Daniel 10

Daniel 10

Constable comments: The people did not understand this prophecy fully when the prophet first gave it, but they would in the far distant future. Similarly, God told Daniel to seal up his prophecy because it was not time for His people to understand it yet (Da 12:4, 9). In Daniel 2 in response to Nebuchadnezzar's demand to know his dream and the interpretation, Daniel and his three friends had prayed and God had answered, Daniel affirming... However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the latter days. This was your dream and the visions in your mind while on your bed. (Da 2:28+) Comment: In context Nebuchadnezzar's dream portrayed the history of Israel in terms of Gentile domination of the the holy land and holy people (Jews) (corresponds to the "times of the Gentiles" Lk 21:24+, cf Rev 11:2+) beginning with Nebuchadnezzar and extending to the future Second Coming of the Messiah and the establishment of His indestructible kingdom which will fill the whole earth (Da 2:35), and bring an end once and for all time to Gentile dominion and oppression of Israel (Da 2:44+). Campbell comments on latter days... The prophecies of chapters 11 and 12 define these "latter days" to be the history of Israel in the "70 weeks" of her prophetic program with particular emphasis on her sufferings under Antiochus Epiphanes (Da 11: and his antitype-Antichrist of the end times. (Borrow Donald Campbell's excellent commentary - Daniel God's Man in a Secular Society - formerly entitled "Daniel, Decoder of Dreams") There are a number of relatively similar time phrases in the eschatological section of Daniel Da 8:17-note = the time of the end Da 8:19-note = the appointed time of the end Da 8:26-note = pertains to many days in the future Da 9:26-note = even to the end there will be war Da 10:14-note = in the latter days...pertains to the days yet future Da 11:27-note = the end is still to come at the appointed time Da 11:35-note = until the end time; because it is still to come at the appointed time Da 11:40-note = at the end time Da 12:4-note = until the end of time Da 12:6-note = until the end of these wonders Da 12:9-note = until the end time Daniel 10:15 WHEN HE HAD SPOKEN TO ME ACCORDING TO THESE WORDS, I TURNED MY FACE TOWARD THE GROUND AND BECAME SPEECHLESS. BGT Daniel 10:15 καὶ ἐν τῷ αὐτὸν λαλῆσαι μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ τὰ προστάγματα ταῦτα ἔδωκα τὸ πρόσωπόν μου ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν καὶ ἐσιώπησα --- Daniel (TH) 10:15 καὶ ἐν τῷ λαλῆσαι αὐτὸν μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ κατὰ τοὺς λόγους τούτους ἔδωκα τὸ πρόσωπόν μου ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν καὶ κατενύγην LXE Daniel 10:15 And when he had spoken with me according to these words, I turned my face to the ground, and was pricked in the heart. KJV Daniel 10:15 And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb. NET Daniel 10:15 While he was saying this to me, I was flat on the ground and unable to speak. CSB Daniel 10:15 While he was saying these words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and was speechless. ESV Daniel 10:15 When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and was mute. NIV Daniel 10:15 While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless. NLT Daniel 10:15 While he was speaking to me, I looked down at the ground, unable to say a word. NRS Daniel 10:15 While he was speaking these words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and was speechless. NJB Daniel 10:15 When he had said these things to me, I prostrated myself on the ground, without saying a word; NAB Daniel 10:15 While he was speaking thus to me, I fell forward and kept silent. YLT Daniel 10:15 'And when he speaketh with me about these things, I have set my face toward the earth, and have been silent; GWN Daniel 10:15 When he said this to me, I bowed down with my face touching the ground and was silent. I turned my face: Da 10:9 8:18 Eze 24:27 33:22 Lk 1:20 Daniel 10 Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries BOWED DOWN BY THE INCREDIBLE PROPHETIC WORD These words - The words about what would happen to Israel in the latter days. I turned my face toward the ground - lit., “I set my face earthward” NET - "I was flat on the ground" Have you ever fallen flat on your face before the LORD? It is a good position for creatures before their Creator! Became speechless - Daniel was obviously overcome and overwhelmed by the prophecy of days yet future and how it would impact Israel. THOUGHT- Beloved, our attitude should be the same as Daniel (cf Heb 6:12+)! God's Word regarding His complete control of history ("HIS story") should fill us with holy fear and awe which in turn strengthens our faith (Ro 10:17+) and give us courage to "be (present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord!" (1Co 15:58+) Paul explains that "whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." (Romans 15:4+) Daniel 10:16 AND BEHOLD, ONE WHO RESEMBLED A HUMAN BEING WAS TOUCHING MY LIPS; THEN I OPENED MY MOUTH AND SPOKE AND SAID TO HIM WHO WAS STANDING BEFORE ME, "O MY LORD, AS A RESULT OF THE VISION ANGUISH HAS COME UPON ME, AND I HAVE RETAINED NO STRENGTH. Resembled: Da 10:5,6,18 8:15 9:21 Eze 1:26 Php 2:7,8 Rev 1:13 touching: Da 