Daniel 10 Dare to be Enabled

Theological Proposition/Focus: God is the one who enables each of us.

Homiletical Proposition/Application: Daniel is touched by God’s servant three times giving him the ability to rise, speak, and be strengthened. The truth of Daniel 10 is the truth that God is the one who enables us.

Introduction:

Image: Being enabled to do something you never could have done yourself.

I enjoy exercise and lifting weights with someone else can be a lot of fun. Something that I really like is when you have been working out for long enough that you reach your breaking point and just cannot do it. If you have done heavy weights lifting you know what I mean. At the end of a session you bring the bar down on your chest and when you go to lift it won't budge. Thankfully, your partner is right there, reaches out, and with the assist you get in that final rep and rack the bar. In and of yourself, there was no way, but with a little help, a little enablement from your friend, you have finished.

In life, we need a lot more than just a little help from our friends to get by. We need the full enablement of God. Thankfully, that is exactly what we have.

Setting the Stage: Start by reading verses 1-9

The timing and significance of the Vision (1-4).

Cyrus came to power in 559 BC but did not conquer Babylon until 539 BC. Hence, Daniel 10 takes place in 536 BC. When Cyrus came to power in Babylon he issued an edict allowing the Jews to return to their homelands and rebuild the temple. Thousands of Jewish exiles returned to Israel and began the process of rebuilding, not under the authority of a David King but under the rule of Gentiles. Daniel, it appears did not return to the land. Perhaps his age or position prevented him from making the trip. In any case Daniel remained in Babylon and was given a vision. A vision that we are told was true and a vision that was burdensome, or concerned a great deal of conflict. The conflict or burden we are going to see involves the reality facing the people of God that life would be hard. But that is not the focus of today's sermon.

Details do matter as we interpret text and these first 9 verses are full of details. We see that Daniel has been mourning for three weeks and that it is now the 24th day of the first month. Let me do some math. 24th day, three weeks, that puts us at Daniel starting to mourn on the third day of the first month. That is the 3rd of Nisan. Interestingly Passover was celebrated starting on the 14th of Nisan. My speculation (and that of others) is that Daniel may have been mourning the less than ideal second exodus of the people. The people are partaking in a sort of second Exodus back to the land but this exodus is far from the triumphal exodus of Moses.

The identity of the man (5-6).

We really cannot set the stage for what follows without first addressing the identity of the man who stands before Daniel. The description of the man is intended to convey something special. Several interpreters have suggested this might be Gabriel again, but Daniel has already met and named Gabriel so this seems unlikely. Others have argued this is a theophany, the pre-incarnate Christ. The problem with this view is that in verse 13 we see the Prince of Persia was able to withstand this being. Certainly, it is argued, no created being could impede the God of the universe and especially not for 21 days. However, this may be assigning too much weight to theological knowledge. We know that Jacob was able to wrestle with God in Genesis 32. God, for some reason, limited his power. Who is to say something like that has not occurred here.

So what is the conclusion? Some significant figure, perhaps God himself, has come to visit Daniel. Maybe the exact identity is not the point what matters is the message. Look at how Daniel responds.

The impact of the vision (7-9).

Whatever is happening has a profound impact on Daniel. So much so that others who were with Daniel while not actually seeing the vision are impacted nonetheless. The content of the vision itself is not discussed until Daniel 11. But here in the set-up there is so much we can learn.

Body

Today we are going to look carefully at three ways in which God enabled Daniel. Each act of enabling was done through touch but don't get hung up on the touch. The touch, I believe, is intended to communicate personal enabling. God is a God of relationships and desires personal relationships. One key element of a personal relationship is contact. I believe this is what we are supposed to see in the touch. God has likely never physically touched you but that does not mean he has not engaged with you personally.

The First Enabling Touch: Rise (10-14).

In verse 9 we find that Daniel is in a deep sleep and laying completely prostrate on the ground. Now Daniel is brought into a four on the floor position.

In the midst of humility, God enabled Daniel to stand.

