mh_parser/vol_split/27 - Daniel/Chapter 10.xml

<div2 id="Dan.xi" n="xi" next="Dan.xii" prev="Dan.x" progress="72.65%" title="Chapter X">
<h2 id="Dan.xi-p0.1">D A N I E L.</h2>
<h3 id="Dan.xi-p0.2">CHAP. X.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Dan.xi-p1" shownumber="no">This chapter and the two next (which conclude this
book) make up one entire vision and prophecy, which was
communicated to Daniel for the use of the church, not by signs and
figures, as before (<scripRef id="Dan.xi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.1-Dan.8.27" parsed="|Dan|7|1|8|27" passage="Da 7:1-8:27"><i>ch.</i> vii.
and viii.</scripRef>), but by express words; and this was about two
years after the vision in the foregoing chapter. Daniel prayed
daily, but had a vision only now and then. In this chapter we have
some things introductory to the prophecy, in the eleventh chapter
the particular predictions, and <scripRef id="Dan.xi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Dan.12.1-Dan.12.13" parsed="|Dan|12|1|12|13" passage="Da 12:1-13"><i>ch.</i> xii.</scripRef> the conclusion of it. This
chapter shows us, I. Daniel's solemn fasting and humiliation,
before he had this vision, <scripRef id="Dan.xi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.1-Dan.10.3" parsed="|Dan|10|1|10|3" passage="Da 10:1-3">ver.
1-3</scripRef>. II. A glorious appearance of the Son of God to him,
and the deep impression it made upon him, <scripRef id="Dan.xi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.4-Dan.10.9" parsed="|Dan|10|4|10|9" passage="Da 10:4-9">ver. 4-9</scripRef>. III. The encouragement that was
given him to expect such a discovery of future events as should be
satisfactory and useful both to others and to himself, and that he
should be enabled both to understand the meaning of this discovery,
though difficult, and to bear up under the lustre of it, though
dazzling and dreadful, <scripRef id="Dan.xi-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.10-Dan.10.21" parsed="|Dan|10|10|10|21" passage="Da 10:10-21">ver.
10-21</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Dan.xi-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10" parsed="|Dan|10|0|0|0" passage="Da 10" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Dan.xi-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.1-Dan.10.9" parsed="|Dan|10|1|10|9" passage="Da 10:1-9" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Dan.xi-p1.8">
<h4 id="Dan.xi-p1.9">Vision near the River
Hiddekel. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Dan.xi-p1.10">b. c.</span> 534.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Dan.xi-p2" shownumber="no">1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a
thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar;
and the thing <i>was</i> true, but the time appointed <i>was</i>
long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the
vision.   2 In those days I Daniel was mourning three full
weeks.   3 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.   4 And in the four and twentieth
day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river,
which <i>is</i> Hiddekel;   5 Then I lifted up mine eyes, and
looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins
<i>were</i> girded with fine gold of Uphaz:   6 His body also
<i>was</i> 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.   7 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.
  8 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.   9 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.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Dan.xi-p3" shownumber="no">This vision is dated in the <i>third year
of Cyrus,</i> that is, of his reign after the conquest of Babylon,
his third year since Daniel became acquainted with him and a
subject to him. Here is,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Dan.xi-p4" shownumber="no">I. A general idea of this prophecy
(<scripRef id="Dan.xi-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.1" parsed="|Dan|10|1|0|0" passage="Da 10:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>): <i>The thing
was true;</i> every word of God is so; it was true that Daniel had
such a vision, and that such and such things were said. This he
solemnly attests upon the word of a prophet. <i>Et hoc paratus est
verificare—He was prepared to verify it;</i> and, if it was a word
<i>spoken from heaven,</i> no doubt it is stedfast and may be
depended upon. <i>But the time appointed was long,</i> as long as
to the end of the reign of Antiochus, which was 300 years, a long
time indeed when it is looked upon as to come. Nay, and because it
is usual with the prophets to glance at things spiritual and
eternal, there is that in this prophecy which looks in type as far
forward as to the end of the world and the resurrection of the
dead; and then he might well say, <i>The time appointed was
long.</i> It was, however, made as plain to him as if it had been a
