But first I will tell you what is inscribed in the Book of Truth. Yet no one has the courage to support me against these, except Michael your prince. Sermons
Daniel 10:13, 20-ch. Daniel 11:1 And now will I return to fight with the Prince of Persia (ver. 20). In these verses we have opened out the fact that there is war in the realm supernatural. To understand them, it is absolutely necessary to revise the English version. We read thus: "And the prince of the kingdom of Persia stood against me twenty and one days, and behold Michael one of the chief princes came to help me, and I gained the superiority there by the side of the kings of Persia And he said, Dost thou know why I came unto thee? And now I will return to war with the Prince of Persia, and while I [thus] go forth [to war], behold the Prince of Javan will come. But yet I will show to thee that which is written in the book of truth. And not one is there showing himself strong with me against these [the princes of Persia and Javan] except Michael your prince; I also in the first year of Darius the Mode stood in order to strengthen and for a fortress to him" (i.e. Michael). This reading of ours is necessary to make clear the meaning of our homiletical culture. Lest any should be surprised at the fulness of the revelation in Daniel as to angels and the angel-world, we may observe that there are two epochs in Hebrew history, when angels are specially prominent. 1. The time of the judges. Destitute of direct revelation or prophetic guidance. 2. The period of the Captivity. One of special trial, incident to contact wit h heathenism. I. THE ANTAGONISTS. 1. On the side of God. (1) The Angel-God. The Logos. The "certain man" of ver. 5. The Lord Jesus. The speaker throughout (vers. 13, 20 - Daniel 11:1). (2) Michael. His name means, "Who is like unto God?" and implies that, however high is the scale of being, there is an infinite distance between him and God (see Daniel 12:1; Jude 1:7; Revelation 12:7). The following propositions seem clear about him: He is not the Logos; for he is here distinguished from him. "One of the chief princes," one of the principal in the hierarchy of heaven. "Your prince," the angelic representative and guardian of the Jewish nation. "The great prince who standeth for the children of thy people." An archangel. 2. On the side of the world. The "princes" here named are the supernatural power standing behind the daimoniae, who stood behind the national gods, and were represented by them. They are spirits of evil, inspiring the worldly anti-Divine action of the great empires of earth. (1) The "Prince of Persia." (2) The Prince of Javan; i.e. Greece. II. THE WAR. The war was on behalf of Israel, and may be described as being prosecuted through three supernatural campaigns. We consider them separately. 1. The first campaign. (Daniel 11:1.) (1) The antagonist. Not mentioned here by name, but, following the analogy of the rest of the description, is certainly the celestial "Prince" of Babylonia. (2) The casus belli. The occasion of conflict. This, doubtless, was the necessity of placing on the Babylonian throne one who would be favourable to the return of Israel from the Captivity. (3) Speciatlities. (a) Michael carried on the war. (b) The Christ supported him. This order is reversed in the next campaign. (4) The victory. Lies with the Divine in every case. 2. The second campaign. (Ver. 15.) (1) The antagonist. "The Prince of Persia.' (2) The casus belli. The obstruction raised against the restoration of the temple, at the instigation of Israel's enemies. (3) Specialities. (a) This campaign was carried on by the Angel-God himself. (b) But aided by Michael. Here should be noted the doctrine that angels and men may be co-workers together with God. (c) Was synchronous with Daniel's prayer. All the way through the twenty-one days the prayer was being answered through a mighty conflict carried on in a higher world. (4) The victory. Specially mentioned: "And I gained the superiority there by the side of the kings of Persia." 3. The third campaign. (Vers. 20, 21.) (1) The antagonists. The "princes" of Persia and Javan. (2) The casus belli. All that, in their worldliness, was attempted by Persia afterwards, by Greece, by Alexander and his successors, especially Antiochus, to the sore detriment of the Jewish people. (3) A speciality. Only Michael in this great contention was on the Christ-side. Note: (a) There is, then, liberty in heaven as on earth to do or not to do - to go forth to war or to rest in peace. (b) Michael made a noble use of liberty. (c) By endowment he towered above others "One of the chief princes." (d) Therefore to him were great responsibilities entrusted. He was made the guardian spirit of the Hebrew nation and Church. "To whom much is given" etc., seems to be a law of all moral worlds. "Michael your prince. To a subordinate spirit God will not entrust a work demanding special power and greatness." (4) The victory. Again not expressly mentioned, but sure. The following deductions from the whole subject should, perhaps, have special mention and emphasis: 1. The Church has many and powerful enemies. 