Daniel's position is one of humility. He is prostrate and moves to four on the floor still a lowly position. But this being tells Daniel that he is in fact highly esteemed. Daniel has responded humbly and now he is about to receive something significant. The being asks Daniel not just to rise to four on the floor but in fact to rise all the way up and to stand. A couple of things

• Humility should mark anyone who is before God. The response of prostrating oneself completely is a proper response to God.
• However, the God of the universe desires to have meaningful relationship with those who he has called.
• Hence, God enables His people to stand before Him.

We are commanded to stand before God, but this standing is only by the enabling of God himself.

Romans 14:4 - Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

God moved Daniel from the humility of laying prostrate before God to the humility of standing entirely enabled by God. Something to think about, we often think of bowing as a sign of respect or humility and certainly every knee will bow before God, but the ultimate act of humility is not bowing, everyone will do that, the ultimate act of humility is rising to stand before God completely dependent on Christ.

In the midst of life, God allowed evil to interfere.

Verse 13 is a fascinating verse. For some reason, some way, God allowed the Prince of Persia. The verse really asks far more questions than it answers. Presumably the Prince of Persia is spiritual being who has been granted dominion over the region of Persia. Moreover, this being is allowed to, at the surface level, interfere with the plan of God! Again, more questions than answers, but let's not get too caught up in things we cannot answer. Let's look at what we do know. Daniel has been in prayer for 21 days and verse 12 tells us that as soon as Daniel started praying God heard.

But more than just hearing. God responded. Moreover, when adversity arose, God invested. God sent Michael to engage in what really must be spiritual warfare. Again, more questions than answers here but while the questions are intriguing, the answers given are encouraging.

• God hears prayer
• God answers prayer
• God invests resources

Honestly I am intrigued by the theology of what is happening here but I really don't care, what I care about is that I have God on my side.

In the midst of obstacles, God provided victory.

God ensured the message was delivered. Why was this message so important? Because truth and hope matter and the message that is to be delivered contains both truth and hope. The message Daniel receives is the most detailed prophecy yet and God wanted Daniel and the Jews to know these details. Yes, there were obstacles, and more obstacles were coming but God provides victory over obstacles.

Image: You are far more likely to give up when you don't know where the end comes.

I enjoy running but you know something if I go out and decide I am just going to run until I get tired, I never run as far as when I go out with a set distance in mind. There is something about knowing the end that allows you to endure suffering. As a student I ran into this a lot. If a teacher gave us a 3 hour test I would finish the test in 120 minutes. If the teacher gave us as long as we needed, I don't know that I ever spent more than 90 minutes on the test. When enduring a trial you can do a lot better if you know where the end is located. So, what is the point. God wants us to know the truth.

The enemy wants us to not know. The enemy wants us to believe we can't know. The enemy wants to beat us down and leave us hopeless. But God instead calls us to boldly approach the throne of grace as described ins Hebrews 4:16. "At a point of contact with God like this Christians can fully expect to receive mercy and find grace to help … in … time of need. "

The Second Enabling Touch: Speak (15-17).

Daniel is now standing but the news Daniel is receiving about the future is not the sort of news that gives makes one excited about tomorrow. Yes, in the end God will wrap things up nicely, but in the near future life is going to be hard. In verse 15 we see that Daniel's head sinks and he is unable to speak. What's worse, Daniel has learned something even more disturbing. God allowed evil forces to have what seemed like a small victory. Daniel has just been told that while God heard his prayer 21 days ago, the forces of evil were allowed to delay the response until this point. I want us to understand something here, Daniel is very disturbed by the news he has heard.

In the midst of reality, Daniel found himself speechless.

In the midst of life, there are times when our response is shock and despair. I don't know about you, but personally as I have been studying for these sermons I have grown in my admiration of Daniel. I have found Daniel to be a real person to whom I can relate. I want you to know that there are times when the right response to a situation is to simply hand your head in despair and wait for God. One of the hardest lessons I have learned is that in the midst of despair sometimes just sitting in silence and waiting for God is the right response.

Again, think about this. Daniel has been learning that life is going to be hard for Israel, even after being restored to the promised land. Now, after a grueling 21 day period of prayer Daniel learns that God has indeed heard the message 21 days ago, but God allowed evil forces to interfere with His response to Daniel.

Image: Disappointment in someone else's plans/response.

