Daniel 10.15-When Daniel Heard the Angel's Words He Turned His Face to the Ground and Became Speechless
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Thursday March 6, 2014
Daniel: Daniel 10.15-When Daniel Heard the Angel's Words He Turned His Face to the Ground and Became Speechless
Lesson # 310
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. 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. 12 Then, he said to me, “Please do not be terrified, Daniel, because from the first day that you applied your heart in order to understand as well as to humble yourself in the presence of your God, your words were heard. Consequently, I myself have come because of your words. 13 But the ruler over the Persian kingdom stood opposing me twenty-one days. Then, behold, Michael, one of our chief rulers came to help me because I myself was left there opposing the kings ruling over Persia. 14 Now, I have come in order to cause you to understand what will take place for and against your people during the latter days because the revelation pertains to these days as in the future. (My translation)
Daniel 10:15 When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless. (NASB95)
Daniel 10:15 Consequently, when, for my benefit, he communicated with these statements, I turned my face to the ground while I became speechless. (My translation)
This verse presents the result of the elect angel speaking to Daniel as recorded in Daniel 10:12-14.
Daniel tells the reader that as a result of the elect angel’s statements recorded in Daniel 10:12-14, he turned his face to the ground while becoming speechless.
In verse 12, the angel encouraged Daniel to not be terrified because from the first day that he applied his heart to understand as well as to humble himself in God’s presence through prayer, his prayer for his people, Israel, was heard by God.
The angel then says because of Daniel’s prayer, God sent him to give Daniel the answer to his prayer.
In verse 13, the angel then tells Daniel something astounding, namely, an angel of Satan who ruled the Persian kingdom opposed this angel speaking to Daniel for three weeks.
The elect angel then tells Daniel that Michael the archangel came to his rescue because he was left alone to oppose three fallen angels who helped to rule Persia for Satan.
Lastly, in verse 14, the elect angel informs Daniel that he came in order to cause him to understand what will take place for and against his people Israel during the latter days because this revelation regarding the future of Israel pertains to the future.
So Daniel would undoubtedly be shocked and frightened to hear that the angel was hindered in delivering the answer to his prayer for Israel by the kingdom of darkness.
Daniel is not terrified by the presence of this angel anymore or the revelatory vision of the preincarnate Christ since in Daniel 10:10-11, we see him responding to the angel’s encouragement to no longer be terrified because the angel had been sent by God for Daniel’s benefit.
Daniel responded by getting up off the ground and standing before the angel.
Here in Daniel 10:15, Daniel is responding to the content of the statements of the angel which are recorded in Daniel 10:12-14.
Daniel lost all strength again when this angel made these statements since they reveal to him that he was involved in a conflict involving the elect angels of God and the non-elect angels of Satan.
In these verses, as we noted, the angel was telling him that Israel would continue to suffer terribly for many years into the future.
This had an emotional and physical affect on Daniel to hear this.
In fact, in Daniel 10:16, Daniel tells the elect angel that as a result of this revelation recorded in Daniel 10:12-14, anguish had come upon him so that he retained no strength.
The angel’s statement in verse 14 that he came to give Daniel understanding regarding what will take place in the future for and against his people, the Jews during the latter days is explained in great detail in Daniel 11:2-12:13.
Therefore, here in Daniel 10:15, Daniel is responding emotionally and physically to this revelation that he is about to receive from this angel which is concerning what will take place for and against his people in the latter days since it involves not only great blessing but great suffering for his people.
He is also responding to the information that he is involved in the invisible conflict and warfare between God’s angels and Satan’s.
Remember, Daniel was an Old Testament saint and did not have the New Testament revelation of this great angelic conflict between the angels of God and the angels of Satan.
He did not have Ephesians 6:10-18.
He thus had no idea what he was up against until this angel had told him.
Here in Daniel 10, this elect angel is serving Daniel who belongs to the nation of Israel by delivering God’s answer to his prayer.
Elect angels also serve church age believers.
Hebrews 1:14 describes ministry of the elect-angels “servant-spirits who are divinely commissioned and repeatedly dispatched for service on behalf of those who are destined to inherit salvation.”
In this, however, Scripture points to a number of specific ministries: (1) The elect-angels bring answers to prayer (Acts 12:5-10). (2) They help in bringing people to the Savior (Acts 8:26; 10:3). (3) They may encourage in times of danger (Acts 27:23-24). (4) They care for God’s people at the time of death (Luke 16:22).