Christopher Rich – January 15, 2023

DANIEL | Life in Exile - Life for Eternity
Wk10: Beginning of the End | 10:1-21 

Introduction
Good Morning! Welcome to Mercy Fellowship where we are Saved by Jesus Work, Changed
by Jesus’ Grace, and Living on Jesus’s Mission. Today we continue our series Daniel: Life
in Exile - Life for Eternity The second half of Daniel has visions of the kingdoms of man
warring against each other and ultimately God, who is in charge of world affairs and personally
engages with His people. What do these times reveal about where your hope is? In Chapter 9
we saw Daniel’s desire to process the world around him lead him to read his bible, pray, confess
sin, plea for mercy and God answer with a vision. Chapter 10 addresses some big questions:
What is God doing? Will His purposes prevail? Does God Love me? Does God hear me?
PART I | Verse 1-3 | Freedom Fading
Daniel 10:1-3 | In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, who was
named Belteshazzar. And the word was true, and it was a great conflict. And he understood the
word and had understanding of the vision. 2  In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three
weeks.  3  I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all,
for the full three weeks. 
Hard Truth - This is 3 years after Daniel’s prayer in chapter 9. Roughly 535B.C. this is just a
few years before Daniel’s death. He has receive many visions, but this vision, covering 10-12 is
a comprehensive than any previous. The date of this vision is noteworthy for us to understand
what Daniel is bothered by. Ezra 1 Tell us that in Cyrus’ “first year” he sent out a decree that “a
house” for God should be built in Jerusalem. Exiles are released to restore the city and temple.
More than freedom to leave exile and return to Jerusalem the decree also said that those who
left Babylon and returned are to be equipped with silver, gold, supplies and animals. Anything
they would need for they journey and for the mission they will be given. All the vessels of
worship Nebuchadnezzar had taken were also returned. This is like the fall of the Berlin Wall!
This is it! Reconstruction! The power of the state and laws have been changed, the political
environment appears to be overwhelmingly in favor of God’s people flourishing and God’s glory
being pronounced through the known world. Glory returned, captives released, surely all of
God’s people would joyfully respond. Some did! Nehemiah, Ezra, and a whole crew of others
return and begin the task before them. But multitudes do not. Countless stay in self-imposed
exile, while many who have answered the call are now discouraged and are fading away. Daniel
is grieved and moved to mourning at the lack of mission advance.
Freedom Ignored Fear Embraced - God what could possibly be keeping your people from fully
embracing the new freedom that has been decreed, the new mission you’ve called them too.
Why would so many remain in self-imposed exile? God what is happening with all the mounting
opposition to the rebuilding of your temple and your holy city? God your people are facing great
opposition. The people of the land around Jerusalem are actively discouraging God’s people.

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The people are afraid and frustrated with the opposition and the apparent lack of progress. Your
people are exhausted. Many have given up on the mission and abandoned they building and
city. Additionally after Cyrus decree, he went overseas and left his son Cambyses and he
issued a new edict that essentially forbid the building of the temple. All work on the temple
actually did cease for a period of 15 years until Haggai come to tell the remnant to get back to
work. THE key issue is not with the laws but with the willingness of people to follow God. If the
glory of God is dependent on favorable human laws being in place then it can be easily
extinguished. Is God going to fail?
Still in Exile - You’ve got this little detail of Daniel being referred to as Belteshazzar. That is his
exile name. Daniel, still resolute, still faithful, still serving, is also.... still in exile. Some have
grown to love Babylon and are no longer interested in the promise of holy restoration if it costs
them earthly sacrifice and challenges. It is a grieving thing to see people who have the
opportunity to engage in a purposeful mission or who have been called to a specific mission
fade away, disengage, or completely ignore the call. Daniel’s mourning includes specific fasting
I am not going to enjoy the good things of this world because I am so concerned with the people
of the world. He is praying for a blessing he will not receive and for active work he cannot even
see. Daniel has been given clarity of vision from God as to what is happening. He is going to be
shown there is more going on that acts of government or the actions and affections of a people.
Sometimes God shows us what He has done in the rear view because if He told us in advance,
we couldn’t handle it. No Thank you!
PART II | Verse 4-9 | Revelation by the River
Daniel 10:4-9 | 4  On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the
great river (that is, the Tigris)  5  I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in
linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist.  6  His body was like beryl, his face like
the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of
burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.  7  And I, Daniel,
alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling
fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves.  8  So I was left alone and saw this great vision,
and no strength was left in me. My radiant appearance was fearfully changed, and I retained no
strength.  9  Then I heard the sound of his words, and as I heard the sound of his words, I fell on
my face in deep sleep with my face to the ground.
Humbled - After a period of prayer and fasting that included the Passover festival; Daniel is out
of Babylon traveling with a crew of guys at the Tigris River. There he is met by a striking figure.
Who is this? Right, we all want to know. This could be an angel, or a theophany (appearance
of God) or Christophany (appearance of the preincarnate Christ. I believe this is either Jesus or
Gabriel. This description lines up with descriptions of Jesus in Ezekiel 1:26 and Rev 1:12-15 but
also has similarities to the angel visiting the shepherds in Luke 2. Either way it’s a messenger
Daniel interacts with him differently than the angels or other visions, calls him Lord 3 times and
Col 1:15 says Jesus is the “Image of the invisible God.” Daniel is with other people on the Tigris
river. The other people he is with can tell something is happening, they know it is mighty and
powerful they respond by fear, fleeing the scene. They cannot handle being in the presence of

