Daniel 10:1-19

The vision of the Christ.

"I was left alone, and saw this great vision" ( Daniel 10:8 ). It is well to begin by clearing up the context. We have now only one more prophecy in Daniel. This occupies the eleventh chapter. The tenth contains a prologue to the prophecy; the twelfth, an epilogue. In Daniel 10:1 the character of the prophecy is indicated:

1 . Its subject-matter is afflictive. " The conflict is great. " It covers a time of great calamities (see the Hebrew).

2 . The prophecy was to be unusually intelligible. "And he understood the word, and understanding was there to him in the vision." Some haze of mystery there might be, but not the thick darkness which had enrobed preceding revelations.

3 . It would certainly be true. "A word was revealed to Daniel … and true the word." The prophecy of Daniel 11:1-45 . is the most minute of Scripture; and hence men have been tempted to disbelieve in it as prophecy, and to regard it as prophecy written after the event, lien might have disregarded it before fulfilment; hence Daniel gives this assurance. We now here concern ourselves with Daniel ' s vision of the Christ.

I. THE SCENE OF THE VISION On the Tigris. The first migration to Jerusalem had taken place. Daniel's advanced age made it, perhaps, impossible that he should have joined in it. He may have been on the Tigris:

1 . Either on an embassage.

2 . Or retired from all official life.

II. THE TIME OF THE VISION .

1 . Two years after the first migration back from captivity (verse 1).

2 . A time of sorrow. Mourning was usually for seven days: Daniel mourned for three times seven. Fasting, etc. Why? Realize the circumstances. The temple was indeed rising; but neighbouring peoples were exerting all their influence with the Persian king to frustrate the work. Therefore anxiety and fear. Daniel's affliction would be in proportion as success seemed certain. Good men grieve over slow progress of the Divine kingdom , and the fierceness of the opposition.

3 . Time of the Passover. On the twenty-fourth day of the first month came the vision. We infer that Daniel had consecrated the first three weeks of the new year to devotion. This included the Passover week—a time of unusual solemnity—when he would be in earnest sympathy with his nation.

III. THE VISION . That this was none other than the vision of Christ the Lord appears:

1 . From the after-developments of the scene .

2 . From a comparison with the vision of Christ in the Apocalypse . ( Revelation 1:1-20 .)

Compare the two descriptions of clothing—the girdle, the countenance, the eyes, the feet, the voice. Daniel adds, "His body also was like the beryl." John adds, "His head and his hairs were white," etc. In drawing out the description into detail, note: the clothing was of the finest, purest—the garb of priests, prophets, saints, and angels; the uncovered portions of the body shone with gemlike splendour; all the symbols suggest light-splendour; the girdle of fine gold; the arms and feet "like the eye of polished brass," the part that catches the blaze of sunlight and throws it back; the face as lightning, and the eyes as fire; the voice majestic. All this may be spiritually expanded.

IV. THE EFFECT OF THE VISION .

1 . On the companions of the seer. (Verse 7.) Compare effect on Paul's companions on the way to Damascus, of the vision of the same Christ.

2 . On the seer. (Verses 8, 9.) He swooned; but the mighty voice came rolling into his ear, as the roar of ocean breaks into the caves upon the shore. Here we have a picture of the inability of man to stand before the unveiled revelations of God (comp. Revelation 1:17 ).

V. THE RESTORING OF CHRIST THE LORD . Christ:

1 . S ets man erect in the presence of Divine revelations. (Verse 11.) No need of cringing. We ourselves are made. in the image of God, and have affinity with the Divine.

2 . He does so gradually. Daniel was first flat on his face; then on all fours; then half-raised and trembling; and finally stood upright on his feet. In this, see how man is gradually led up to all the light which God has to give. In heaven the unveiling may be gradual (verses 9, 10, 11).

3 . Sympathetically. "Behold, a hand touched me" (verses 10, 16-19).