history rather than a prophecy; he <i>understood the thing;</i> so
distinctly was it delivered to him, and received by him, that he
could say he <i>had understanding of the vision.</i> It did not so
much operate upon his fancy as upon his understanding.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Dan.xi-p5" shownumber="no">II. An account of Daniel's mortification of
himself before he had this vision, not in expectation of it, nor,
when he prayed that solemn prayer <scripRef id="Dan.xi-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Dan.9.1-Dan.9.27" parsed="|Dan|9|1|9|27" passage="Da 9:1-27"><i>ch.</i> ix.</scripRef>, does it appear that he had
any expectation of the vision in answer to it, but purely from a
principle of devotion and pious sympathy with the afflicted people
of God. He <i>was mourning full three weeks</i> (<scripRef id="Dan.xi-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.2" parsed="|Dan|10|2|0|0" passage="Da 10:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>), for his own sins and the sins of
his people, and their sorrows. Some think that the particular
occasion of his mourning was slothfulness and indifference of many
of the Jews, who, though they had liberty to return to their own
land, continued still in the land of their captivity, not knowing
how to value the privileges offered them; and perhaps it troubled
him the more because those that did so justified themselves by the
example of Daniel, though they had not that reason to stay behind
which he had. Others think that it was because he heard of the
obstruction given to the building of the temple by the enemies of
the Jews, who <i>hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their
purpose</i> (<scripRef id="Dan.xi-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.4-Ezra.4.5" parsed="|Ezra|4|4|4|5" passage="Ezr 4:4,5">Ezra iv. 4,
5</scripRef>), <i>all the days of Cyrus,</i> and gained their point
from his son Cambyses, or Artaxerxes, who governed while Cyrus was
absent in the Scythian war. Note, Good men cannot but mourn to see
how slowly the work of God goes on in the world and what opposition
it meets with, how weak its friends are and how active its enemies.
During the days of Daniel's mourning he <i>ate no pleasant
bread;</i> he could not live without meat, but he ate little, and
very sparingly, and mortified himself in the quality as well as the
quantity of what he ate, which may truly be reckoned fasting, and a
token of humiliation and sorrow. He did not eat the pleasant bread
he used to eat, but that which was course and unpalatable, which he
would not be tempted to eat any more of than was just necessary to
support nature. As ornaments, so delicacies, are very disagreeable
to a day of humiliation. <i>Daniel ate no flesh, drank no wine, nor
anointed himself,</i> for those three week's time, <scripRef id="Dan.xi-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.3" parsed="|Dan|10|3|0|0" passage="Da 10:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. Though he was now a very
old man, and might plead that the decay of his nature required what
was nourishing, though he was a very great man, and might plead
that, being used to dainty meats, he could not do without them, it
would prejudice his health if he were, yet, when it was both to
testify and to assist his devotion, he could thus deny himself; let
this be noted to the shame of many young people in the common ranks
of life who cannot persuade themselves thus to deny themselves.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Dan.xi-p6" shownumber="no">III. A description of that glorious person
whom Daniel saw in vision, which, it is generally agreed, could be
no other that Christ himself, the eternal Word. He was by the side
of the river Hiddekel (<scripRef id="Dan.xi-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.4" parsed="|Dan|10|4|0|0" passage="Da 10:4"><i>v.</i>
4</scripRef>), probably walking there, not for diversion, but
devotion and contemplation, as Isaac walked in the field, to
meditate; and, being a person of distinction, he had his servants
attending him at some distance. There he <i>looked up,</i> and saw
<i>one man Christ Jesus.</i> It must be he, for he appears in the
same resemblance wherein he appeared to St. John in the isle of
Patmos, <scripRef id="Dan.xi-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.1.13-Rev.1.15" parsed="|Rev|1|13|1|15" passage="Re 1:13-15">Rev. i. 13-15</scripRef>.
His dress was priestly, for he is the high priest of our
profession, <i>clothed in linen,</i> as the high priest himself was
on the day of atonement, that great day; <i>his loins were
girded</i> (in St. John's vision his <i>paps</i> were <i>girded)
with a golden girdle</i> of the finest gold, that of Uphaz, for
every thing about Christ is the best in its kind. The <i>girding of
the loins</i> denotes his ready and diligent application to his
work, as his Father's servant, in the business of our redemption.