10:10 Isa 6:7 Jer 1:9 Eze 3:27 33:22 Lk 1:64 21:15 my Lord: Da 10:17 12:8 Ex 4:10,13 Jos 5:14 Jud 6:13,15 13:8 Jn 20:28 Anguish: Da 10:8,9 7:15,28 8:17,27 Ec 1:18 Daniel 10 Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL! And behold (hinneh; Lxx - idou), one who resembled a human being (Literally = as the manner of the sons of men) - Daniel's mouth was touch one with a human appearance which in context is almost certainly a benevolent angel. Touching my lips - Daniel's need = speechless. God's provision = touching his lips. A similar picture is found with a number of God's prophets enabling them to speak (cf Is 6:7, Je 1:9 Eze 3:27 33:22, cf Lk 1:64 21:15) Anguish (tsir) means pain, pangs and is used 4x in the NAS - 1Sa 4:19; Isa 13:8; 21:3; Da 10:16 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." servant: Mt 22:43,44 Mk 12:36 talk: Ge 32:20 Ex 24:10,11 33:20 Judges 6:22 13:21, 22, 23 Isa 6:1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Jn 1:18 There remains: Da 10:8 Daniel 10 Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries No strength in me - Daniel is overwhelmed, breathless and physically spent. Gleason Archer notes that Daniel's situation "parallels the awe of young Isaiah in 740BC, after seeing the vision of God’s throne. Isaiah could only exclaim, “Woe to me!… I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the king, the Lord Almighty” (Isa 6:5). A seraph put a live coal to Isaiah’s lips, to grant his mouth new power to speak to Israel in God’s name. Similarly here, the angel’s touch was all Daniel needed to regain his speech. (Ibid) Daniel 10:18 THEN THIS ONE WITH HUMAN APPEARANCE TOUCHED ME AGAIN AND STRENGTHENED ME. again: Da 10:10,16 8:18 Strengthened: 1Sa 23:15 Job 16:5 23:6 Isa 35:3,4 Lk 22:32,43 Ac 18:23 2Co 12:9,10 Eph 3:16 Php 4:13 Col 1:11 Daniel 10 Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries Touched me again - First to speak when speechless, then to be strengthened when without strength. Believers today do not speak by nor are they strengthened by the touch of angels but by power of the indwelling Spirit of Christ. Strengthened me - Once again Daniel's need = strength. God's provision = The angel's strengthening touch (See the parallel principle in the NT - Php 4:13-note, 2Co 12:9-note, 2Cor 12:10-note) Daniel 10:19 HE SAID, "O MAN OF HIGH ESTEEM, DO NOT BE AFRAID. PEACE BE WITH YOU; TAKE COURAGE AND BE COURAGEOUS!" NOW AS SOON AS HE SPOKE TO ME, I RECEIVED STRENGTH AND SAID, "MAY MY LORD SPEAK, FOR YOU HAVE STRENGTHENED ME." O man: Da 10:11 9:23 Jn 11:3,5,36 15:9-14 19:26 21:20 Do not be afraid: Da 10:12 Judge 6:23 Isa 41:10,14 43:1,2 Lk 24:36, 37, 38 Jn 14:27 16:33 Rev 1:17 Take courage: Jos 1:6,7,9 Isa 35:4 Hag 2:4 Zec 8:9,13 1Co 16:13 Eph 6:10 2Ti 2:1 May my lord speak: 1Sa 3:9,10 You have: Da 10:18 Ps 138:3 2Co 12:9 Daniel 10 Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries O man of high esteem - Reassuring words are repeated (cf Da 9:23, 10:11). Do not be afraid - Second time Daniel had to be reassured not to fear (Da 10:12). Whether it was a Christophany or an angelic personage, it was supernatural and it was emotionally and physically draining an productive of a sense of fear. Peace be with you (Hebrew = shalom; Lxx = eirene {Theodotion}) - Sometimes this phrase was used in the sense of a greeting but clearly that is not the case in this verse. Daniel needed to be assured that all was well. Shalom conveys the sense of completeness, soundness, welfare, health, sense of well being, security. Take courage and be courageous (hazaq/chazaq) - means to be strong, to be courageous, to overpower. In context it speaks of internal strength of character (cf Joshua's double encouragement in Joshua 1:6, 7, 9, cf Hag 2:4, 1Co 16:13, Eph 6:10-note, 2Ti 2:1-note) As soon as he spoke...I received strength - How? The context would suggest the "power" of the angel's encouraging words produced an inner strength and resolve (cf the power of words spoken to one anxious in heart - Isa 35:4, cf Heb 3:13-note). May the lord speak - Daniel now had the strength to hear what would happen to Israel in the latter days. (Da 10:14) Whitcomb comments that "By way of spiritual application, no man can hear and respond properly to the Word of God unless and until he has been illumined by the Holy Spirit. Only as one receives "an anointing from the Holy One" can he have "ears to hear," for "His anointing teaches you about all things" (1Jn 2:20, 27). It was because Israel lacked spiritual strength that they cried out to Moses: "Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but let not God speak to us, lest we die" (Ex 20:19). (Whitcomb, J. Daniel Everyman's Bible Commentary) Take courage and be courageous - NET renders it "Be strong! Be really strong!" Daniel 10:20 THEN HE SAID, "DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHY I CAME TO YOU? BUT I SHALL NOW RETURN TO FIGHT AGAINST THE PRINCE OF PERSIA; SO I AM GOING FORTH, AND BEHOLD, THE PRINCE OF GREECE IS ABOUT TO COME. to fight: Da 10:13 Isa 37:36 Ac 12:23 the prince of Greece: Da 7:6 8:5, 6, 7, 8,21 11:2, 3, 4 Daniel 10 Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries Do you understand why I came - This seems to be an unusual question in view of Da 10:12, 14, in which the angel had stated his purpose. Miller