4 . Assures man that his devout aspirations are recognized beyond the sky. Daniel's was the attitude of a devout truth-seeker. He "had set his heart to understand," and "to chasten himself before his God." We should have more uniformity of Scripture interpretation, were the interpreter always of this spirit.

5 . And of the sure answer to his prayers. (Verse 12.) As soon as prayer was offered, it was heard, and secret agencies were evoked for its answer; but there were many obstacles to be overcome. The later part of the chapter shows this. So may it ever be, before our prayers can be answered, long lines and combinations of secondary causes may have to he set in operation, and formidable hostilities subdued. Patience in waiting for, as well as faith in expecting, the answer, are both necessary in the matter of prayer.—R.

Daniel 10:13 , 20-ch. 11:1

War in the realm supernatural.

"And now will I return to fight with the Prince of Persia" ( Daniel 11:20 ). In these verses we have opened out the fact that there is war in the realm supernatural. To understand them, it is absolutely necessary to revise the English version. We read thus: "And the prince of the kingdom of Persia stood against me twenty and one days, and behold Michael one of the chief princes came to help me, and I gained the superiority there by the side of the kings of Persia And he said, Dost thou know why I came unto thee? And now I will return to war with the Prince of Persia, and while I [thus] go forth [to war], behold the Prince of Javan will come. But yet I will show to thee that which is written in the book of truth. And not one is there showing himself strong with me against these [the princes of Persia and Javan] except Michael your prince; I also in the first year of Darius the Mode stood in order to strengthen and for a fortress to him" ( i.e. Michael). This reading of ours is necessary to make clear the meaning of our homiletical culture. Lest any should be surprised at the fulness of the revelation in Daniel as to angels and the angel-world, we may observe that there are two epochs in Hebrew history, when angels are specially prominent.

1 . The time of the judges. Destitute of direct revelation or prophetic guidance.

2 . The period of the Captivity. One of special trial, incident to contact wit h heathenism.

I. THE ANTAGONISTS .

1 . On the side of God.

2 . On the side of the world. The "princes" here named are the supernatural power standing behind the daimoniae, who stood behind the national gods, and were represented by them. They are spirits of evil, inspiring the worldly anti-Divine action of the great empires of earth.

II. THE WAR . The war was on behalf of Israel, and may be described as being prosecuted through three supernatural campaigns. We consider them separately.

1 . The first campaign. ( Daniel 11:1 .)

(a) Michael carried on the war .

(b) The Christ supported him .

This order is reversed in the next campaign.

2 . The second campaign. (Verse 15.)

(a) This campaign was carried on by the Angel-God himself.

(b) But aided by Michael. Here should be noted the doctrine that angels and men may be co-workers together with God.

(c) Was synchronous with Daniel ' s prayer. All the way through the twenty-one days the prayer was being answered through a mighty conflict carried on in a higher world.

3 . The third campaign. (Verses 20, 21.)

(a) There is , then , liberty in heaven as on earth to do or not to do—to go forth to war or to rest in peace.

(b) Michael made a noble use of liberty.

(c) By endowment he towered above others "One of the chief princes."

(d) Therefore to him were great responsibilities entrusted. He was made the guardian spirit of the Hebrew nation and Church. "To whom much is given" etc; seems to be a law of all moral worlds. "Michael your prince. " "To a subordinate spirit God will not entrust a work demanding special power and greatness."

The following deductions from the whole subject should, perhaps, have special mention and emphasis:

1 . The Church has many and powerful enemies.

2 . It abides under most powerful protection. What Michael was to Israel of old, that, and more than that, is the Lord Jesus to Israel now; and he has many helpers.

3 . Its destiny is in conflict in the worlds above , as well as here below.

4 . In the holy war here , the humblest may take a share. The Son of God stooped to avail himself of the help of Michael; so he ever stoops to accept the humblest contribution, the lowliest service.

"The Son of God goes forth to war,

A kingly crown to gain;

His blood-red banner streams afar;

Who follows in his train?"

R.

HOMILIES BY J.D. DAVIES