Let us turn to the chapter that
we read in the book of Daniel chapter 9 and reading again verses 12 and
13 Daniel sorry Daniel chapter 10 Daniel chapter 10 and verses
12 and 13 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. 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 remain there
with the kings of Persia." Here we see prayer being answered
in the face of opposition. Prayer answered in the face of
opposition. We were in this chapter last
Lord's Day evening. We took for our text then that
former verse, the words that we have in verse eight, where
Daniel says, 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. Those were the words that we
were looking at last time, that remarkable vision that was granted
to the prophets as he says back in verse 5 I lifted up mine eyes
and looked and behold a certain man that one man who is spoken
of in the margin that vision of the Lord Jesus Christ and
the effect that it had upon him what we have here of course in
this chapter is really the answer to the prayer, that prayer of
Daniel that is contained in the previous chapter, we read chapter
9, last Lord's Day, that great prayer that he makes as a result
of his readings in the book of the Prophet Jeremiah, coming
to understand now that the time was fulfilled, the number of
the years, the 70 years of captivity in exile was fulfilled and he
sets himself to pray and to plead with God that there might be
the fulfillment of that promise given through the Prophet Jeremiah
that the people would not languish forever but there would be a
restoration and he doesn't pray in vain He is told there by Gabriel,
verse 23 and chapter 9, At the beginning of thy supplications
the commandment came forth, And I have come to show thee, for
thou art greatly beloved. Therefore understand the matter
and consider the vision. 70 weeks are determined upon
thy people and upon thy holy city to finish the transgression,
and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity,
and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and
prophecy, and to anoint the most holy. Oh are we not reminded
here how God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we
ask or think. Daniel had prayed and his prayer
very much centers in the matter of the restoring of the Jews
after the 70 years. But here we have that great promise
concerning Messiah who was to come and that that God had determined
even the accomplishment of the great work of the redemption
of sinners. How God is able to do exceeding,
above all that we ask or think. But here in the words that we
read for our text, here in verse 12 of chapter 10, we see another
truth for it says 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 from the very first
day from the beginning of his prayer before ever his prayer
was completed God says before they call I will answer whilst
they are yet speaking I will hear Oh, how God hears us before
ever we utter a word. How God is that one who is able
to read the hearts of all men. He knows those things that we
stand in need of. We don't imagine that we come
to inform him of matters that he is ignorant of. How we see
then the remarkable experiences of Daniel set before us. and
how God does for him so much not only the promise of the coming
of Messiah the accomplishment of that great work it's not just
a speaking of Christ there in that 24th verse in chapter 9
but also this man is granted the sight of Christ this is the
man that he beholds Here in verse 5, as he lifts up his eyes, as
he looks, as he beholds a certain man, clothed in linen, whose
loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz, 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." Why it was the same man that the Apostle
John saw there on the Isle of Patmos. The description as we
said last week that we find there in that chapter is the same as
what we find here in what is said concerning this certain
man that the Prophet beheld. Now coming then to consider these
words that I read for our text, verses 12 and 13. And I want, with the Lord's help,
to Divide what I say into two parts. First of all, to say something
with regards to Daniel's prayer in the cause of that prayer,
but then in the second place, to also observe what conflict
there was in his prayers. First of all,
the cause of his prayer. We're told the historical context
In the opening verse of the chapter, it's in the third year of Cyrus,
king of Persia. A thing was revealed unto Daniel,
it says, whose name was called Balthasar. And the thing was
true, but the time appointed was long. And they understood
the thing and had understanding of the vision. The reference
here is then to Cyrus, Cyrus the Great, Cyrus the King of
Persia. But Cyrus reigned with Darius
the Great of the Medes. Look at what it says here at
the end of verse 13, it says, I remain there with the kings. In the plural, I remain there
with the kings of Persia. These two Cyrus and Darius, one
a Persian, one a Medes, they reigned together for a certain
period. If we go back to chapter 6, and
there at the end of the chapter we're told how this Daniel prospered
in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. It was the Medes and Persians
who had overthrown the empire of the Babylonians or the Chaldeans. In chapter 5 we have the overthrow
of that great empire. Remember how it was Nebuchadnezzar,
the Babylonian, who had taken the Jews into exile? But there,
at the end of chapter 5, we're told, in that night was Belshazzar,
the king of the Chaldeans, slain. And Darius the Median took the
kingdom, being about three score and two years old. Darius, as
I said, associated with Cyrus. Well, what was the time? The
time of this prayer as it's spoken of here in this 10th chapter?