notes that "Young probably is correct in regarding the question as a device to call Daniel’s “attention to what has already been said.” Leupold believes that this was necessary because of “Daniel’s weak and perturbed state” in which he was unable to retain “all that he had been told.” Return to fight against the prince of Persia - This invisible spiritual war would continue for over two hundred more years (538-331BC), until the Persians were defeated by Alexander the Greek in 331BC. This spiritual aerial battle would be taking place at the time of the dramatic events of the book of Esther (483-473BC), events that one would certainly surmise the demonic prince of Persia had a significant role. Recall that the Jews were in danger of total annihilation because of the royal degree of the king. Did the good angel have some role in turning the tide? We will avoid conjecture now but look forward to heaven when hopefully we will be given spiritual insight into these dramatic events. Or consider opposition to Nehemiah (445-415BC) and his work in rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. The prince of Greece is about to come - The empire of Greece followed Persia in 331BC and just as with the Persian Empire, the Grecian Empire on earth would be affected by invisible angelic warfare in the heavenlies. Strauss - H. C. Leupold on the ministry of God's angels: "A helpful thought is suggested here: the good angels of God cooperate harmoniously with one another in the performance of their work in the kingdom of God. One helps the other where help is needed. That is one example of how God's will is done in Heaven, according to the third petition. The perfect unity of the Church is in evidence at least in the kingdom of glory. And the fact that certain of these angels of God are great and mighty does not cause any rivalry or opposition among them." An excellent lesson is here for our personal application. (Ibid) Daniel 10:21 "HOWEVER, I WILL TELL YOU WHAT IS INSCRIBED IN THE WRITING OF TRUTH. YET THERE IS NO ONE WHO STANDS FIRMLY WITH ME AGAINST THESE FORCES EXCEPT MICHAEL YOUR PRINCE. I will: Da 8:26 11:1-12:13 Isa 41:22,23 43:8,9 Amos 3:7 Ac 15:15,18 Michael: Da 10:13 9:25 12:1 Jude 1:9 Rev 12:7 Daniel 10 Resources - Multiple sermons and commentaries The writing of truth - The Word of Truth, the Word of God. As fascinating as was the invisible angelic warfare over empires, the angel now directs Daniel's attention to the more important Word of God. Michael your prince (Da 10:13, 21, 12:1, Jude 1:9, Rev 12:7) - This phrase refers not just to Daniel individually but to Israel nationally (Da 12:1). Miller - No one except Michael supported Gabriel in his spiritual warfare—not because no one else was available but because no one else was needed. Campbell sums up Daniel 10 commenting on... What an amazing, though mysterious chapter this is! From it we learn specifically that, while evil angels were seeking Israel's destruction, Gabriel, Michael, and the other angels of God were protecting their interests. But Daniel was to understand, and so are we, that this same struggle continues throughout all of world history. One wonders, in fact, what sort of conflict may be going on in the spiritual realm in our own precarious times. This chapter gives us a glimpse into the unseen. It enables us to see that, behind the political and social conditions of the world in every generation, there has been angelic influ­ence, both good and evil. Of particular importance is the inside look at Satan's net­work of evil, for Satan and his evil spirits form a vast, invisible structure working behind the scenes in the gov­ernments of the world. Of course, on the other hand, the Holy Spirit as well as good angels minister through godly rulers (Heb 1:14). But Satan and his demons are very active and seek to promote in every way possible the satanic world system. (Borrow Donald Campbell's excellent commentary - Daniel God's Man in a Secular Society - formerly entitled "Daniel, Decoder of Dreams") A Basis For Confidence (Daniel 10:1-21) - A government official recently said we have no way of making sure that a terrorist group or a madman will not obtain nuclear weapons. Some people responded to his words by saying that the human race is on the verge of destroying itself. Most people, however, tend to be more hopeful and don't think that such a disaster is likely. Is such a view foolish and naive? What is the proper response to doomsday predictions? Bible-believing Christians can be optimistic about the future because of their confidence in God's Word. Daniel 10 assures us that God is always in control, so we can be confident that all will end well for those who are trusting in Him. Daniel had fasted and prayed, but for 3 weeks he had heard nothing. Finally an angel appeared and explained that he had been detained by an evil spirit until the archangel Michael had arrived to help him (Da 10:13). He went on to show the prophet that though the battle between the invisible forces of good and evil would continue (v.20), God would surely win the war (Daniel 11-12). What God is doing you may not know now; But someday you'll understand why; Questions that taunt you and trouble your mind Will one day have heaven's reply. --Hess Because God is in control, we have nothing to fear.