Daniel 10:1-21 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Daniel 10:1-21. Let’s go!
Daniel 10:1-3 (NIV)
1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar). Its message was true and it concerned a great war. The understanding of the message came to him in a vision.
2 At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks.
3 I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.
On verses 1-3: The third year of Cyrus king of Persia would be approximately 536 B.C. By this point, it would have been about a couple years since King Cyrus first started allowing Jewish exiles, starting with Ezra and other Jews, to return to Jerusalem. For some reason, Daniel didn’t go back, maybe because Daniel was now an old man (about 85 years old) or maybe because he thought he would be of better service by staying.
Some people get crusty and bitter (not just physically but emotionally and spiritually) as they get older. Not Daniel. In his old age, Daniel maintained a soft heart toward God. Here we see Daniel doing a partial fast for 3 weeks. Abstaining from meat, wine and lotions, Daniel was probably limiting himself to bread and water.
Why was Daniel fasting? Some scholars think Daniel may have been preparing for Passover. However, the fact that Daniel was “mourning” (v2) suggests that Daniel was grieving some kind of loss. Perhaps Daniel had learned of the sad state Jerusalem was in and was bringing his grief to God. Perhaps Daniel was mourning for other reasons. In any event, we know that Daniel was intentionally drawing near to God through fasting and prayer. This time of fasting and prayer would prepare the way for Daniel to have one of his most powerful encounters with God.
In Daniel 9, we saw how Daniel responded to God’s Word with prayer and fasting (Daniel 9:2-3). Here in Daniel 10, we see how Daniel got ready to hear God’s Word with prayer and fasting.
What can we learn from this? When done with the right attitude, fasting can help you keep a soft heart toward God and prepare you to experience more of His power.
Daniel 10:4-9 (NIV)
4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris,
5 I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of the finest gold around his waist.
6 His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.
7 I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; the men with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves.
8 So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless.
9 Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.
On verses 4-9: As Daniel stands on the bank of the Tigris River, Daniel sees a man with an appearance more mesmerising than anything he had ever seen: a face like lightning, eyes like torches, arms and legs like gleaming bronze, a body like chrysolite, a voice that boomed like a multitude. The men with Daniel do not see the man but they feel a terrifying presence and they hide. The sight of this man saps all of Daniel’s strength and Daniel falls into a deep sleep, face down on the ground.
Who is this man? Considering the exceptional magnificence of this figure, the effect he had on Daniel and the parallels between him and the one the apostle John saw in Revelation 1, a strong argument can be made that this was the Lord Jesus personally appearing to Daniel. There is no one like the Lord and nothing as powerful and electrifying as His presence.
Daniel 10:10-11 (NIV)
10 A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.
11 He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.
On verses 10-11: As Daniel lies face down, he feels a hand touch him. This could have been the hand of the extraordinary man that Daniel saw, but considering the next verses a better explanation might be that it was the hand of another angel sent to speak to Daniel.
Daniel 10:12-14 (NIV)
12 Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.
13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.
14 Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.”
On verses 12-14: As soon as Daniel humbled himself to pray, an angel had been sent to respond to Daniel’s prayer. So why the delay of 21 days? The angel says that “the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days” until Michael, a chief angel prince, came to this angel’s aid. Who is this “prince of the Persian kingdom”? This prince was not a human ruler but an angel working for the other side, a demon. In other words, the answer to Daniel’s prayer was caught up in a conflict between God’s angels and Satan’s demons.
What can we learn from this? Repeatedly we are told that our real enemy is not people but Satan, and that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, authorities, powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12) In other words, angels are real. Demons are real. Verses like Daniel 10:13 suggest that, just as God’s angels seem to operate pursuant to a well organized hierarchy, so Satan’s demons are an intricately organized group where certain demons are given jurisdiction to operate in certain parts of the world.
Though spiritual warfare is real, the good news is that our victory and our ability to overcome in spiritual warfare through Jesus’ name are real as well.
Daniel 10:15-21 (NIV)
15 While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless.
16 Then one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing before me, “I am overcome with anguish because of the vision, my lord, and I am helpless.
17 How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe.”
18 Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength.
19 “Do not be afraid, O man highly esteemed,” he said. “Peace! Be strong now; be strong.” When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.”
20 So he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come;
21 but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince.
On verses 15-21: By this time Persia had already allowed some Jews to return to Jerusalem. But from this angel we learn that there was still an ongoing battle to be fought with the prince of Persia and later the prince of Greece (v20-21).
What can we learn from this? When you’ve experienced a victory, don’t get too comfortable. Until the day Jesus returns there will still be more battles to fight.
So that we can fight future battles, let’s keep being strengthened by God’s touch and by God’s Word, just like Daniel was strengthened here by a touch and a word from heaven (v15-19).
Father, thank You that in Your Son Jesus I am armed with the authority, the strength, and everything I need to fight and overcome the enemy. Needing You, I come to You with an open heart and say Holy Spirit please fill me today. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
