Captives Freed
Daniel 10:1-10
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.In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.
Daniel fully understood the matter in the third year of King Cyrus's reign. It has taken him a long time to find the full vision and its' meaning. Here it is three years after King Belshazzar began, in the first year of King Darius, and in the third year of King Cyrus. These are just the years that we know about. If you add them, they equal at least seven for him to fully understand what God has been saying. What I want to emphasize is how long it took Daniel to understand the matter. After all this time, God is still showing him things to come about himself. Even longer is the "time appointed." What will you do when the master seemingly delays his coming as in Matthew 24:48? I hope you do not resort to smiting your fellow servants as did those. Daniel seems to have no notable events taking place for him to mourn. Rather, he seems to be longing for his homeland at this point. Regardless of the situation, how many of you know that God can give you wisdom and understanding when you need it most. Earlier in the texts we have seen Daniel continuing in the service of the kings until the first year of Cyrus's reign.
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.And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;
We see Daniel in mourning by the side of the river for several things. One seems to be for a return to his homeland. Now I seem to have forgotten some small details. Ezra 1:1-3 contains a decree issued in the first year of King Cyrus's reign. Sometimes I wonder why Daniel is still here. Thus, we will soon see that the only one keeping him is the Lord. It seems almost like God has him here for a purpose; therefore, he will not let him leave until it is completed. The demon possessed man of Mark 5:2 wandered among the tombs; so also, the man possessing the Lord lays beside the riverbank seeking his face. It is almost as if he is seeking for the ram of the Media and Persians slain beside the riverbank. Maybe he is anxious to see what will be. I am not the Lord nor am I Daniel. We can note that this vision seems especially unpleasant and troublesome. Note here, Daniel ate no pleasant bread, flesh, wine, nor self-anointing.
The text does not say it, but he seems to have resumed his Daniel diet as well. If you will recall, the list of things given at first that he did not eat seems very similar. How many of you know that when you are in a situation God can keep you. I would imagine after fasting for three weeks, Daniel felt very faint indeed. He likely needed some good news and strengthening. He knows about the beginning and the middle, but he has not fully seen the end. This fact causes a problem for Daniel since he would like to meet again with his Heavenly visitors. This is not his soul purpose. His purpose was to serve God. Had he stayed in the king's service, he might have had another vision as at first. Then this near-death experience would not have been necessary. However, since he is here having come so far, he would like to see them also. How many of you know that when walking with God becomes your natural habit, you find yourself missing it when you seem alone.
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: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.
Here Daniel sees the Lord with his eyes and in his flesh just as Job 19:26 did. Throughout history men have had a fascination with seeing God. There is seeing through the language of faith in Hebrews 11:1 then there is faith made sight. This man is clothed in linen showing his role as a servant; yet his garments are fine emphasizing his royalty. In fact, his loins are girded with fine gold emphasizing the trials faced. 1 Peter 1:7 likens the sight to one tried as in the fire and coming through pure. This loincloth is of Uphaz because they just do not make it like that anymore. His face appeared like lightning. I know Luke 10:18 says Satan fell from Heaven as lightning indicating the thrower thereof was powerful. Even his eyes are like lamps of fire within that glow to light up the darkness. The arms and feet are as polished brass emphasizing their connection to the statue man of the first vision. But there is an atonement for sin seen in them as well as being of all things to all men. His voice was like a multitude showing he speaks all languages and tongues. It even sounds like many waters for his voice holds the church within. It is a voice of Hebrews 12:24 that speaks a better word of things to come.
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.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.
This text says that God will keep his children no matter what they are going through. Even in judgment, there will be a few which turn to him. Those he will also seal with himself so that none would be lost, held liable, or otherwise tampered with. Luke 23:46 says, "Father, into your hands I commit my Spirit." There are three parts to this thing of you, I, and my here. Revelation 8:1-2 tells of silence in Heaven for the space of half an hour. This is as the Spirit which makes intercession with us by groaning too deep for words in Romans 8:26. However, he knows the mind of the Father. God is seen here as our intercessor. Herein with the prayers of the saints is Revelation 8:3-5 made complete. When Jesus had given his Spirit, the veil in the temple was torn allowing us access unto the holy place of Matthew 27:51. The seventh trumpet of Revelation 11:15 echoes this theme with loud voices praising as this world becomes the kingdom of Christ. Thyatira is the church seeing Christ as Daniel has in this vision. It is a serving church that has suffered much including at the hands of one Jezebel. These enduring to the end are rewarded according to their deeds. Revelation 2:18-29 speaks of God's promise to come quickly and smite Babylon. Those overcomers are to receive the morning star. Therefore, Revelation 16:17-21 with the seventh bowl of earthquake, hail, collapsing cities, and Babylon's destruction applies here because God remembered his people.
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. And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.
God so cared for his Son that he would not allow his loved one to see corruption in Psalm 16:10; how much more will he not care for those which call on his name. No matter what happens to their bodies, their spirits remain safe with him. Neither do their sufferings go unrewarded. They are kept from the hour which is to try the world. No matter what, God can keep you. The spirit is his breath which came from him and to him returns. This is why if he could lose you, he would. But he cannot. None shall be lost, missing, or destroyed. See here now, at the word of this man Daniel fell onto the ground in a deep sleep. The last ones to do so were the servants of the chief priest come to arrest Jesus and the guards at his tomb. Then, this man touched him causing him to be set on his knees and hands.
This mirrors the same posture in which King Nebuchanezzer found himself. If you will recall, his vision told of what happened when he became lifted up in his heart. There is a reason for this posture; Isaiah 49:16 says that the names of the saints are engraved on the palms of the Lord's hands. Thus, when Daniel's name was called, he responded. This man was an obedient servant of God. How many of you know that there is nothing to fear when the Lord has called you near. Daniel feels near the point of death. The temptation seen here is that Christ will require endless service without reward or hope for the future. Perhaps he is a cruel Father who would give his children snakes and scorpions. However, as we will soon see, this is not the case. Daniel, as with the church of Thyatira, found strength and comfort in the Lord. Even those near him had slunk away when they saw who came now to provide comfort in this situation.