1.
In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.
2.
In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.
3.
I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
4.
And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;
5.
Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:
THE COMING MIGHTY ONE
‘A certain Man.’
Daniel 10:5
I. Sometimes the coming Lord is painted in the Old Testament as the bearer of good tidings, the Saviour Who scatters blessings far and near.
II. But sometimes, as in this vision of Daniel, the coming Lord is painted not as Benefactor but as Soldier, Who has enemies to face and a fierce fight to endure.—There are hosts marshalled against Him. His face, as He goes to battle, is as the appearance of lightning. The voice of His words is as the voice of a multitude.
III. And it is with the disciple as with the Lord.—While I keep a glad face, because I have been marvellously blessed, I must see with clear eyes the antagonism I shall encounter. Opposition and hostility will meet me, exactly in proportion as I am faithful to the Captain of my Salvation. Christianity has its soldierly qualities, and I must contend earnestly for my King. Therefore—
‘God harden me against myself,
This coward with pathetic voice,
Who craves for ease, and rest, and joys.’
6.
His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.
7.
And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.
8.
Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.
9.
Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.
10.
And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.
11.
And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.
12.
Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
13.
But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
14.
Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.
15.
And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.
16.
And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.
17.
For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me.
18.
Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,
19.
And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.
SPIRITUAL STRENGTH
‘Peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.’
Daniel 10:19
The great question is—What is the secret of spiritual strength? How is it to be attained?
Doubtless, it is a gift; but how are we to get the gift?
Notice the order of the words of the heavenly messenger when he spoke to Daniel. They are suggestive. He places ‘peace’ before ‘strength.’ ‘Peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong.’ ‘Strength’ must have a foundation. And in proportion as you feel quite at peace with God, you have a foundation. In this, as in everything else, pardon, and the sense of pardon, come first. Then you are upon a rock. But how can you be strong if you have none of the great eternities which your soul requires? If you cannot say of God—‘ My God!’ If you are not safe for another world! If you are disturbed and shaken with many doubts! There must be quietness: and there is no real quietness till the soul sits pardoned at the feet of Christ.
I. Therefore the beginning of ‘strength’ is to be at peace.— Do not doubt God’s love. Accept, as a sinner, the free grace of the sinner’s Friend. And do not be afraid to be happy.
Then, having Christ, you can fulfil the Apostle’s command to the Ephesians, ‘Be strong.’ And in that it is a command, notice three things. First, we shall not have it without an effort. Secondly, that it is within our reach. And thirdly, that we are responsible for its possession. ‘Be strong.’
But St. Paul does not only say ‘Be strong,’ for that would be mockery, but he adds that which makes it possible,—‘Be strong in the Lord.’ Now, what does that mean?
II. It is to have ‘the Word’ drawn upon, and its promises.—‘ Be strong in the written Word.’ Work with the promises, and you will be ‘strong.’ No one who has not yet tried it can tell how the Bible, or even one verse of the Bible, can strengthen a man—his intellect, his will, his affections. If a man will but let God’s Word come in, and sink, and dwell in his heart, it will do its own work there of itself, and make you a strong character.
See how it acted with Daniel; how effectually! how rapidly! ‘Peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my Lord speak; for Thou hast strengthened me.’ ‘The Word.’ It was the instant power of ‘the Word of God.’
Peter, speaking of ‘the Word,’ says, ‘Exceeding great and precious promises, whereby we are made partakers of the Divine nature.’ And what is ‘the Divine nature’? Omnipotence.
III. Then there is the Presence of Christ.—Think what it would be—if we could only realise it—if you had Christ always at your side. ‘Fear not! I am with you.’ How brave and strong a little child can be when it holds a hand it loves! Moses: ‘If Thy Presence go not with us, take us not up hence.’ ‘My Presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest,’ that is ‘strength.’ Christ with us.
IV. But you have more than that. You have Himself.— Himself in you, and you in Himself. Actual oneness; and by that oneness His strength runs into your weakness. The energy of that life and of that heart flows into you by virtue of mystical union. What a marvel! What an unfathomable fountain of infinite power! ‘What can I not do, if I am one with Christ?’ It ceases to be an hyperbole. It is a literal fact. ‘I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me.’
V. But there is a further secret of strength— exercise, the use, the faithful use of what you possess.—The agitation of the tree strengthens the branch, and makes the root firmer.
The limb I move most, and use most, is the limb which has the greater power. And the grace which is turned to best account in active service grows the fastest. If you were a busier Christian you would be a stronger Christian. The imbecility of your mind is very much because you do not work enough for God. God gives you many things which become paralysed by disuse! Partly by natural cause and effect, but still more by the supernatural grace which is added, ‘workers for God’ ‘grow strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.’
If anything is decaying in you, consecrate it, and employ it, and it will revive. A thousand things in us only wait to be more spread out; to be more given to some high purpose; to be more devoted to Christ and His Church. Go to duty, and the strength will come with the going.
Here, then, are five great strengtheners; peace, the Word of Christ, the Presence of Christ, and union with Christ, and an active, useful life.
—Rev. Jas. Vaughan.
Illustration
‘At the best we are all very weak Christians; else, why do we so vacillate. Why do we so vary with our company—religious with the religious, and worldly with the worldly? Why is to-day no rule for to-morrow? Why are we so turned by a word, or a smile, or a laugh? Why do we fall so often and so sadly? Why are we conquered again and again by some old sin which we thought was dead? Why do we take so little by our prayers? Why is faith so impotent? Why, after all these years, and all these voices that have been speaking to us, within us and about us, and all this patience and mercy and love of God, why are we still such mere babes in grace, if we are alive at all? And why have we done so little good to anybody? Why have we no influence? Why have we no great work to show for God?
Weakness! weakness! Weak resolutions! weak perseverance! weak affections! weak faith!
20.
Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.
21.
But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.