His shape was amiable, <i>his body like the beryl,</i> a precious
stone of a sky-colour. His countenance was awful, and enough to
strike a terror on the beholders, for his face was <i>as the
appearance of lightning,</i> which dazzles the eyes, both brightens
and threatens. His <i>eyes</i> were bright and sparkling, <i>as
lamps of fire.</i> His <i>arms and feet</i> shone <i>like polished
brass,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.xi-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.6" parsed="|Dan|10|6|0|0" passage="Da 10:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. His
<i>voice</i> was loud, and strong, and very piercing, <i>like the
voice of a multitude.</i> The <i>vox Dei</i>—<i>voice of God</i>
can overpower the <i>vox populi</i>—<i>voice of the people.</i>
Thus glorious did Christ appear, and it should engage us, 1. To
think highly and honourably of him. <i>Now consider how great this
man is,</i> and in all things let him have the pre-eminence. 2. To
admire his condescension for us and our salvation. Over all this
splendour he drew a veil when he took upon him the form of a
servant, and <i>emptied himself.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Dan.xi-p7" shownumber="no">IV. The wonderful influence that this
appearance had upon Daniel and his attendants, and the terror that
it struck upon him and them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Dan.xi-p8" shownumber="no">1. His attendants <i>saw not the
vision;</i> it was not fit that they should be honoured with the
sight of it. There is a divine revelation vouchsafed to all, from
converse with which none are excluded who do not exclude
themselves; but such a vision must be peculiar to Daniel, who was a
favourite. Paul's companions were aware of the <i>light,</i> but
<i>saw no man,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.xi-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Acts.9.7 Bible:Acts.22.9" parsed="|Acts|9|7|0|0;|Acts|22|9|0|0" passage="Ac 9:7,22:9">Acts ix. 7;
xxii. 9</scripRef>. Note, It is the honour of those who are beloved
of God that, what is hidden from others, is known to them. Christ
<i>manifests himself to them, but not to the world,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.xi-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:John.14.22" parsed="|John|14|22|0|0" passage="Joh 14:22">John xiv. 22</scripRef>. But, though they saw
not the vision, they were seized with an unaccountable trembling;
either from the voice they heard, or from some strange concussion
or vibration of the air they felt, so it was that a <i>great
quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves,</i>
probably among the willows that grew by the river's side. Note,
Many have a <i>spirit of bondage to fear</i> who never receive <i>a
spirit of adoption,</i> to whom Christ has been, and will be, never
otherwise than a terror. Now the fright that Daniel's attendants
were in is a confirmation of the truth of the vision; it could not
be Daniel's fancy, or the product of a heated imagination of his
own, for it had a real, powerful, and strange effect upon those
about him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Dan.xi-p9" shownumber="no">2. He himself saw it, and saw it alone, but
he was not able to bear the sight of it. It not only dazzled his
eyes, but overwhelmed his spirit, so that <i>there remained no
strength in him,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.xi-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.8" parsed="|Dan|10|8|0|0" passage="Da 10:8"><i>v.</i>
8</scripRef>. He said, as Moses himself, <i>I exceedingly fear and
quake.</i> His spirits were all so employed, either in an intense
speculation of the glory of this vision or in the fortifying of his
heart against the terror of it, that his body was left in a manner
lifeless and spiritless. He had no vigour in him, and was but one
remove from a dead carcase; he looked as pale as death, his colour
was gone, his <i>comeliness</i> in him was <i>turned into
corruption,</i> and he <i>retained no strength.</i> Note, the
greatest and best of men cannot bear the immediate discoveries of
the divine glory; no man can see it and live; it is next to death
to see a glimpse of it, as Daniel here; but glorified saints see
Christ as he is and can bear the sight. But, though Daniel was thus
dispirited with the vision of Christ, yet he <i>heard the voice of
his words</i> and knew what he said. Note, We must take heed lest
our reverence of God's glory, by which we should be awakened to
hear his voice both in his word and in his providence, should
degenerate into such a dread of him as will disable or indispose us
to hear it. It should seem that when the vision of Christ terrified
Daniel the voice of his words soon pacified and composed him,
silenced his fear, and laid him to sleep in a holy security and
serenity of mind: <i>When I heard the voice of his words I fell
into a slumber,</i> a sweet slumber, <i>on my face,</i> and <i>my
face towards the ground.</i> When he saw the vision he threw
himself prostrate, into a posture of the most humble adoration, and
dropped asleep, not as careless of what he heard and saw, but
charmed with it. Note, How dreadful soever Christ may appear to
those who are under convictions of sin, and in terror by reason of
it, there is enough in his word to quiet their spirits and make
them easy, if they will but attend to it and apply it.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Dan.xi-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.10-Dan.10.21" parsed="|Dan|10|10|10|21" passage="Da 10:10-21" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Dan.xi-p9.3">
<h4 id="Dan.xi-p9.4">Daniel Alarmed and
Comforted. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Dan.xi-p9.5">b. c.</span> 534.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Dan.xi-p10" shownumber="no">10 And, behold, a hand touched me, which set me
upon my knees and <i>upon</i> the palms of my hands.   11 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.   12 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.   13 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.   14 Now I am come to make thee understand
what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision
<i>is</i> for <i>many</i> days.   15 And when he had spoken
such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became
dumb.   16 And, behold, <i>one</i> 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.  