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greatness. Daniel is left alone Encountering this supernatural being. The first reaction is one of
being humbled, brought low.
All of the details of belts and eyes etc are not as important as two big idea this vison conveys.
First he is in linen, like a priest. This figure is holy, clean, set apart representing all that is good,
right, and pure. All those are attributes of God. Second there is the description of his figure, the
intensity of his eyes. There is a brilliant radiance in his face. His torch like eyes his bronze body.
Looking like lightening is tied to the arrival of the Lord in many verses. His voice is like a
multitude and Daniel can hear the “sound of his words”. The opposition God’s people are facing
seems so overwhelming, Daniel is given something more impressive. He is trembling, he has no
strength he is nearly scared to death, completely knocked down and out for the count. He has
gone from personally radiant (an interesting description for man in his eighties.) To being
“fearfully changed”.
PART III | Verse 10-21 | Conflict Resolution
Daniel 10:10-21 | 10  And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and
knees.  11  And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to
you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to
me, I stood up trembling.  12  Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that
you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been
heard, and I have come because of your words.  13  The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood
me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there
with the kings of Persia,  14  and came to make you understand what is to happen to your
people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come.”
15  When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and
was mute.  16  And behold, one in the likeness of the children of man touched my lips. Then I
opened my mouth and spoke. I said to him who stood before me, “O my lord, by reason of the
vision pains have come upon me, and I retain no strength.  17  How can my lord's servant talk with
my lord? For now no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me.”
18  Again one having the appearance of a man touched me and strengthened me.  19  And he
said, “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” And as
he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened
me.”  20  Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? But now I will return to fight against
the prince of Persia; and when I go out, behold, the prince of Greece will come.  21  But I will tell
you what is inscribed in the book of truth: there is none who contends by my side against these
except Michael, your prince.
You are LOVED?! There is a lot confusing, yielding more questions than can easily be
answered. We can look to Verse 20 helps us understand this whole section as we begin to see
the purpose of the visit. “Even though I am engage in a great conflict I will come to reveal
what is true and right about spiritual realties you cannot see or know behind the active
events you are seeing in History.” Daniel has been brought low by the reality of what he sees

