Chapter 10
To the close of the book we have continuous subject. We are back in the east, and find chiefly powers that sprang up from the ruins of the third monarchy, as in chap. 8, used for types of what will happen to Israel when they are back again in their land, though not owned of God. The visions in 9 and 10 are answers to Daniel’s prayers and supplications. The place that he takes in both of these chapters, while it shows what should be the place of every child of God in a day of failure, when that trust which He has committed to them has been abused in every way, as Israel had done with the place of blessing God had put them in in Canaan, is more especially a figure of the path of the godly ones—the remnant Isa. 18, during a time yet to come. When that nation is restored to their own land by the providential dealings of God, as described in Isa. 18, they will be brought through deeper trials than any they have yet known. A false Christ having risen up, the great mass of the nation apostatizes after him, while the faithful will have to learn that their trust is alone to be in Jehovah, who, though He may try, yet cannot forsake them, or forget His own name. Deceived by man on every side, they will have to learn that the flesh—nature, take it in any form you will—is good for nothing in the presence of God. And this is true at all times. “We had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God, which raiseth the dead,” is the testimony of a beloved servant, though belonging to the present dispensation, and moving in a different sphere. Has the flesh improved since those days? 2 Tim. 3 and 2 Peter 3:33Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, (2 Peter 3:3) will answer.
Daniel is intent on understanding the ways of God with His people. This is ever the case with the godly soul; for that which is occupying God’s heart must surely be very dear to those who are His; and if the Church is now what fills the mind of Christ, around whom all the counsels of God center, what, it may well be asked, should occupy us?
For three weeks Daniel makes renewed intercession; at the end of which time no less a one than the very Jehovah Elohim stood before him. He alone saw it, and the effect was that no strength remained in him, and his comeliness into corruption. All flesh must be silent in His present; and Daniel, like others before and since, had to learn that lesson. In verse 10 another touches him—a messenger of the glorious One that had just stood before him—and opening the veil that hides other worlds from view, shows him how God in His perfect faithfulness had heard his prayer from the moment he uttered it, but, for the good of His beloved servant, and in long-suffering patience, had allowed the one who had been opposing man from the very first, and His counsels towards him, to hinder for these three weeks the answer being given. This is one of the few portions of scripture where we are let into the secret of the apparently inscrutable providential ways of God, and of which angels have the execution until the number of His elect are gathered in, and the Church assumes in the glory the place to which His grace has destined her; for “unto the angels hath He not put in subjection the world to come!” But it is with this present age we are here dealing, and find the solemn truth that Satan and his angels are in the heavens ever resisting the carrying out of God’s purposes and plans, who for a while may and does allow it, but only for a time. Soon Satan will be cast out of the heavens. First, for a little season, down to the earth (Rev. 12.), then into the bottomless pit for a thousand years, from whence he is loosed and allowed again to test man (Rev. 20.), but only for a moment. The lake of fire is his ultimate doom, there to be tormented forever. An end fully in keeping with the opposition and enmity God in His patience has allowed him to display. From being the “god of this world,” the “prince of the power of the air,” he is yet to be the most miserable of all created beings in that place already prepared for him. Persia being then the ruling power of the world, Satan, in keeping with his character, is called the prince of it. Michael is well known in scripture as the guardian angel of Israel. To his care the body of Moses was entrusted (see Jude), and he will yet take an active part in their restoration to their promised blessing.
Verse 14 confirms the statement already made, that all this refers to the latter days, as we also saw to be the case in 8:19. The thought of what His beloved people have to go through brings such deep anguish and sorrow upon Daniel as to make him set his face toward the ground and become dumb, when One like the Son of man touches his lips, and speaking peace to him, enables this one “greatly beloved” to receive more detailed communications as to future events. Practically this must ever be the case; for until we are thoroughly settled on the ground of grace, and at peace with God, we can neither understand nor receive the knowledge of His will; nor shall we know what peace is till we have learned that all that belongs to the natural man is unfit for His presence. Then, when self is judged, and, through His grace, practically laid aside Christ fills the soul, and the peace of God thus dwells in the heart, fitting it to receive, though at the best but in a feeble measure, because of the earthen vessel in which this treasure is, His thoughts and purposes concerning the various streams of blessing which already have, and will yet flow forth from Him to the Jew, the Gentile, and the Church of God.
The first Adam was turned out of Eden by God for his sin; the last Adam (Jesus) was turned out of the world by man for His faithfulness.
The way I know that I have eyes is because I behold the object; the way that I know that I have faith is because I look to Christ the object.
Love likes to serve, selfishness to be served.