His sight.
First of all, he was obedient to His Word even to the point of death.
In chapter one, he refused to eat Nebuchadnezzar’s food and drink his wine since this would have made him ceremonially unclean.
In chapter six, he was devoted to God in prayer to the point of self-sacrifice.
He refused to obey the king’s edict which prohibited the people in his kingdom from praying to their god for a month.
He suffered the death penalty but was delivered by God.
Daniel was also dependent upon God as evidenced by the fact that he and his three friends turned to God in prayer when they were under the sentence of death because Nebuchadnezzar ordered the death of all the wise men since they could not tell him the content of his dream.
In chapter nine, Daniel demonstrates his great love for his fellow Jewish countrymen by interceding in prayer for them to God.
Daniel’s prayer was prompted by the revelation God gave Jeremiah, which said that after seventy years in Babylon, God would return the Jews to the land of promise.
Daniel immediately entered into prayer that this would take place.
Thus, he was praying according to the will of God and was desiring what God wanted.
Another reason why God considered Daniel precious in His sight is Daniel’s prayer in chapter nine because it reveals that he was greatly concerned about God’s reputation among the heathen.
The destruction of this city and the deportation of the Jews to Babylon has caused the Gentiles to blaspheme the name of God.
Thus, Daniel wants God to fulfill his request because he wants the Gentiles to stop blaspheming God because of the sins of the Jews.
God considered Daniel precious, He loved Daniel because of Daniel’s great love for Him as demonstrated by his obedience to His law.
God loved Daniel because of Daniel’s great love for his people as demonstrated by his prayer for them.
The angel’s first request in Daniel 10:11 deals with Daniel understanding the prophetic message which is recorded in Daniel 11:2-12:13 and is first mentioned in Daniel 10:1.
When making his second request in Daniel 10:11 that Daniel stand up because for his benefit, he had been sent to him by God, the unidentified angel reveals another role he and his fellow angels fulfill in relation to human beings who are God’s people, namely, communicating revelation of God’s will.
The fact that Daniel is shaking while standing when receiving this revelation from God is the direct result of fear from coming into contact with the preincarnate Christ recorded in Daniel 10:4-9 as well as this angelic being.
His response to coming into contact with the preincarnate Christ should not be considered unusual since he was still a sinner by nature and practice when he comes into the presence of the Lord who is holy.
Coming into contact with God who is holy produces fear in those who are sinners.
Of course, Daniel was a believer but nonetheless his sinful state still caused him to become fearful in the presence of the Holy One and this elect angel.
Daniel was totally and completely incapacitated as a result of the Son of God coming into his presence and this angelic being.