Have you ever prayed until the things you asked for were answered? In this chapter you find one who fasts and prays for three weeks until he gets his answer. Learn how Daniel does intercessory prayer!
Vv 1 – 9 Daniel Is Terrified by a Vision
V 1 In the third year
of Cyrus king of
named Belteshazzar; and the message
was true and one of great conflict, but he
understood the message and had an
understanding of the vision.
A. Third year of Cyrus: 536 B.C.
1. The message was
in answer to Daniel’s prayer.
2. The message was
true and of great conflict.
3. However, Daniel
understood the vision.
V 2 In those days, I,
Daniel, had been mourning for three entire weeks.
B. Have you ever interceded for someone or something for
three weeks?
V 3 I did not eat any
tasty food, nor did meat or wine enter my mouth, nor did I use any
ointment at all until the entire
three weeks were completed.
C. Along with his intercessory prayer, Daniel fasted.
1. He did eat!
2. He didn’t go
hungry for three weeks.
3. He chose not to
eat certain kinds of food.
a. No tasty food,
i.e. nothing sweet or rich, nothing that a king would eat, no
casseroles,
dressings or dumplings.
b. He didn’t eat
meat or drink wine.
c. He would have
eaten steamed or raw veggies.
d. His diet would
have included water, maybe unleavened bread.
4. He didn’t anoint
his body with oil, either.
V 4 On the twenty-fourth
day of the first month, while I was by the bank of the great
river, that is, the Tigris,
D. The first month would have been Passover month, Nissan or
Abib.
V 5 I lifted my eyes
and looked, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen,
whose waist was girded with a belt
of pure gold of Uphaz.
E. Wonder who this man was?
V 6 His body also was
like beryl, his face had the appearance of lightning, his eyes were
like flaming torches, his arms and
feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the
sound of his words like the sound of
a tumult.
F. I think he is
describing the same person that Ezekiel saw in Chapter 1:22-28, read.
1. Face like
lightening.
2. Eyes like flaming
torches
3. Arms and feet
like polished bronze, Rev. 1:15 and 2:18, Ezekiel. 1:7, they became
this way
from walking to and fro on the earth.
4. Like the sound of
troops going into battle, Ezekiel 1:24.
5. Or the sound of
rushing waters, Jeremiah 10:13.
V 7 Now I, Daniel, alone
saw the vision, while the men who were with me did not see the
vision; nevertheless, a great dread
fell on them, and they ran away to hide
themselves.
G. Although others were present, only Daniel saw the vision;
however, all who were
there were
affected by the presence of Jesus.
1. Isn’t it amazing
how we feel the presence of the Holy Spirit.
2. You know it’s Him
without knowing why, don’t you?
3. However, these
men didn’t recognize the feeling, and they ran away and hid.
a. Too many people
are running away from Jesus.
b. If they only
stayed and listened to Him for a little bit, their lives could be
changed
eternally.
V 8 So I was left
alone and saw this great vision; yet no strength was left in me, for my natural
color turned to a deathly pallor, and I retained no strength.
H. Although I stayed and saw the vision, I was scared!
1. I turned pale.
2. My natural color,
probably a dark color, left him.
3. Have you ever
been scared so badly that your natural color left you?
V 9 But I heard the
sound of his words; and as soon as I heard the sound of his words, I
fell into a deep sleep on my face,
with my face to the ground.
J. Once again, Daniel swoons in the Spirit. He falls on his
face before God!
Vv 10 – 21 Daniel Comforted
V 10 Then behold, a
hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.
A. A beautiful piece of scripture.
1. An Angel of the
Lord touches Daniel.
2. I want to read you one of my favorite
poems about touch, here!
The Touch of the
Master’s Hand
'Twas battered and scarred, and the
auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But held it up with a smile.
"What am I bidden, good folks," he
cried,
"Who'll start the bidding for me?"
"A dollar, a dollar. Then two! Only two?
Two dollars, and who'll make it three?"
"Three dollars, once; three dollars,
twice;
Going for three..." But no,
From the room, far back, a grey-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening the loosened strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet,
As a caroling angel sings.
The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said: "What am I bid for the old
violin?"
And he held it up with the bow.
"A thousand dollars, and who'll make it
two?
Two thousand! And who'll make it three?
Three thousand, once; three thousand, twice,
And going and gone," said he.
The people cheered, but some of them cried,
"We do not quite understand.
What changed its worth?" Swift came the
reply:
"The touch of the Master's hand."
And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd
Much like the old violin.
