Daniel's Persistent And Triumphant Prayer Series

Let's begin tonight by having someone read Daniel 10:1-3. Again, we are back in time when the Medo-Persians conquered Babylon and Cyrus was king. Daniel's name was still Beltshazzar. Daniel received this Revelation in 536 B.C. This was about the same time that the Lord rescued him from the lion's den. This was in the third year of King Cyrus's reign. Right after King Cyrus conquered Babylon, he had issued a proclamation of freedom allowing all Jews who wish to do so to return to their homeland. Almost 50,000 chose to return under the leadership of Zerubbabel. When Daniel received this revelation, the Jewish exiles had already returned to Palestine and were rebuilding their homes, shops, businesses, farms, and the temple.

You might remember from our previous studies that Daniel was an official in the governments of Babylon and then Persia. Daniel had access to official records. So, he had probably seen reports that construction of the temple in Jerusalem had stopped due to the opposition of the surrounding people. This is what drove Daniel to his knees. He was deeply concerned and grieving for his people and nation. He wanted to intercede on their behalf.

So, for 3 weeks he was in mourning. He fasted and prayed. He didn't eat any choice food during that time. Nor did he eat meat or drink wine, and he didn't anoint his body with oil. He was totally consumed by his concern with the fate of his people, the Jews.

Daniel has an amazing vision and an encounter with an awesome being. It was early spring, the 24th day of the first month when the encounter took place. Daniel was possibly taking time off from his official duties in order to observe the season of the Passover and the feast of unleavened bread, which spanned the first month of the year. So Daniel had reason to celebrate this particular Passover in that the Jewish exiles had been released from their Babylonian captivity and they had returned home. Even so, Daniel's heart was still heavy with concern for his people.

Daniel 10:4 - 9. Daniel was by the side of the Hiddekel, or Tigris River when he suddenly saw a man who was more awesome than any person than he had ever seen. Daniel would never forget what the man looked like. His clothing was linen. His belt was made of the purest gold. His body looked like a dazzling gem that reflected bright colors. His face was as bright as flashes of lightning. His eyes were like flaming torches. His arms and legs gleamed like polished bronze. His voice thundered like the roar of a multitude.

Who was this person? Some believe he was an angel. Others think that he was Christ himself. Several facts support the view that Christ was the awesome being who stood before Daniel:

--Daniel was helpless with fear in his presence, whereas he wasn't helpless in the presence of the angel in the previous chapter.

--The description of him is very similar to Ezekiel's and the apostle John's description of the glorified Christ (Ezekiel 1:26-28; Revelation 1 12 - 16.)

--He knew the future and he swore a Divine oath that only God could fulfill. That Divine oath was made in Daniel 12:7.

To strengthen Daniel to receive the vision and to stress the importance of its message, it appears that the Lord himself appeared to Daniel in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Daniel and his companions' response to the amazing vision was sheer terror. Only Daniel actually saw the vision. His companions did not see this person, but they did sense his presence. And they ran away in terror. When Daniel caught a glimpse of the glorified person, he was emotionally overwhelmed and physically weakened. His face turned deathly pale, and he became utterly helpless. Falling to the ground, he heard the awesome, glorified Christ speaking. At the sound of His voice, Daniel fell asleep. He was totally humbled and surrendered to Christ.

There seems to be a significant break between verses 9 and 10 as though the awesome, glorified person of verses 4-9 has now left the scene. Daniel references a hand reaching down to touch him which indicates that another heavenly being has entered the scene, perhaps Gabriel.

Daniel 10:10 - 11. Daniel was still weak and trembling from his encounter with the awesome person described. But Daniel was strengthened by this angel. The angel told Daniel that he was highly esteemed in the eyes of the Lord. So he was to listen carefully to the special message that was now to be given to him. Hearing this, Daniel stood to his feet, trembling but fully alert.

Daniel 10: 13 - 15. The angel gave Daniel a special insight into the spiritual warfare constantly being waged between the forces of good and evil. It looks like the focus of Daniel's prayer for 3 weeks had been for the future of Israel. The Angel informs Daniel that his prayer had been answered on the first day that he had begun to fast and pray.