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in the world and even more so by his encounter and he needs restoration, clarity, and to be built
up. God can bring us low, but He can and does restore. God is FOR you and He is orchestrating
history for His glory. The world has discouraged you. I am placing my hand on you, telling you,
“you’re a man greatly loved,” (Precious, The only identity that matters) showing you what is true
and giving you courage.
We the Angel responding to Daniel but he also appears to be delayed for 21 days. It’s not a 3
week trip from heaven to earth. The Angel didn’t get sidetracked or “get stuck in traffic.” Nor
should be believe that God is being ultimately thwarted because for us he appears to tarry. We
are finite and liner, we experience the world in the passing of time. God is infinite and eternal
over it all the time. The response contrast with chapter 9 where Daniel prays and God sends an
angel instantly that answers very quickly. God’s delay in engaging with Daniel reveals several
things:
1. It provides Daniel with the opportunity to more deeply engage with the suffering of his
people. He got to fast from delicacies ointment, etc. The delay, while uncomfortable and
even difficult didn’t ultimately harm Daniel. It merely brought him to a place of greater
dependence and empathy.
2. It reminds Daniel what his relationship with God is. God is God and Daniel is not. This
wasn’t Daniel saying “I prayed God, why didn’t you answer me instantly.” This is God
saying “I’ve come to give you vison and understanding about things happening; you have
no idea about on my timing.”
3. It reveals God is engaged in more things than we can comprehend at any one point. We
believe the world revolves around us so when things don’t function in a way that we like
we assume there is something wrong or God isn’t actively involved in our world. We may
not be God’s #1 priority.
4. GOD HEARS US! He can and does hear us at all times, is active at all times, but can
choose to respond in His time while still being completely and perfectly loving. “Fear not,
for from the first day you sent your heat understand and be humble you’ve been heard.”
Moreover, God has responded in love and to bring encouragement based on His
character. We see this in how Jesus responds to the death of Lazarus. He knows what
pain is being caused AND he knows what he will do. The story ends well.
5. The inevitably of God’s overwhelming victory should stir us to resist evil and sin and
engage in spiritual battles with greater confidence and assurance.
So here is an important progression and application for us in verse 19 especially in trial and
difficulty.
You are “Greatly Loved”, so you can “Fear Not”, have “Peace”, allowing you be, “strong
and courageous”
There is more going on that we can see or understand. Prince of Persia is better translated
“angel prince of Persia” meaning the clearest way to interpret this is that there is evil spiritual
forces at work in and over the earthly conflicts we can’t readily see. Daniel has now had some of

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the curtain pulled back so what he sees means looking at the worldly conflicts is no longer
limited watching the news but recognizing there are spiritual things at play. Not a devil or demon
behind every corner but there is a legitimate struggle between evil and darkness (forces actively
opposed to God and His reign) and goodness and light. God is the giver of life and light. The
conflict is not momentary, it is perpetually going. But it will come to an end.
Us experiencing God delayed is not us seeing God defeated. - Even if he’s left the
battlefield it doesn’t seem like he’s suffered at all. When you watch war movies and you see
guys on the front lines they are weary, dirty, beat up, even if resolute. This figure is “clean” and
intense. Not marked up or even dusted up. There are moments in our lives where God lifts the
veil a bit to allow us to have an understanding of the conflict that is always present. The conflict
of the Bible is brought into the story very early. Genesis 3 shows that while there are human
actors and agents there is a spiritual battle at work. Sin has clouded all relationships with God
so we cannot see what is true and right about God without Him showing us.
2 Cor 4:3-5 | 3  And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.  4  In their
case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from
seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.  5  For what we
proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus'
sake.
While we in Christ serve the prince of peace that peace comes with the acknowledgement of a
very real conflict. He says he’s going to go and fight. Jesus fights for us. Jesus solves the great
conflict between a holy perfect God and a sinful rebellious people. Not by killing but by dying.
While Jesus fights for us it doesn’t mean we are not engaged in the battle. The first step is
actually acknowledging you are actually in a battle. Pretending you’re in at peace when there is
a war is deadly. Starbuck verse McDonald’s and Dunkin Donuts. We will be engaged in conflict.
It is not an optional activity for Christians. Ephesians talks about who our battle is with and how
we are to be equipped. Eph 6:12 12  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the
rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness,
against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 
Do not pull back when you are called to press in. You have no idea what the spiritual realities
are the surround the conflicts you see or find yourself in. Jesus is our strength, we are
dependent people. Know God Hears you, God Loves you, God is Good, God is winning, so can
be strong and courageous as we edure all that is going on in this world and in our lives. When
we do not get deliverance from our circumstances we can know God will grant us perseverance
as we rely on Him. Jesus is alive, the enemy is disarmed and disgraced, our God has won! We
can join the battle and share in His triumph when we Trust Jesus.