Daniel 10 (6)

Introduction
Daniel receives cryptic but illuminating insights into the larger picture of the cosmos, where spiritual forces struggle for supremacy in a battle for supremacy that plays out among the nations of earth. God is sovereign even over all this strife, and His eternal Word remains true. He made all this host – spiritual and material – and He is completely at rest, and totally in control. In His rest, we can rest, too (Heb. 2.18, 19).

Meditate on Genesis 2.1-3.

Read Daniel 10.20, 21.

Think it Through
1.  In these verses I sense a deliberate double-use of the word prince. We’ve seen that this word refers to spiritual forces, some wicked, some not, which exercise some kind of authority over nations. But here, because a chronology is indicated, I think the temporalprinces of Persia and Greece are also in view. Do you agree? Explain. What does this suggest about the relationship between events in the unseen world and those in the seen world? How did Paul describe this in Ephesians 6.10-20? Does this cosmic conflict involve us? Does it still involve nations and peoples? Explain.

2.  The great angel Michael has been assigned as the prince of the people of God (“your” here is plural). The Messenger Who speaks to Daniel – the Word of God – seems to be Commander-in-Chief in this cosmic conflict, and He says only Michael strives with Him against the foe. The Word does not mean that no other spiritual beings have joined the conflict. He probably refers to Michael here as the field general, coordinating the efforts of the others (cf. Rev. 12.7-9). This vision must have been frightening, given what it tells us about spiritual conflict raging all around us, catching up nations and empires and multitudes of people. But the Word insists He’s only telling Daniel “what is noted in the Scripture of Truth.” What do you suppose this means? What is the relationship between what God has decreed(cf. Eph. 1.11), what the Scriptures reveal, and what actually happenson earth? Why should this give us comfort, even given the cosmic conflict in which we are engaged? How should this affect our attitude toward the Scriptures?

Meditate
“Truly marvelous are the secret counsels of God, for it indeed came to pass that after the Jewish people had been freed from captivity, Alexander, king of the Macedonians, slew Darius and overthrew the kingdom of the Persians and Medes, so that the prince of the Greeks did overcome the prince of the Persians.” Jerome (347-420 AD)

And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. Revelation 12.7, 8

Thank You, Lord Jesus, that the war is won because of Your victory. But the battles still rage, and I must engage them today. Help me to…

Pray Psalm 102.1-17.
We face many trials and struggles, some because of our lack of faith and obedience, others just because that’s the way life is. Meditate on your trials as you pray, and give them over to the Lord.

Psalm 102.1-21 (Leominster: Not What My Hands Have Done)
Lord, hear my prayer and cry; hide not Your face from me!
In my distress and tears I sigh – Lord, hear my earnest plea!
My days like smoke blow past; my bones are scorched with sin.
My heart, like wilted, withered grass bends low to earth again.

With loudest groans and cries, and leanness in my soul,
No shelt’ring place arrests my eyes, no rest to make me whole.
My enemies grow strong; I weep with bitter tears;
My days are like a shadow, long; God’s face is no more near.

But You, O Lord, abide forever in Your place.
Arise and stand on Zion’s side and lavish us with grace!
Revive Your Church, O Lord! Let all her dust and stones
Be strengthened by Your mighty Word, and compact be as one.

Then let the nations fear the glory of the Lord!
For He shall in His Church appear to heed our sighing words.
Then let our children learn to praise the Lord above.
He hears their groans and knows they yearn to dwell within His love.

T. M Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006.