Thinking about Daniel 10

Initially, we might think that Daniel 10 is interesting but does not have much to do with us because it seems to be focussed on what God did for Israel a long time ago. Yet there are lessons that we can take from it, and here are four.

First, when in trouble or confusion about providence, we should focus on the bigness of God. So often we turn to gifted humans, but they cannot do anything about the situation. The sight of God will overpower us, but it will also enlarge our vision. As Sinclair Ferguson puts it, those who see God ‘lose their taste for all that is trivial’.

Second, when things don’t seem to be going according to plan, remember the reality of spiritual warfare. Christians have superhuman enemies. For example, when we pray for a person to be converted, what happens? Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:4 that the reason why people don’t believe the gospel because ‘the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.’

Another example concerns the decisions of government leaders. This angel informs Daniel that he confirmed and strengthened Darius the Mede when, in the first year of his reign, he resolved to let the Jews return to their own land (11:1). But he also says that evil powers were influencing the decision-making process in the Persian government (10:13). This gives insight into what is going on behind the scenes. Officials make decisions, but who knows all the influences there have been on them?

Third, remember that we participate in a long conflict. There once was a war in Europe called the Hundred Years War. Whatever else may be said about the winning side, those of them who fought at the beginning were not there at the end. The original fighters had to be replaced by successors and this process kept on right until victory was achieved. In a far greater sense, we have succeeded those who have gone before us in the conflict and, if Jesus does not return, we hand the weapons on to our successors. What is important is that we use the right weapons. Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 10:4 that ‘the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.’

Fourth, remember that we have supernatural help in the form of the ongoing ministry of angels. The same ones who helped Daniel are helping all God’s people down the centuries. They don’t get tired of or disinterested in God’s people. Instead they rejoice to help them. And who can tell how much they have done for us and will yet do for us.

It is appropriate for us to recall who the chief Warrior is in this age-long conflict. Usually, Old Testament theophanies (appearances of God in human form) are activities of the Son of God. There is no reason why the one who appeared here to Daniel could not be him. Even before he came into the world, he knew that he would yet come and fight all the hostile powers when he was on the cross. There he defeated them all completely and that victory guarantees that all his people will get safely to the heavenly destination. With Jesus as our Commander, we will fight using spiritual weapons and will yet share the victory parade with the triumphant King of the church.