17 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.   18 Then there came again
and touched me <i>one</i> like the appearance of a man, and he
strengthened me,   19 And said, O man greatly beloved, fear
not: peace <i>be</i> 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.   20 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.   21 But I will show thee that
which is noted in the scripture of truth: and <i>there is</i> none
that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Dan.xi-p11" shownumber="no">Much ado here is to bring Daniel to be able
to bear what Christ has to say to him. Still we have him in a
fright, hardly and very slowly recovering himself; but he is still
answered and <i>supported</i> with <i>good words</i> and
<i>comfortable words.</i> Let us see how Daniel is by degrees
brought to himself, and gather up the several passages that are to
the same purport.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Dan.xi-p12" shownumber="no">I. Daniel is in a great consternation and
finds it very difficult to get clear of it. The hand that
<i>touched him</i> set him at first <i>upon his knees and the palms
of his hands,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.xi-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.10" parsed="|Dan|10|10|0|0" passage="Da 10:10"><i>v.</i>
10</scripRef>. Note, Strength and comfort commonly come by degrees
to those that have been long cast down and disquieted; they are
first helped up a little, and then more. <i>After two days he will
revive us, and</i> then <i>the third day he will raise us up.</i>
And we must not <i>despise the day of small things,</i> but be
thankful for the beginnings of mercy. Afterwards he is helped up,
but he <i>stands trembling</i> (<scripRef id="Dan.xi-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.11" parsed="|Dan|10|11|0|0" passage="Da 10:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>), for fear lest he fall again.
Note, Before God <i>gives strength and power unto his people</i> he
makes them sensible of their own weakness. <i>I trembled in myself,
that I might rest in the day of trouble,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.xi-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:Hab.3.16" parsed="|Hab|3|16|0|0" passage="Hab 3:16">Hab. iii. 16</scripRef>. But when, afterwards, Daniel
recovered so much strength in his limbs that he could stand
steadily, yet he tells us (<scripRef id="Dan.xi-p12.4" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.15" parsed="|Dan|10|15|0|0" passage="Da 10:15"><i>v.</i>
15</scripRef>) that he <i>set his face towards the ground and
became dumb;</i> he was as a man astonished, who knew not what to
say, struck dumb with admiration and fear, and was loth to enter
into discourse with one so far <i>above him;</i> he <i>kept
silence,</i> yea, <i>even from good,</i> till he had recollected
himself a little. Well, at length he recovered, not only the use of
his feet, but the use of his tongue; and, when he <i>opened his
mouth</i> (<scripRef id="Dan.xi-p12.5" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.16" parsed="|Dan|10|16|0|0" passage="Da 10:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>),
that which he had to say was to excuse his having been so long
silent, for really he durst not speak, he could not speak: "<i>O my
lord</i>" (so, in great humility, this prophet calls the angel,
though the angels, in great humility, called themselves
<i>fellow-servants to the prophets,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.xi-p12.6" osisRef="Bible:Rev.22.9" parsed="|Rev|22|9|0|0" passage="Re 22:9">Rev. xxii. 9</scripRef>), "<i>by the vision my sorrows
are turned upon me;</i> they break in up on me with violence; the
sense of my sinful sorrowful state <i>turns upon me</i> when I see
thy purity and brightness." Note, Man, who has lost his integrity,
has reason to blush, and be ashamed of himself, when he sees or
considers the glory of the blessed angels that keep their
integrity. "<i>My sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained
no strength</i> to resist them or bear up a head against them." And
again (<scripRef id="Dan.xi-p12.7" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.17" parsed="|Dan|10|17|0|0" passage="Da 10:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>), like
one half dead with the fright, he complains, "As for me,
<i>straightway there remained no strength in me</i> to receive
these displays of the divine glory and these discoveries of the
divine will; nay, <i>there is no breath left in me.</i>" Such a
<i>deliquium</i> did he suffer that he could not draw one breath
after another, but panted and languished, and was in a manner
breathless. See how well it is for us that the treasure of divine
revelation is put into <i>earthen vessels,</i> that God speaks to
us <i>by men like ourselves</i> and not by angels. Whatever we may
wish, in a peevish dislike of the method God takes in dealing with
us, it is certain that if we were tried we should all be of
Israel's mind at Mt. Sinai, when they said to Moses, <i>Speak thou
to us, and we will hear, but let not God speak to us lest we
die,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.xi-p12.8" osisRef="Bible:Exod.20.19" parsed="|Exod|20|19|0|0" passage="Ex 20:19">Exod. xx. 19</scripRef>. If
Daniel could not bear it, how could we? Now this he insists upon as
an excuse for his irreverent silence, which otherwise would have
been blame-worthy: <i>How can the servant of this my lord talk with
