Daniel 10:10-21
Daniel Is Strengthened
Read the passage
10Suddenly, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.
11He said to me, “Daniel, you are a man who is highly precious. Consider carefully the words that I am about to say to you. Stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he had said this to me, I stood up trembling.
12“Do not be afraid, Daniel,” he said, “for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.
13However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.
14Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision concerns those days.”
15While he was speaking these words to me, I set my face toward the ground and became speechless.
16And suddenly one with the likeness of a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and said to the one standing before me, “My lord, because of the vision, I am overcome with anguish, and I have no strength.
17How can I, your servant, speak with you, my lord? Now I have no strength, nor is any breath left in me.”
18Again the one with the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me.
19“Do not be afraid, you who are highly precious,” he said. “Peace be with you! Be strong now; be very strong!” As he spoke with me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, for you have strengthened me.”
20“Do you know why I have come to you?” he said. “I must return at once to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I have gone forth, behold, the prince of Greece will come.
21But 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.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
A hand touches Daniel and raises him onto his hands and knees. He is told that he is highly precious and that the messenger has been sent to him. Daniel stands trembling.
The messenger tells him not to fear. From the first day Daniel sought understanding and humbled himself before God, his words were heard. The messenger came in response, but the prince of Persia opposed him for twenty-one days until Michael, one of the chief princes, helped him. He has come to explain what will happen to Daniel’s people in the latter days.
Daniel becomes speechless and looks toward the ground. When one with a human likeness touches his lips, he can speak about his anguish, weakness, and lack of breath. He is touched again and strengthened. Assured that he is highly precious, he is told to receive peace and be strong. Now he is able to ask the messenger to speak.
The messenger must return to fight the prince of Persia, and the prince of Greece will come. First, he will tell Daniel what is written in the Book of Truth. Michael, Daniel’s prince, supports him in this conflict. Daniel has needed both the message and strength to hear it.
Questions
1 Why has the messenger come to Daniel?
AnswerDaniel’s words were heard from the first day he sought understanding and humbled himself before God. The messenger has come in response to them.
2 What happens during the messenger's delay?
AnswerThe prince of Persia resists him for twenty-one days, and Michael helps him. The passage portrays unseen conflict behind earthly kingdoms without inviting us to map every political event onto a spirit.
3 What does Daniel say about his condition?
AnswerHe says his strength has left him and he can scarcely breathe. Even after receiving a message, he needs touch and words of strengthening.
4 What does the messenger command?
AnswerHe tells Daniel not to fear, to be strong, and to understand. Daniel receives enough strength to face difficult information rather than a promise of an easy history.
What This Means for Us
Daniel had been heard from the first day, though the messenger did not arrive immediately. The delay did not mean that his prayer had gone unnoticed. This passage tells us the reason for that delay; it does not explain every season of waiting we experience.
Keep bringing your concerns to God while you wait. A child may ask why the family is praying again for something that has not changed. You can explain that we still depend on God and still ask for His help. We do not have to know what is happening beyond our sight to continue praying.
Prayer
God of strength, meet people who are exhausted by burdens they cannot see clearly. Help us speak courage without superstition, receive difficult truth with humility, and care for bodies as well as minds and souls. Amen.
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