2. It abides under most powerful protection. What Michael was to Israel of old, that, and more than that, is the Lord Jesus to Israel now; and he has many helpers. 3. Its destiny is in conflict in the worlds above, as well as here below. 4. In the holy war here, the humblest may take a share. The Son of God stooped to avail himself of the help of Michael; so he ever stoops to accept the humblest contribution, the lowliest service. "The Son of God goes forth to war, I. SOME SOLEMN FACTS NOTED IN THE SCRIPTURES OF TRUTH. 1. The moral ruin of man. The universal and dreadful character of man's apostacy from God. The fact is everywhere assumed. 2. The Gospel remedy. Scriptures introduce Jesus Christ — born of a woman — made under the law — agonies — death — priestly character — intercession. 3. The means of application. How shall I become a partaker of this salvation? By faith. Then man is a new creature. His conceptions of God are new — his desires are new — pleasures new — pains new — principles and practices new — prospects new — he is an heir of glory. 4. The doom of the impenitent and unbelieving. (Psalm 9:17; Matthew 23:33; Revelation 21:8.) II. PARTICULAR APPLICATION OF THE SUBJECT. To five classes of hearers. 1. The Self-ignorant. A man may have much knowledge and yet be totally ignorant of himself. There are some of this class everywhere. 2. The Presumptuous. Those whom the Scriptures call "ungodly men, who turn the grace of God into lasciviousness." The men who dream of salvation without the "washing and regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." 3. The Self-righteous. The persons who intend, if it is possible, to go to heaven without the merits of the Saviour. A large class. 4. The Anxious. You need consolation, and it is provided. (Matthew 14:30, 31) The all sufficiency of Christ reaches to you. 5. The Believer. The sacred Scriptures congratulate you. They describe your mercy they proclaim your obligations — they point you to your final home. (Anon.) Homilist. I. The highest LITERATURE on earth. "The Scripture of truth." There are many scriptures, or writings, in the world. They abound and are multiplying. There are the scriptures of fiction, sensuality, romance; but there is only one book out of the millions concerning which you can say "the Scripture of truth," and that is the Bible. The truth is in this book, if anywhere. The truth in relation to man, Christ, God, etc., is here. The truth here is soul-converting, soul-cleansing, soul-strengthening, soul-comforting, soul-ennobling truth.II. The highest MINISTRY on earth. What is that? Expounding this truth in its relation to men individually. "I will show thee that which is noted in the Scripture of truth," says the heavenly messenger. On this earth no man occupies such a sublime office as he who is the enlightened, faithful, and practical expounder of God's truth to men. "I will show thee." The truth of the Scriptures has a relation to all classes of men — the careless, the carnal, the anxious, the self-righteous, the sceptical, the believing, etc. Heaven multiply such expositors! (Homilist.). People Belteshazzar, Cyrus, Daniel, Javan, MichaelPlaces Greece, Persia, Tigris River, UphazTopics Book, Contends, Declare, Except, Firmly, Forces, Holdeth, Holds, Howbeit, However, Inscribed, Michael, None, Noted, Prince, Scripture, Shew, Sheweth, Stands, Strengthening, Strong, Supports, Truth, Writing, YetOutline 1. Daniel, having humbled himself, sees a vision.10. Being troubled with fear, he is comforted by the angel. Dictionary of Bible Themes Daniel 10:21 1461 truth, nature of Library November 15. "Oh, Man of Desires" (Margin) (Dan. x. 11). "Oh, man of desires" (margin) (Dan. x. 11). This was the divine character given to Daniel of old. It is translated in our version, "O man, greatly beloved." But it literally means "O man of desires!" This is a necessary element in all spiritual forces. It is one of the secrets of effectual prayer, "What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them." The element of strong desire gives momentum to our purposes and prayers. Indifference is an unwholesome condition; indolence and … Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth Daniel's Band Elucidations. Youthful Confessors The Difference Between Union and Rapture. What Rapture Is. The Blessing it is to the Soul. The Effects of It. How to Make Use of Christ as the Truth, when Error Prevaileth, and the Spirit of Error Carrieth Many Away. A Sight of the Crowned Christ Departed Saints Fellow Servants with those yet on Earth. The Doctrine of Satan. Annunciation to Zacharias of the Birth of John the Baptist. Of a Private Fast. A Treatise of the Fear of God; Jesus' Feet Anointed in the House of a Pharisee. Jesus Calls Four Fishermen to Follow Him. Links Daniel 10:21 NIVDaniel 10:21 NLT Daniel 10:21 ESV Daniel 10:21 NASB Daniel 10:21 KJV Daniel 10:21 Bible Apps Daniel 10:21 Parallel Daniel 10:21 Biblia Paralela Daniel 10:21 Chinese Bible Daniel 10:21 French Bible Daniel 10:21 German Bible Daniel 10:21 Commentaries Bible Hub |