“This great vision” (ch. 10).
IT will easily be seen that chapter 10, 11, and 12 form one continuous prophesy. At the close of the previous chapter the great power of the West, the Roman Empire, is specially in view. In the portion of the book that remains to be considered, other actors of the last days, no less important, pass before the prophet’s mind in vision.
Daniel was one of those who had not availed himself of the decree of Cyrus, proclaiming liberty to the Jews to return to Jerusalem to build up the house of the Lord. This is remarkable, and lets us into the true state of the prophet’s heart and conscience.
Cyrus had been raised up of God to perform all His pleasure, even saying to Jerusalem, “Thou shalt be built,” &c. (Isa. 44:2828That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid. (Isaiah 44:28)). The inspiring spirit had even mentioned him by name, and that about one hundred years before he had been born. In process of time, when the iniquity of God’s people had reached such a pitch that there was no remedy, when even the patience of God, and such a God! had been exhausted, “to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah,” the last King of Judah, Zedekiah, was carried away captive to Babylon. The house of God was burnt, the wall of Jerusalem broken down, and the vessels of the Lord’s house were brought to Babylon. All this had taken place, and desolations, of which Daniel was painfully aware, had swept over the pleasant land, in accordance with the solemn and unheeded warnings of the prophet Jeremiah.
But God not only spoke of judgment, He made promises of mercy, and that by the lips of the same servant through whom He had announced the judgment; and it was in fulfillment of this that “the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, King of Persia,” to make the decree which resulted in large numbers of the Jews returning to the land of Canaan (2 Chron. 36:22, 2322Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, 23Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the Lord God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him go up. (2 Chronicles 36:22‑23); Ezra 1). This took place in the “first” year of Cyrus.
Daniel, as we have observed, did not avail himself of this, for “in the third year of Cyrus” we find him still with chastened soul “by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel” (i.e., the Tigris). This opens up a most interesting line of thought.
There was a mighty movement amongst the Jews. Some sixty thousand wended their joyous way homeward after years of captivity. “The people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem” (Ezra 3:11And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem. (Ezra 3:1)). They offered freely of their substance for the house of God, they set up the altar on its bases, they laid the foundation of the temple, and then sang together, and gave thanks to the Lord because His mercy endured forever towards Israel (Ezra 3). But far away by the lonely banks of the Tigris we see Daniel afflicting his soul, and humbling himself before the Lord.
Daniel knew that however great might be the blessing vouchsafed under Cyrus, it fell infinitely short of God’s purposes for His people. Long weary years had yet to run before Messiah’s advent; that Messiah was yet to be cut off, and greater desolations had yet to be endured by the guilty nation than ever they had known in the past. Need we wonder to hear that “in those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks”? (Dan. 10:22In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. (Daniel 10:2)).
The moral attitude in which Daniel was found well suited one who walked with God in days of ruin and declension. For three weeks Daniel continued with fasting and prayer. God was about to reveal His mind to him more fully than He had done before, and in. His grace produced in him that state of soul that could receive these communications without being puffed up thereby. Not only did Daniel behold with sorrow the desolate condition of the people, but he lifted up his eyes and beheld a certain man clothed in linen, girded with fine gold of Uphaz, his face as lightning, his eyes as flames of fire, his arms and feet like brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. It was the Lord of glory who thus presented Himself before the eyes of His beloved servant. All others had fled. Daniel was left alone; there remained no strength in him, and his comeliness was turned into corruption. And yet was there any saint of God in those days more dear than he?
We now come to a deeply interesting subject, in connection with God’s providential dealings with His people, and His government of the earth; namely, the ministry of angels, and the conflict that takes place between the unseen powers of darkness and of light.
Daniel lay prostrate before the vision of the glory of the Lord, when a hand is put forth to touch him, and a certain one speaks to reassure the trembling prophet — “O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright” (ver. 11). The reason for the apparently long delay in the answer to his prayer is then given. Daniel might have felt that God had been indifferent, but it was not so, for “from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard” (vs. 12).
It seems that the one speaking in verse 12 is not the same as the man clothed in linen of verse 5. Here we have to do with an angel pure and simple, whereas there the Lord Himself appears to His servant in human form, as is frequently the case in the Old Testament Scriptures. Angels are closely connected with God’s government of the earth, they are the willing ministers of His pleasure (Psa. 103:20, 2120Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. 21Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. (Psalm 103:20‑21)), not alone in the protection and deliverance of the saints (Psa. 34:77The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. (Psalm 34:7)) but in the execution of his plans with reference to the earth.
But it is important to remember that there are evil spirits as well as good. Satan is called “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:22Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: (Ephesians 2:2)), and though believers now are delivered from that power of darkness (Col. 1:1313Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: (Colossians 1:13)), yet he is that evil spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. Satan is not yet bound, though for faith his power is annulled (Heb. 2:1414Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; (Hebrews 2:14)). Nevertheless the Christian’s conflict is in heavenly places with wicked spirits; for this he needs to stand with all the armor of God, that in the evil day he may overcome and not himself be vanquished.
On the first day of Daniel’s prayer, a messenger had been dispatched from God’s presence, but for one and twenty days “the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood him” (vs. 13). All this while that the conflict was going on between these unseen powers, Daniel continues in earnest supplication. Then “Michael, one of the chief princes,” came to help. This would seem to prove that the angel here is not the, Lord Himself, for it surely would not be consistent with His glory to speak of help.
The angel then informs Daniel that he has been sent to make him understand what should befall the Jewish people “in the latter days” (vs. 14). Earthly kingdoms were to rise and fall. A long vista of time opens up before the prophet’s eyes. Mighty wars and tumults of the nations were to take place before the time of Israel’s deliverance, but yet “the thing was true” even though “the time appointed was long.”
But the Lord would not have His servant to be overwhelmed with grief and sadness. “O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong” (vs. 19). The fight might, and would continue with the powers of darkness, and yet with confidence and peace, the saint of God, intelligent in His word, may continue his journey in calm and patient faith. “Now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come. But I will show thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth” (vers. 20:21).
The insight that this chapter gives us as to the connection between things seen and unseen is of the deepest interest, and at the same time of the utmost importance, as leading us to seek an understanding of God’s revealed mind as to all that is yet to take place on the earth. It should lead us, too, to seek a closer walk with God in prayer and holiness, lest we expose ourselves to the power that is ever seeking to frustrate His purposes and plans.
(To be continued.)