The prophecies in Daniel 9, 11 and 12 were all received
during Darius the Persian’s first year.
Darius died during his seventh year, and Cyrus assumed the throne,
ordering the reconstruction of Jerusalem during his first year. About nine years after his prophecy in Daniel
11, and almost seventy years after he was taken captive, Daniel makes his last
recorded prophecy.
Daniel 10:1 tells us when and warns that while Daniel
understood the vision, it would not all happen until far into the future. “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.”
Cyrus had given the order to rebuild Jerusalem in his first
year in office. In the second year of
his reign, the Jews had begun rebuilding the Temple. When their enemies learned what they were
doing they began interfering and by the third year they had so discouraged the
people the work had almost stopped, as we learn is Ezra 4. Daniel heard what was happening and went into
a period of fasting and prayer that they would complete the work, as he
describes in Daniel 10:2-3. “In those days I Daniel was mourning three
full weeks. 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.”
Daniel had gone from Babylon to the Tigris river to fast
where they wouldn’t be disturbed, accompanied by a few men. Whiel the were praying, such a sense of
power and awe came on them that everyone but Danile fled, as Daniel 10:4-9
describes. “And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the
side of the great river, which is Hiddekel; 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.
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. 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.”
Daniel had been afraid the people in Judah would get
discouraged and quit following God. When
the vision came he was laying on face on the ground, almost without hope, very
aware of his own and people’s sinful nature.
The angel got him back up on his knees, and told him he should stand up
and see what God was going to do, in Daniel 10:10-11. “And,
behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my
hands. 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.”
As the angel explained, God had heard Daniel’s prayer from
the very beginning, but because Satan’s power was so strong God’s answer to
Daniel had been delayed until God sent help to deliver it. In Daniel
10:12-14. “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. 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.
Daniel was embarrassed that he had given up on God, as
Daniel 10:15-17 describes. “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. 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.”
Another angel came to Daniel reminding him that God loved
him and would not hold the lack of faith against him. Because of that love the angel had been sent
to comfort him, reminding him that the things in the scriptures were from God
and would come to pass, but that the battle was not yet over, in Daniel
10:18-21. “Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man,
and he strengthened me, 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. But I will show 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.”
It would be twenty five years before they finished
rebuilding the Temple in Darius’ sixth year, as Ezra 6:15 tells us. The walls of Jerusalem would not be finished
for more than twenty years, during the reign of Artaxerxes, as we see in Nehemiah
6:15, fulfilling part of the prophecy in Daniel 9:25. “ Know
therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to
restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven
weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the
wall, even in troublous times.”
Like Daniel, sometimes we Christians get discouraged when
things seem to be going the wrong way.
We need to be reminded that Satan is still fighting, but that the
outcome of the battle is already assured, and God is in control.
No comments:
Post a Comment