this my lord?</i> <scripRef id="Dan.xi-p12.9" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.17" parsed="|Dan|10|17|0|0" passage="Da 10:17"><i>v.</i>
17</scripRef>. Note, Whenever we enter into communion with God it
becomes us to have a due sense of the vast distance and
disproportion that there are between us and the holy angels, and of
the infinite distance, and no proportion at all, between us and the
holy God, and to acknowledge that we cannot <i>order our speech by
reason of darkness.</i> How shall we that are dust and ashes speak
to the Lord of glory?</p>
<p class="indent" id="Dan.xi-p13" shownumber="no">II. The blessed angel that was employed by
Christ to converse with him gave him all the encouragement and
comfort that could be. It should seem, it was not he whose glory he
saw in vision (<scripRef id="Dan.xi-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.5-Dan.10.6" parsed="|Dan|10|5|10|6" passage="Da 10:5,6"><i>v.</i> 5,
6</scripRef>) that here <i>touched him,</i> and <i>talked with
him;</i> that was Christ, but this seems to have been the angel
Gabriel, whom Christ had once before ordered to instruct Daniel,
<scripRef id="Dan.xi-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Dan.8.16" parsed="|Dan|8|16|0|0" passage="Da 8:16"><i>ch.</i> viii. 16</scripRef>. That
glorious appearance (as that of the <i>God of glory</i> to Abraham,
<scripRef id="Dan.xi-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:Acts.7.2" parsed="|Acts|7|2|0|0" passage="Ac 7:2">Acts vii. 2</scripRef>) was to give
authority and to gain attention to what the angel should say.
Christ himself comforted John when he in a like case <i>fell at his
feet as dead</i> (<scripRef id="Dan.xi-p13.4" osisRef="Bible:Rev.1.17" parsed="|Rev|1|17|0|0" passage="Re 1:17">Rev. i.
17</scripRef>); but here he did it by <i>the angel,</i> whom Daniel
saw in a glory much inferior to that of the vision in the verses
before; for he was <i>like the similitude of the sons of men</i>
(<scripRef id="Dan.xi-p13.5" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.16" parsed="|Dan|10|16|0|0" passage="Da 10:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>), one like
the appearance <i>of a man,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.xi-p13.6" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.18" parsed="|Dan|10|18|0|0" passage="Da 10:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>. When <i>he</i> only
<i>appeared,</i> as he had done before (<scripRef id="Dan.xi-p13.7" osisRef="Bible:Dan.9.21" parsed="|Dan|9|21|0|0" passage="Da 9:21"><i>ch.</i> ix. 21</scripRef>), we do not find that Daniel
was put into any disorder by it, as he was by this vision; and
therefore he is here employed a third time with Daniel.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Dan.xi-p14" shownumber="no">1. He lent him his hand to help him,
<i>touched him, and set him upon his hands and knees</i> (<scripRef id="Dan.xi-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.10" parsed="|Dan|10|10|0|0" passage="Da 10:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>), else he would still
have lain grovelling, <i>touched his lips</i> (<scripRef id="Dan.xi-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.16" parsed="|Dan|10|16|0|0" passage="Da 10:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>), else he would have been still
dumb; again he <i>touched him</i> (<scripRef id="Dan.xi-p14.3" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.18" parsed="|Dan|10|18|0|0" passage="Da 10:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>), and put strength into him,
else he would still have been staggering and trembling. Note, The
hand of God's power going along with the word of his grace is alone
effectual to redress all our grievances, and to rectify whatever is
amiss in us. One touch from heaven brings us to our knees, sets us
on our feet, opens our lips, and strengthens us; for it is God that
works on us, and <i>works in us, both to will and to do</i> that
which is good.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Dan.xi-p15" shownumber="no">2. He assured him of the great favour that
God had for him: Thou art <i>a man greatly beloved</i> (<scripRef id="Dan.xi-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.11" parsed="|Dan|10|11|0|0" passage="Da 10:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>); and again (<scripRef id="Dan.xi-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.19" parsed="|Dan|10|19|0|0" passage="Da 10:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>), <i>O man greatly
beloved!</i> Note, Nothing is more likely, nothing more effectual,
to revive the drooping spirits of the saints than to be assured of
God's love to them. Those are greatly beloved indeed whom God
loves; and it is comfort enough to know it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Dan.xi-p16" shownumber="no">3. He silenced his fears, and encouraged
his hopes, with good words and comfortable words. He said unto him,
<i>Fear not, Daniel</i> (<scripRef id="Dan.xi-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.12" parsed="|Dan|10|12|0|0" passage="Da 10:12"><i>v.</i>
12</scripRef>); and again (<scripRef id="Dan.xi-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.19" parsed="|Dan|10|19|0|0" passage="Da 10:19"><i>v.</i>
19</scripRef>), <i>O man greatly beloved! fear not; peace be unto
thee; be strong, yea, be strong.</i> Never did any tender mother
quiet her child, when any thing had grieved or frightened it, with
more compassion and affection than the angel here quieted Daniel.