I don't want us to go to far with the imagery here but imagine this. You have just received some terrible news, maybe the passing of a loved one, loss of a job, something that is a big deal. You call you spouse/parent/deacon/pastor and ask them to come over. Several hours later they show up and tell you. I am a little late, I stopped to help a stranger change their tire on the way in. You might not be mad, but you might be disappointed. Right? Ok, the example is not a perfect parallel but it helps me to connect better with Daniel here.

As I read the text I can't help but wonder if Daniel is a little disappointed. He hangs his head, speechless.

In the midst of despair, God enabled Daniel to speak.

So, what happens? The being here gives Daniel the ability to speak. Again, the being touches Daniel and Daniel begins to speak. When I used to teach a graduate level course about learning theories at the university the students would eventually want to know to which theory I ascribed. My answer was always complicated grabbing at several nuances but something common was that fundamentally I believe that learning at all but the most basic level involves primarily the use of language through speech, either internal self-speech or aural communication. I am not convinced we learn anything go substance without language. So, when God enables Daniel to speak God is enabling Daniel to take an important step in Daniel's growth. Daniel, you are about to learn from this and to do so you need to speak. Silence is an appropriate response to reality but eventually silence needs to give way to speech.

In the midst of anguish, Daniel told the truth.

You might be getting tired of me stating this but I am going to do it again. God is not going to be surprised by anything you feel or say. Daniel speaks the truth. He tells God that he is overcome with anguish because of the vision. We don't need more fake people in the world. Let me be a little more blunt. All of us have baggage, all of us have bad days, all of us have struggles. Unfortunately, so often we fail to acknowledge and admit this. We go about life telling everyone including ourselves that everything is great. We talk about "the power of positive thinking." Now don't get me wrong, there is hope and positive thinking in God, but when we pretend that everything is just fine we are just lying to ourselves and that will not overcome anything.

Look at how Daniel describes his own state

• overcome with anguish
• weak
• without strength
• hardly able to breath

Daniel replies "how can I talk with you?" Daniel is at the end of the line and so he tells God. I want you to understand that you can tell God exactly where you are at. God enables us to speak with Him and we should embrace that work of God in our life.

MTR: Humbly and confidently bear your soul before God.

Broken and beat down, Daniel is now in the position to receive the third enabling touch.

The Third Enabling Touch: Strength (18-11:1).

In the midst of weakness, God gave strength.

Verse 18 is a summary statement and verse 19 gives some detail. Daniel, you do not need to be afraid. Here is something that I notice Daniel tells the being that he is responding to the vision and the response Daniel is given is a command "do not be afraid." The proper response to the God of the universe is fear. After all, God is magnificent. However, Daniel is highly esteemed. God has looked on Daniel with favor and so there is no need for fear. In fact, fear is met with Shalom.

The idea behind "shalom" is not merely the absence of war or conflict but the presence of holistic well-being and flourishing. It conveys a vision of a world where justice, righteousness, and harmony prevail, and where people live in right relationship with one another and with the divine. Things are rough Daniel but the God of Shalom is the God who is speaking with you.

Therefore, Daniel is commanded "Be strong now; be strong" The two-fold command adds emphasis, be strong, be very strong.

With renewed strength, Daniel is ready for more.

Enabled with strength from God, Daniel is now ready for more. God strengthens but it is always with a purpose. Ultimately, the passage ends with a reminder that Daniel is not in this alone.

We need reminding that we are not in this alone.

God had a message for Daniel, a message written down in His Book of Truth. Whatever the Book of Truth we don't have a lot of detail certainly the Bible is part of it as a true word from God but more we just don't know. What we do know is that there was a cosmic battle raging and this battle had real consequences for Daniel. In fact, as we see in 11:1 is seems this battle had raged even back when Darius first took the throne in Daniel chapter 9 when Daniel had prayed for the return of Israel to the land. You see, Daniel 12:1 tells us that Michael plays a special role in caring for Israel. So let me give you a brief interpretation of the passage.

Michael was defending Israel and playing a role in the return of Israel to the promised land. Evil forces were opposing the work of Michael. Daniel was praying and God was at work providing support both in the spiritual realm and in the earthly realm. The message communicated here in the text. You are not in this alone Daniel, Michael is fighting on behalf of your people and I am also fighting. Be strong, dig deep, you re not in this alone.