Daniel 10.17-Daniel Expresses His Feeling of Inferiority in Speaking with the Elect Angel
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Wednesday March 12, 2014
Daniel: Daniel 10.17-Daniel Expresses His Feeling of Inferiority in Speaking with the Elect Angel
Lesson # 312
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.” 15 Consequently, when, for my benefit, he communicated with these statements, I turned my face to the ground while I became speechless. 16 Then, behold, for my benefit, one who resembled the sons of Adam touched my lips so that I could open my mouth in order that I could speak. Therefore, I spoke to the one who was standing directly in front of me, “O my lord, because of this revelation, I have been overcome by feelings of anguish, disabling me so that I retained absolutely no strength.” (My translation)
Daniel 10:17 For how can such a servant of my lord talk with such as my lord? As for me, there remains just now no strength in me, nor has any breath been left in me.” (NASB95)
“For how can such a servant of my lord talk with such as my lord?” presents an addition to Daniel’s previous statement in Daniel 10:16 expressing the second reason why Daniel retained absolutely no strength.
“How can such a servant of my lord talk with such as my lord?” is expressing Daniel’s feelings of inferiority and intimidation from being in the presence of this angel and having this angel speak to him.
“Such a servant of my lord” expresses Daniel’s contempt for himself or feelings of inferiority when speaking and being in the presence of this elect angel.
It expresses the fact that Daniel is speaking in a derogatory fashion about himself because of comparing himself with this mighty angel of God.
This indicates that Daniel is saying that how can “someone like” himself speak to the angel who is superior to him (cf. HCSB).
“My lord” is used by Daniel as a term of respect for the angel and polite address.
“Such as my lord” expresses the fact that Daniel was overwhelmed by the honor of speaking with this angelic being indicating that he is saying that how can someone like himself speak to “someone like” this angel who was superior to him.
“As for me, there remains just now no strength in me” advances upon and intensifies upon Daniel’s previous question posed to the angel.
The advancement and intensification is that Daniel went from saying he had no strength to saying that he could hardly breath.
“As for me” emphasizes Daniel’s physical inability to function in the presence of this angel.
“Just now” is emphasizing Daniel’s difficult circumstances at the time he was attempting to speak with the angel.
“Nor has any breath been left in me” presents the reason why Daniel had absolutely no strength left in him.
Daniel had absolutely no strength left in him “because” he had absolutely no breath left in him.
This interpretation is indicated by the fact that not having breath can refer to not having strength since breath often implies strength and vitality, which originate ultimately from God.
Daniel 10:17 “Furthermore, how can someone like my lord’s servant speak with someone like my lord? Indeed, as for me, even now, absolutely no strength is present in me because absolutely no breath is left in me.” (My translation)
Daniel continues his conversation with the elect angel who was sent by God to communicate to him revelation concerning the future of the nation of Israel during the Times of the Gentiles.
If you recall, at the end of verse 16, Daniel tells the angel that because of the revelation, which the angel communicated to him as recorded in Daniel 10:12-14, he had been overcome by feelings of anguish, which disabled him so that he retained absolutely no strength.
So we can see from Daniel’s statement that the revelation he received as recorded in Daniel 10:12-14 caused him to lose all strength.
Now, here in verse 17, Daniel presents to the angel another reason why he retained absolutely no physical strength.
This reason is implied from a question Daniel poses to the angel.
He asks the angel that how could someone like him, a mere human being, speak with someone like him, a mighty angel of God.
So verse 17 records Daniel telling the angel that he is totally intimidated by his presence and by his speaking with him.
He is expressing his feeling of inferiority with regards to this angel as well as his awe for the angel.
Daniel felt unworthy to even speak with such an angelic being.
Therefore, a comparison of Daniel’s statements in verses 16 and 17 would indicate that there were two reasons why Daniel was overcome by feelings of anguish, which disabled him resulting in a loss of physical strength.
The first was the revelation Daniel received from the angel as recorded in Daniel 10:12-14.
The second was being in the presence of this mighty angelic being.
Then after posing this question to the angel, Daniel advances upon and intensifies upon his statement at the very end of verse 16.
Daniel not only reiterates to the angel that he had absolutely no strength but also advances upon this statement and intensifies it in that he says he even had absolutely no breath left him.
He then says that the reason why he had absolutely no strength left in him was because he had absolutely no breath left in him.
This interpretation is indicated by the fact that not having breath can refer to not having strength since breath often implies strength and vitality, which originate ultimately from God.
Now, Daniel is using hyperbole since if absolutely no breath was left in him, he would be unconscious or dead.
He uses this figure to basically communicate to the angel as well as the reader that the presence of this angel totally intimidated him so much so that it physically affected him.
In other words, we would say in our day and age that the presence of the angel took his breath away.
