Dan 10:1 In the third year of Cyrus king of
Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called
Belteshazzar; and the thing [was] true, but the time appointed
[was] long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding
of the vision.
Dan 10:2 In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.
Dan 10:3 I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in
my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole
weeks were fulfilled.
Daniel's vision of the mysterious
man. Introduction: Daniel's state of heart. John Walvoord on the
appointed time was long: "The implication is that the period
in view is a long and strenuous one involving great conflict and
trouble for the people of God." Why was Daniel in mourning? Some
think it was because so few Jews had returned with Ezra from
exile; others believe it was because Ezra was facing severe
opposition in rebuilding the temple. Daniel had not gone back
with Ezra's group of exiles because he was very old (about 84),
and he could serve them just as well in his high governmental
position. Daniel's conspicuous self-denial was coupled with
intense prayer (12) .
Dan 10:4 And in the four and twentieth day of the first month,
as I was by the side of the great river, which [is] Hiddekel;
Dan 10:5 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a
certain man clothed in linen, whose loins [were] girded with
fine gold of Uphaz:
Dan 10:6 His body also [was] like the beryl, and his face as the
appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his
arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the
voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.
Daniel sees a
glorious man on the banks of the Tigris River. Some say the
certain man is Jesus, noting that the description is
remarkably like what John saw in
Revelation 1:12-16.
Some say the certain man is an unnamed angel of high
rank, noting that Jesus would not need the assistance of
Michael, mentioned in verse 13; and that Ezekiel also saw
angelic figures dressed in linen Ezekiel
9:2).
Dan 10:7 And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that
were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon
them, so that they fled to hide themselves.
Daniel's companions
are terrified, yet unseeing. Like Saul's companions on the road
to Damascus, one can be close to the presence and power of God,
yet miss the message through lack of spiritual perception.
Dan 10:8 Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision,
and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was
turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.
Dan 10:9 Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard
the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face,
and my face toward the ground.
Daniel's reaction to the sight of
the man. Frailty: "The word suggests a death-like
paleness, combined with a grotesque wrenching of facial
features." Daniel's experience shows us that even the
holiest of men fall short before God and even His closest
associates. "To judge by the description, the trance
experienced was not one to envy."
Dan 10:10 And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my
knees and [upon] the palms of my hands.
Dan 10:11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved,
understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright:
for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word
unto me, I stood trembling.
The message to
Daniel. The "certain man" introduces himself to Daniel.
Dan 10:12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the
first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to
chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am
come for thy words.
Dan 10:13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me
one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes,
came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
Dan 10:14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall
befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision [is]
for [many] days.
The angel explains
his coming to Daniel, and the opposition he faced on the way.
God had responded to Daniel's prayer the very moment he had made
his request known; but the answers was delayed by the Prince
of the kingdom of Persia. This prince is not a man, but an
angel; and an evil angel, a demonic being. The New Testament
recognizes that demonic forces are organized, and have a
hierarchy; one group is called "principalities" or literally,
"governments".
Romans 3:38;
Ephesians 1:21;
3:10; 6:12;
Colossians 1:16;
2:10, 15;
Titus 3:1
all refer to demonic powers associated with human governments;
and on three occasions, Jesus referred to Satan as the prince
of this world (John
12:31;
14:30; 16:11). Michael is often associated with the battle
between good angels and evil angels (Revelation 12, Jude 9). The
correlation between Daniel's time of self-denial and prayer (verse
3)
and the duration of the battle (verse
13)
establishes a link between Daniel's prayer and the angelic
victory.
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There may be
hindering factors of which a praying Christian knows nothing
as he wonders why the answers to his requests are delayed.
Nevertheless, he is to keep on praying. It may be that he
will not receive an answer because he has given up on the
twentieth day when he should have persisted to the
twenty-first day." (Archer) Jesus mentioned that prayer and
fasting have special place in spiritual battles (Matthew
17:21).
Jesus taught that men ought always to pray, and to not give
up (Luke
18:1).
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Why did God
allow such a conflict? He certainly could have
blasted away at any demonic opposition which dared raise its
head. God's plan probably was to use the time of delay to
train and develop Daniel as a man of persistent prayer.
Persistence in prayer is not necessary because God's
reluctance needs to be overcome; it is necessary to train
us. How much angelic assistance or insight has never been
realized, or greatly delayed, because of a lack of
persistence in prayer? Michael seems to be the angelic
representative of Israel, battling against the demonic
representative of Persia; on earth, Israel seemed lowly and
weak; but in the heavens, it had the mightiest
representative of all. The example of angelic cooperation is
instructive for the body of Christ, who pray "your will be
done on earth as it is in heaven". The latter days:
the vision of chapters 11-12 is focused on the latter days,
although it may also relate to the time of Antiochus
Epiphanes.
Dan 10:15 And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my
face toward the ground, and I became dumb.
Dan 10:16 And, behold, [one] like the similitude of the sons of
men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said
unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my
sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.
Dan 10:17 For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this
my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength
in me, neither is there breath left in me.
Dan 10:18 Then there came again and touched me [one] like the
appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,
Dan 10:19 And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace [be]
unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken
unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for
thou hast strengthened me.
Daniel is
strengthened in his weakness. Sorrows in verse 16 has
with it the thought of twisting or writhing pain; it is also
used several places for labor pains in childbirth; Daniel can
barely breathe, much less deal with prophetic complexities. God
touched Daniel through an intermediary. Daniel was touched by
God, and received strength; but "Many churches today are marked
by a well-organized, heavily staffed, and adequately financed
impotency." God's commands are his enabling.
Dan 10:20 Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee?
and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and
when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.
Dan 10:21 But I will show thee that which is noted in the
scripture of truth: and [there is] none that holdeth with me in
these things, but Michael your prince.
The angel introduces
his message to Daniel. "The heavenly warfare is to be directed
against first Persia and then Greece, because each of these in
turn will have power over God's people." The prince
of Greece in verse 20 is not Alexander the Great, but
another demonic principality over Greece. God is watching out
for Israel, working behind the scenes in the spiritual realm.