Those that are beloved of God have no reason to be afraid of any
evil; peace is to them; God himself speaks peace to them; and they
ought, upon the warrant of that, to speak peace to themselves; and
that peace, that <i>joy of the Lord,</i> will be <i>their
strength.</i> Will God <i>plead against us with his great
power?</i> will he take advantage against us of our being overcome
by his terror? <i>No, but he will put strength into us,</i>
<scripRef id="Dan.xi-p16.3" osisRef="Bible:Job.23.6" parsed="|Job|23|6|0|0" passage="Job 23:6">Job xxiii. 6</scripRef>. So he did
into Daniel here, when, by reason of the lustre of the vision,
<i>no strength</i> of his own <i>remained in him;</i> and he
acknowledges it (<scripRef id="Dan.xi-p16.4" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.19" parsed="|Dan|10|19|0|0" passage="Da 10:19"><i>v.</i>
19</scripRef>): <i>When he had spoken to me I was strengthened.</i>
Note, God by his word puts life, and strength, and spirit into his
people; for if he says, <i>Be strong,</i> power goes along with the
word. And, now that Daniel has experienced the efficacy of God's
strengthening word and grace, he is ready for any thing: "<i>Now,
Let my lord speak,</i> and I can hear it, I can bear it, and am
ready to do according to it, <i>for thou hast strengthened me.</i>"
Note, To those that (like Daniel here) have no might God
<i>increases strength,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.xi-p16.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.40.29" parsed="|Isa|40|29|0|0" passage="Isa 40:29">Isa. xl.
29</scripRef>. And we cannot keep up our communion with God but by
strength derived from him; but, when he is pleased to put strength
into us, we must make a good use of it, and say, <i>Speak, Lord,
for thy servant hears.</i> Let God enable us to comply with his
will, and then, whatever it is, we will stand complete in it. <i>Da
quod jubes, et jube quod vis—Give what thou commandest, and then
command what thou wilt.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Dan.xi-p17" shownumber="no">4. He assured him that his fastings and
prayers had come up for a memorial before God, as the angel told
Cornelius (<scripRef id="Dan.xi-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Acts.10.4" parsed="|Acts|10|4|0|0" passage="Ac 10:4">Acts x. 4</scripRef>):
<i>Fear not, Daniel,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.xi-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.12" parsed="|Dan|10|12|0|0" passage="Da 10:12"><i>v.</i>
12</scripRef>. It is natural to fallen man to be afraid of an
extraordinary messenger from heaven, as dreading to hear evil
tidings thence; but Daniel need not fear, for he has by his three
weeks' humiliation and supplication sent <i>extraordinary</i>
messengers to heaven, which he may expect to return with an
olive-branch of peace: "<i>From the first day that thou didst set
thy heart to understand</i> the word of God, which is to be the
rule of thy prayers, and to <i>chasten thyself before thy God,</i>
that thou mightest put an edge upon thy prayers, <i>thy words were
heard,</i>" as, before, <i>at the beginning of thy
supplication,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.xi-p17.3" osisRef="Bible:Dan.9.23" parsed="|Dan|9|23|0|0" passage="Da 9:23"><i>ch.</i> ix.
23</scripRef>. Note, As the <i>entrance of God's word is
enlightening</i> to the upright, so the entrance of their prayers
is pleasing to God, <scripRef id="Dan.xi-p17.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.119.130" parsed="|Ps|119|130|0|0" passage="Ps 119:130">Ps. cxix.
