Daniel 10 explained: A Heavenly Messenger Arrives Late

Daniel's three weeks of grief (vv. 1-3)

This is around 536 BC, a few years after the Persian king Cyrus let exiled Jews return home, though Daniel remained in Persia. He gave up rich food, meat, wine and the scented oils people used daily as signs of sorrow, and many think he grieved over the opposition facing those rebuilding Jerusalem, though the text does not say.

The man by the river (vv. 4-6)

The first month was the spring month of Passover, and Daniel was standing beside the Tigris River. The linen clothing recalls what priests wore, and the gold belt, gem-like body, lightning face and voice like the sound of a huge crowd all mark him as a heavenly being.

Daniel is overwhelmed (vv. 7-9)

His companions saw nothing, yet they were seized by terror and ran to hide, which some readers take as a sign the experience was more than Daniel's imagination. Daniel himself lost all strength, turned deathly pale and fell into a deep sleep with his face to the ground.

Why the answer took so long (vv. 10-14)

Daniel's prayer was heard on the first day, but the 'prince of Persia' held the messenger back for twenty-one days, matching Daniel's three weeks of fasting, until Michael came to help. Most readers take these 'princes' as spiritual powers linked to nations, with Michael as Israel's protector, which pictures world events as tied to an unseen struggle.

Strength to listen (vv. 15-19)

It takes more than one touch, first on his lips, before speechless and breathless Daniel can talk and regain strength. The messenger tells him not to be afraid, wishes him peace and twice urges him to be strong.

Battles still ahead (vv. 20-21)

The messenger must return to fight Persia's prince, and then Greece's prince will come, matching how Greek rule under Alexander the Great followed Persia. The book of truth he mentions means God's record of what will happen, which he begins to reveal in the next chapter.

Key verse: Daniel 10:12

Where Christians differ

Christians differ over who the man in linen is: many see a high angel, perhaps Gabriel, while others read him as an appearance of Christ before his birth, noting how closely he resembles the figure in Revelation 1.

Something to think about

When an answer or change you are hoping for is slow to come, what do you tend to assume is behind the delay?