Scared and Frustrated
Daniel 10:11-21
And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
It is important to note that Daniel was called greatly beloved of God. But what profit is it when you cannot feel it at times like Daniel currently faces. We all have moments like this in our lives; if we are not currently in one, we will be. Now I know that our feelings are not always a very adequate guide to the situation nor to the truth. Indeed, that is why we subject them, along with our thoughts, attitudes, and actions, to Christ so that he might keep them. Daniel may have been blessed with great knowledge and wisdom beyond others. Even so, he needed some supernatural understanding to hear what the Spirit is saying. The presence of God brings order and peace rather than chaos and confusion. You might be saying to yourself, 'how do you know it is the Lord?' How many others do you know personally that match this description? Even the Spirit itself bears witness to his power and authority in Romans 8:16. When you see him, you will know. Daniel was told to straighten himself for a reason. At this moment, he resembled more an animal rather than a human.
There are sometimes when you might be doing everything right and know all things, but you still must straighten yourself. Maybe you know nothing and have heard from no one. Even so, you must straighten yourself. There is a danger to be found in getting too depressed or too exalted. Psalm 103:14 reminds how the Lord understands our frame. Daniel is trembling here with not only fear but also the power of God. His prayers, speech, and repentance have been heard. The God of all creation has come to speak with him. See, God knew why Daniel was upset and lying beside the river. He longed to hear the words of the Lord even more than returning to his own land. Even so, the Lord also wished to hear from Daniel on the matters shown. Is it not a strange thing how God desires and seeks out a relationship with his children? From the beginning he has been walking with Adam in the garden and with Enoch before he was taken.
But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.
The Lord would have come to visit Daniel sooner. First, he was detained by the prince of Persia then aided by Michael "one of the chief princes." At that point, the Lord remained "with the kings of Persia" since he was already there. Doubtless he was comfortable having received supernatural aid. Nonetheless, the Lord finally got away from that situation and came to explain to Daniel of the last days. This reasoning sounds almost the same as why Daniel was still delayed with the rest of the captives. See, he had not yet returned to his homeland. Let us make one thing clear. At no time has the Lord ever been captured or taken against his own will. Even on the cross he laid down his life of his own accord. John 10:18 assures that he alone has that power. Daniel, however, did not. He faced a bad situation and sorely needed some help and encouragement. Surely, after all this time, he is now growing to be an old man. How many of you know that you might be young or old. However according to Psalm 37:25, the righteous are never forsaken nor their seed begging bread. The Lord had been detained. Detained as in the case of Lazarus so that he died or in that of Jairus's daughter. His delays and his detours are always for a purpose. We might not see these yet, but rest assured that they are for our good and his glory as in Genesis 50:20. Now the Lord is finally ready to tell Daniel what shall befall his people in the last days.
And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.
Daniel here sees himself sitting as one dumb and afflicted in the presence of the Heavenly messenger. Did the Lord not just tell him he came for his words. Why then is Daniel saying nothing here? Also, we see an experience like that of Isaiah 6:5. Wherein, Isaiah caught a glimpse of the holiness of God and cried out for he was unclean. At that time, an angel from before him took a coal from the altar and cleansed his lips. Here also, Daniel looks down and sits as one dumb until the Lord loosens his tongue. A form like that of the sons of men touched his lips. This is a spiritual principle. First, the strong man of Matthew 12:29 must be bound and then his house spoiled. For Daniel, he was strong by reason of his speech; for that reason, he had been sent and promoted in the situation. Isaiah 52:7 speaks of the one that preached peace on the mountains and said their God reigned. Here, Daniel required some attitude adjustment from the Lord at this time. It might look right, but trust me, the Lord is so holy that everything else in his presence must also be pure as it is with him. See him getting saucy with the Lord. I can hear him now, 'oh Lord, the vision you gave me….' Genesis 3:12 tells of how Adam did Eve in the garden of Eden. Daniel blames the vision for his sorrow and his lack of strength. The Lord lets this explanation slide. Some of you need to pull your own minds together, out of the gutter, or from wherever it wanders. A form like that of a man has touched his lips enabling his speech. It could have been a touch with a finger or even with a coal like that of Isaiah. The text states that Daniel was terrified out of his mind for he is seen trembling, falling down as one dead, and being told not to fear.
For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me.Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,
Some of you really do need to pull your own selves together. This is not 50 Shades of Gray or Touched by an Angel that we are reading. This man speaks of what shall be before and even at the end of time. That is the problem with some of you now. You have your mind, heart, and body so fixed upon what you want that you do not attend to what you ought. Then, the Spirit of God must come and say, 'straighten yourself; discipline yourself.' Now Daniel here must speak with the Lord about this matter. From all appearances, he is finding it very hard to do so. Your lord has said unto my lord as in Psalm 110:1. But here Daniel refers to himself as the Lord's servant. Daniel is indeed in a bad position with everything he has been through for he has neither strength nor breath. It is important to note that for Daniel he sought neither riches nor relationships; rather he wanted the Lord and a knowledge of him. While this is not sinful, there is a danger in having one without the other. This is where false prophets come from as of Matthew 7:15.
And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.
The Lord sends another to touch again; this time his form is a little more solid. How many of you know that were it not for the Lord you might not even be here. Now Daniel could say as his testimony, 'but for the Lord who strengthens me.' The apostles of Acts 27:23-24 found the angel of the Lord standing by them in their imprisonment that night. Now, due to Daniel's experiences he required more than a little encouragement. Just as he had so often done for others in his care, the Lord remembers Daniel. He thought he was doing nothing all that time but answering kings' visions and having them himself. However, according to the Lord, Daniel is beloved because of his role he filled. Fulfilling his position, even if he did little more than encourage the rulers, was faithful as unto Christ. Now Daniel is feeling much better for the situation. If you will recall Matthew 25:40 which says whatever has been done unto the least of these his brethren is always as unto the Lord. When this man goes back it will be to fight with the prince of Persia. Once he has gone forth from Persia will the prince of Grecia come. We see here it is almost like what has happened. The Chaldeans faced such a situation in their time, suggesting that the prince of Persia has been cast out to go rule elsewhere. Unless of course, the prince of Persia is not someone evil and is merely stubborn. Such was the case with Jacob who wrestled with God according to Genesis 32:22-32.
But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.
Herein is the purpose of the Lord's visit: to show him what will come. No one else holds the Lord's viewpoint save Prince Michael. Here we are speaking of the book of truth. Earlier texts show the truth falling to the ground in the coming day where it practiced and prospered. Not only did Prince Michael agree with the Lord, but he also functioned as his lineman. The text says he held with him "in these things." The Lord is almighty and doubtless needs no backup. But if he ever had some this would be it. Revelation 12:7-10 sees him fighting against the devil and his angels as war breaks out in Heaven. Even more than that, Prince Michael held with the Lord. This means he trusted in him as his servant. If you remember Jude 1:9, Michael the archangel strove with the devil concerning the body of Moses. Even though he did not fully understand, he replied with 'the Lord rebuke you.' Not every servant is privy to all the master's business – as much as he is he trusts in the Lord. That is high commendation indeed from the Lord. Nor is this idle flattery shown here. No matter what you can trust and believe that the Lord's heart towards you is good. He will fulfill all his purposes and as Psalm 138:8 says the thing which concerns you. This is why until you know the truth of the situation from the Lord's book, you should wait and trust in him. He will strengthen you; more than that, he will bring you out.