130</scripRef>. From the first day that we begin to look towards
God in a way of duty he is ready to meet us in a way of mercy. Thus
ready is God to hear prayer. <i>I said, I will confess, and thou
forgavest.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Dan.xi-p18" shownumber="no">5. He informed him that he was sent to him
on purpose to bring him a prediction of the future state of the
church, as a token of God's accepting his prayers for the church:
"<i>Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee?</i> If thou knewest on
what errand I come, thou wouldst not be put into such a
consternation by it." Note, If we rightly understood the meaning of
God's dealings with us, and the methods of his providence and grace
concerning us, we should be better reconciled to them. "<i>I have
come for thy words</i> (<scripRef id="Dan.xi-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.12" parsed="|Dan|10|12|0|0" passage="Da 10:12"><i>v.</i>
12</scripRef>), to bring thee a gracious answer to thy prayers."
Thus, when God's praying people call to him, he says, <i>Here I
am</i> (<scripRef id="Dan.xi-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.58.9" parsed="|Isa|58|9|0|0" passage="Isa 58:9">Isa. lviii. 9</scripRef>);
<i>what would you</i> have with me? See the power of prayer, what
glorious things it has, in its time, fetched from heaven, what
strange discoveries! On what errand did this angel come to Daniel?
He tells him (<scripRef id="Dan.xi-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.14" parsed="|Dan|10|14|0|0" passage="Da 10:14"><i>v.</i>
14</scripRef>): <i>I have come to make thee understand what shall
befal thy people in the latter days.</i> Daniel was a curious
inquisitive man, that had all his days been searching into secret
things, and it would be a great gratification to him to be let into
the knowledge of things to come. Daniel had always been concerned
for the church; its interests lay much upon his heart, and it would
be a particular satisfaction to him to know what its state should
be, and he would know the better what to pray for as long as he
lived. He was now lamenting the difficulties which his people met
with in the present day; but, that he might not be offended in
those, the angel must tell him what greater difficulties are yet
before them; and, if they be <i>wearied</i> now that they only
<i>run with the footmen, how will they contend with horses?</i>
Note, It would abate our resentment of present troubles to consider
that we know not but much greater are before us, which we are
concerned to provide for. Daniel must be made to know what shall
befal his people <i>in the latter days</i> of the church, after the
cessation of prophecy, and when the time drew nigh for the Messiah
to appear, <i>for yet the vision is for many days;</i> the
principal things that this vision was intended to give the church
the foresight of would come to pass in the days of Antiochus,
nearly 300 years after this. Now that which the angel is entrusted
to communicate to Daniel, and which Daniel is encouraged to expect
from him, is not any curious speculations, moral prognostications,
nor rational prospects of his own, though he is an angel, but what
he has <i>received from the Lord.</i> It was the <i>revelation of
Jesus Christ</i> that the angel gave to St. John to be <i>delivered
to the churches,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.xi-p18.4" osisRef="Bible:Rev.1.1" parsed="|Rev|1|1|0|0" passage="Re 1:1">Rev. i.
1</scripRef>. So here (<scripRef id="Dan.xi-p18.5" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.21" parsed="|Dan|10|21|0|0" passage="Da 10:21"><i>v.</i>
21</scripRef>): <i>I will show thee what is written in the
scriptures of truth,</i> that is, what is fixed in the determinate
counsel and foreknowledge of God. The <i>decree of God</i> is a
thing written, it is a <i>scripture</i> which remains and cannot be
altered. <i>What I have written I have written.</i> As there are
scriptures for the revealed will of God, the letters-patent, which
are published to the world, so there are scriptures for the secret
will of God, the close rolls, which are <i>sealed among his
treasures,</i> the book of his decrees. Both are <i>scriptures of
truth;</i> nothing shall be added to nor taken from either of them.
The <i>secret things belong not to us,</i> only now and then some
few paragraphs have been copied out from the book of God's
counsels, and delivered to the prophets for the use of the church,
as here to Daniel; but they are the <i>things revealed,</i> even
the <i>words of this law,</i> which belong <i>to us and to our
children;</i> and we are concerned to study what is written in
these <i>scriptures of truth,</i> for they are things which
<i>belong to our everlasting peace.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Dan.xi-p19" shownumber="no">6. He gave him a general account of the
adversaries of the church's cause, from whom it might be expected
that troubles would arise, and of its patrons, under whose
protection it might be assured of safety and victory at last. (1.)
