When the principal of a school hears a rowdy grade 8 class misbehaving because the teacher is absent or away, he will send a few prefects to that class to deal with them. Grade 8 learners are faced with grade 12 prefects. Rather daunting and scary. One can literally picture the grade 8’s trembling with fear because they know the penalties the prefects could impose upon them. Fear is something not easily managed. The Divine Visitation Daniel was faced with was exceptionally scary even though the message to him included the fact that he was “highly esteemed” by God. He was told to weigh up the Words of the message and, whilst the Words are spoken, to stand to his feet … because the Divine Messenger had been sent to him. As he stood he trembled. Being in God’s presence is fearful for He is the Thrice Holy God.
Da 10:11 He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.
There is nothing strange that the Divine Messenger is sent! Read the following verses please …
(1)
Jn 5:37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me.
(2)
Jn 6:44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.
(3)
Gal 4:4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son.
In each verse … and there are many, many more, we find that God the Father sent God the Son into the world as Messiah. Here we find the noble, godly person of verses 5 and 6 was sent by the Father. If the demons shudder in the presence of the Divine One … we ought to be extremely cautious as His Children that we conduct ourselves with reverent fear in His presence … and we, indwelt by His Spirit are always in His presence.
Jam 2:19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
1) God responds to faithful, reverend obedience.
Da 10:12 Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.
You would recall how Daniel turned to God in prayer and fasting because he needed understanding into the Word of God.
Da 9:1 In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian kingdom— 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the LORD given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. 3 So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.
He did the same thing as we start chapter 10
Da 10:2 At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. 3 I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.
Now in verse 10 the Divine Messenger tells Daniel that in response to his spiritual engagements with God, He has come, bringing with Him the Revelation. Are you aware that before every revival brought by the Holy Spirit, the people of God engaged in prayer … often for lengthy periods, with sincere hearts. Their approach to God was not hasty, last minute or haphazard. They spend many hours in earnest prayer as individuals and as communities of prayer warriors. It was all night; it was during the day; it was weekends and fasting was included. The focus was to labor before God seeking forgiveness for their sin and that of their Church and community. The purpose was singular … that wanted a visitation from God. In Daniel’s case it was slightly different in that he wanted answers to the question of the full and final return from exile. I repeat … the one singular problem in the Church today is prayerlessness! The reason for this is spiritual lethargy which leads away from God into pagan practices. Whether we are Churched or not it is our duty to seek the Lord in this way to prevent spiritual laziness and even apostasy … which is proof that there was no Christianity in the first place.
2) God loves His Invisible, Eternal Church. The Church of God started in the Old Testament. It is filled with true believers from every age and peoples group.
Rev 5:9 “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. Rev 5:10You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”
This is the Church of God. It is constituted from every … tribe and language and people and nation. Jesus shed His blood to purchase His Church!
Ac 20:28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
God loves His Church because His Church is His saints! 3) God defends and protects His Church.
Da 10:13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.
There are three persons mentioned in this verse.
(1) The prince of the Persian Kingdom. This is not the reigning king because kings were called kings and not princes. This prince is the guardian angel of Persia.
(2) Then you have the guardian angel of Israel … Michael who was one of the chief princes … meaning he is an archangel.
(3) Then we have the Divine Messenger, who is the Angel of the Lord … meaning the Lord Himself.
The verse exposes warfare … spiritual warfare. The prince of the Persian Kingdom is a supernatural spiritual force who stands behind the national (pagan) gods of Persia. He is the guardian angel behind this kingdom. He is the devil! For the duration of Daniel’s praying and fasting the enemy stood before the Lord. This is not to say the devil can restrain God … rather it shows us that spiritual warfare is not easy. There will always be resistance when the people of God are serious and seek His face for cleansing, revival and reformation. Israel’s prince, Michael, came to assist his Master. As already said, we don’t have guardian angels, but we have two key helps for all of life … especially spiritual warfare.
(a) The Bible which shows us how to live, behave and serve Jesus.
(b) The Holy Spirit (the Author of Scripture) who empowers us to persevere, follow Scripture and obey Jesus.
Thank You precious Lord for giving us all we need to live life for You and Your Cause as we prepare for the Day You call us to serve You in the higher regions of glory in Jesus. Amen.