A "mess of pottage," a glass of
wine,
A
game -- and he travels on.
He is "going" once, and
"going" twice,
He's "going" and almost "gone."
But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd
Never
can quite understand
The worth of a soul and the change that is
wrought
By
the touch of the Master's hand.
3. You see, Jesus
has something important for Daniel, so He touches him and gets him
at least on
his hands and knees.
V 11 He said to me,
"O Daniel, man of high esteem, understand the words that I am
about to tell you and stand upright, for I
have now been sent to you " And when
he had spoken this word to me, I
stood up trembling.
B. Again, Gabriel refers to Daniel as a man of high esteem.
1. Stand up.
2. I have been sent
to give you understanding.
V 12 Then he said to
me, Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your
heart on understanding this and on humbling
yourself before your God, your
words were heard, and I have come in
response to your words.
C. Fear not, Daniel!
1. Wonder how many
times that phrase has been used in the Bible?
2. From day one,
your prayers were heard.
3. I have come to
give you a response.
4. Notice that God answers prayer from the first day; however, it took Daniel praying for three weeks before an answer comes. Sin hinders your prayers. Never quit making intercession for a cause or another saint.
V 13 But the prince of
the
then behold, Michael, one of the
chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left
there with the kings of
D. I came immediately to you when you began praying, but we
had opposition.
1. Satan had
withstood Gabriel for 21 days.
2. Finally, Michael,
another angel came to withstand the kings of
3. Then I could come
tell you what God sent me to tell you.
4. Is there other
instances of kings of countries withstanding God’s progress?
a. Look at Isaiah
14:17, read!
b. Ezekiel 28:11-17, read
c. According to
these scriptures, Satan helps kings get into power, too.
d. Of course God
allows this to happen. He puts all rulers in place.
e. Even though
they had
help from Satan to get there.
f. We will see
this play out big time in the Old Roman Empire during the tribulation. Order your copy of Why Revelation Why Now from B. C. Ministries, Inc.
V 14 Now I have come
to give you an understanding of what will happen to your people
in the latter days, for the vision
pertains to the days yet future.
E. I come to give you understanding about your people in the
future.
V 15 When he had
spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the
ground and became speechless.
F. Daniel can’t talk because of the power of God’s word
delivered by the angel.
V 16 And behold, one who
resembled a human being was touching my lips; then I opened
my mouth and spoke and said to him
who was standing before me, O my lord, as a
result of the vision anguish has
come upon me, and I have retained no strength.
G. Wonder who this one who resembled a human was that was
touching Daniel’s lips?
1. Daniel refers to
him as Lord!
2. He tries to
explain why he has no strength left to stand.
3. It’s because of
the vision, anguish has come upon me and my strength is gone.
V 17 For how can such
a servant of my lord talk with such as my lord? As for me, there
remains just now no strength in me,
nor has any breath been left in me.
H. How can I speak to such as my lord. There’s no strength
left in me.
V 18 Then this one
with human appearance touched me again and strengthened me.
I. Jesus touches him again, and he regains his strength.
V 19 He said, O man of
high esteem, do not be afraid. Peace be with you; take courage
and be courageous! Now as soon as he
spoke to me, I received strength and said,
ay my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.
J. This human like figure speaks to him again, calls him a
man of high esteem and tells
him not to be afraid.
1. As soon as he
spoke to me I received my strength.
2. I told him, yes
my lord speak for you have given me strength.
V 20 Then he said, Do
you understand why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight
against the prince of
K. Do you know why I came to you?
1. I have to return
to fight against the prince of
2. The prince of
V 21 However, I will
tell you what is inscribed in the writing of truth. Yet there is no one
who stands firmly with me against
these forces except Michael your prince.
L. I’m going to teach you truth, however, there is none to
stand with me against these
forces
except Michael.
1. What kind of
forces are they standing against? Spiritual ones. Paul explains these powers in Ephesians 6:12.
2. They are trying
to end the reign of
3. Then they will
have to fight against the prince of
Study Questions
Daniel
Chapter 10
1. What year was
Cyrus’ third year of reign?
2. Was Daniel
mourning or doing intercessory prayer for three weeks?
3. Who is the man
Daniel sees on the
4. What happened to
the men who were with Daniel when he sees the vision?
5. When was the man
sent from God to deliver Daniel’s prayer answer?
6. Who do you think
the one with the “human appearance” might be?
7. Who is the prince
of
8. Who is the prince
of
9. What two angels
names are mentioned in this chapter?
10. What gave Daniel the strength to stand?
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