The <i>kings of the earth</i> are and will be its adversaries; for
they set themselves against the Lord, and against his Anointed,
<scripRef id="Dan.xi-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.2.2" parsed="|Ps|2|2|0|0" passage="Ps 2:2">Ps. ii. 2</scripRef>. The angel told
Daniel that he was to have come to him with a gracious answer to
his prayers, but that the <i>prince of the kingdom of Persia
withstood him one and twenty days,</i> just the three weeks that
Daniel had been fasting and praying. Cambyses king of Persia had
been very busy to embarrass the affairs of the Jews, and to do them
all the mischief he could, and the angel had been all that time
employed to counter-work him; so that he had been constrained to
defer his visit to Daniel till now, for angels can be but in one
place at a time. Or, as Dr. Lightfoot says, This new king of
Persia, by hindering the temple, had hindered those good tidings
which otherwise he should have brought him. The kings and kingdoms
of the world were indeed sometimes helpful to the church, but more
often they were injurious to it. "When <i>I have gone forth</i>
from the kings of Persia, when their monarchy is brought down for
their unkindness to the Jews, then <i>the prince of Grecia shall
come,</i>" <scripRef id="Dan.xi-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.20" parsed="|Dan|10|20|0|0" passage="Da 10:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>.
The Grecian monarchy, though favourable to the Jews at first, as
the Persian was, will yet come to be vexatious to them. Such is the
state of the church-militant; when it has got clear of one enemy it
has another to encounter: and such a hydra's head is that of the
old serpent; when one storm has <i>blown over</i> it is not long
before another rises. (2.) The <i>God of heaven</i> is, and will
be, its protector, and, under him, the angels of heaven are its
patrons and guardians. [1.] Here is the angel Gabriel busy in the
service of the church, making his part good in defence of it
twenty-one days, <i>against the prince of Persia,</i> and
<i>remaining there with the kings of Persia,</i> as consul, or
liege-ambassador, to take care of the affairs of the Jews in that
court, and to do them service, <scripRef id="Dan.xi-p19.3" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.13" parsed="|Dan|10|13|0|0" passage="Da 10:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>. And, though much was done
against them by the kings of Persia (God permitting it), it is
probably that much more mischief would have been done them, and
they would have been quite ruined (witness Haman's plot) if God had
not prevented it by the ministration of angels. Gabriel resolves,
when he has despatched this errand to Daniel, that he will return
<i>to fight with the prince of Persia,</i> will continue to oppose
him, and will at length humble and bring down that proud monarchy
(<scripRef id="Dan.xi-p19.4" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.20" parsed="|Dan|10|20|0|0" passage="Da 10:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>), though he
knows that another as mischievous, even that of Grecia, will rise
instead of it. [2.] Here is Michael our prince, the great protector
of the church, and the patron of its just but injured cause: <i>The
first of the chief princes,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.xi-p19.5" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.13" parsed="|Dan|10|13|0|0" passage="Da 10:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>. Some understand it not of a created
angel, but an archangel of the highest order, <scripRef id="Dan.xi-p19.6" osisRef="Bible:1Thess.4.16 Bible:Jude.1.9" parsed="|1Thess|4|16|0|0;|Jude|1|9|0|0" passage="1Th 4:16,Jude 1:9">1 Thess. iv. 16; Jude 9</scripRef>. Others
think that <i>Michael the archangel</i> is no other than Christ
himself, the <i>angel of the covenant,</i> and the Lord of the
angels, he whom Daniel saw in vision, <scripRef id="Dan.xi-p19.7" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.5" parsed="|Dan|10|5|0|0" passage="Da 10:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. He <i>came to help me</i>
(<scripRef id="Dan.xi-p19.8" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.13" parsed="|Dan|10|13|0|0" passage="Da 10:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>); and there
is <i>none but he that holds with me in these things,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.xi-p19.9" osisRef="Bible:Dan.10.21" parsed="|Dan|10|21|0|0" passage="Da 10:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>. Christ is the church's
prince; angels are not, <scripRef id="Dan.xi-p19.10" osisRef="Bible:Heb.2.5" parsed="|Heb|2|5|0|0" passage="Heb 2:5">Heb. ii.
5</scripRef>. He presides in the affairs of the church and
effectually provides for its good. He is said to <i>hold with the
angels,</i> for it is he that makes them serviceable to the
<i>heirs of salvation;</i> and, if he were not on the church's
side, its case were bad. But, says David, and so says the church,
<i>The Lord takes my part with those that help me,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.xi-p19.11" osisRef="Bible:Ps.118.7" parsed="|Ps|118|7|0|0" passage="Ps 118:7">Ps. cxviii. 7</scripRef>. <i>The Lord is with
those that uphold my soul,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.xi-p19.12" osisRef="Bible:Ps.54.4" parsed="|Ps|54|4|0|0" passage="Ps 54:4">Ps. liv.
4</scripRef>.</p>
</div></div2>