Well, we're told it was now in the third year of Cyrus, king
of Persia. If we go back, we see in chapter
9 that it was in the first year of Darius. the son of Ahasuerus
of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realms
of the Chaldeans, it was in the first year of his reign that
Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof
the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet that he
would accomplish 70 years in the desolations of Jerusalem. And here he is praying and the
time is long, there's a period of time here and what do we read
in the historic book? We read that opening chapter
of Ezra and it speaks there of the decree that was passed by
Cyrus. Remember it was the first year
of the reign of Cyrus. There in that opening part of
the of the book of Ezra. Now in the first year of Cyrus
king of Persia it says that the word of the Lord by the mouth
of Jeremiah might be fulfilled the Lord stirred up the spirit
of Cyrus king of Persia that he made a proclamation throughout
all his kingdom and put it in writing and he his proclamation
is this that the Jews are to return They are charged to build
a house at Jerusalem there in Judah, the rebuilding of the
Temple of the Lord. And if we'd have read on into
the second chapter there in Ezra, we see we have the names of those
who returned. Now what particular time of the
year was it? when Daniel is making his prayer. Well, he tells us in verse 2,
In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. 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, and in the four and
twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great
river which is Hiddeka." He speaks then of the 24th day of the first
month in verse 4, and He's been afflicting himself
for 3 whole weeks, that's 21 days. So it must have been on
the 3rd day of the 1st month. It was the 1st day of the 3rd
month. We come back to the words of
our text in verse 13 where we read that the Prince of the Kingdom
of Persia withstanding He withstood me one and twenty days. Three
weeks you see. He's engaging in prayers, his
pleadings are with God and they commence there on the third day
of the first month. Now what was the first month? Well remember in Israel the beginning
of months was Nisan. And Nisan marked the deliverance
out of the bondage of Egypt. Nisan was the month of the Passover. On the 14th day of that first
month they were to eat of the Passover. And so we see what
he is saying here in verses 2, 3 and 4. It's all happening at
that time when they would normally be celebrating the Passover. And that Passover marks the deliverance
out of Egypt. And here he is in chapters 9
and 10, his great burden, his great concern, is the deliverance
out of the exile in Babylon. But as we said at the outset,
more than that, these strange words that we have, particularly
here in chapter 10, have to do with the Lord Jesus Christ. And
we think of the language there in the New Testament, even Christ's
Passover is sacrifice for us. Or isn't the Lord Jesus Christ
the antitype of that Passover lamb? As we said last week, we
have gospel here in the book of Daniel. Or what is the time
of Daniel's prayer? It's all bound up with the time
of the Passover. And in all our prayers, of course,
in all our pleadings with God, our prayers are to be bound up
with the Lord Jesus Christ. What is our plea? It is only
Christ, it is in Him alone that we have that boldness, that access
with confidence. It is always by the faith of
Jesus Christ. Well, here is the time then of
His praying. It is in that first month. It's
over that long period from the third day to the 24th day and
there in the very midst of that period there would normally be
the observance of the Passover. But then we have to take account
of the troubles of this remnant who were there in Babylon in
exile. Oh how they were in trouble! There had been no Passover observed
throughout all those long years of exile. 70 years! 70 years had passed and they had
not been able to celebrate that great festival, the Feast of
the Passover. And even when they returned to
the Promised Land by means of the decree that was issued by
Cyrus still, they were initially unable to observe the Passover. It was some while. They were,
even as they come out of exile, a people greatly troubled and
trying. We turn again to the book of
Ezra, and consider the language there in the sixth chapter. Here they are, engaged in the
building, Verse 14, the elders of the Jews build it, and they
prospered through the prophesying of Agai, the prophet, and Zechariah,
the son of Edah. And they build it and finished
it according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according
to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Daxertes, king
of Persia. And this house was finished on
the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of
the reign of Darius the king. And then, verse 19, the children of the
captivity kept the Passover upon the fourteenth day of the first
month. Why, it was some while after
they had entered into the Promised Land again. Agar is the last
month of the Jewish calendar. And then we see how the next
month, the first month, the month of Nisan, they are able at last
to celebrate the Passover, how they are to endure much opposition. all the while they were engaged
in that great work of the rebuilding of the Temple of the Lord. In chapter 4 of Ezra, verse 4,
the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah
and troubled them in building. and I have counsellors against
them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus, king of
Persia, even until the reign of Darius, king of Persia." That's
another Darius, Darius II. All this constant opposition
as they're engaged in this work. Here then we see the background
to the prayers of this man, Daniel. He was aware of all those years
of exile and he was so opposed and so there's great conflict
really when we come to consider the matter of his prayer. All remember that this man Daniel
was favoured to see the Lord Jesus Christ As he makes his
prayer there in chapter 9 as we said last time when we come
to those remarkable words at the beginning of this 10th chapter.
There's an emphasis really upon what he witnesses, what he sees,
he lifts up his eyes, he looks, he beholds. Now there's an emphasis
you see, here is a sight to be seen. He says in verse 7, I, Daniel,
alone saw the vision. The men that were with me saw
not the vision. Oh, but Daniel is so favoured,
he is that man who is signally beloved of the Lord, granted
this encouragement. Then I lifted up mine eyes and
looked, and behold, a certain man. Oh, this is the man Christ
Jesus. As we said, there are similarities
between the description that we have in Daniel and the description
that John gives us in the opening chapter of the Revelation. It's
a sign. That glorious person, even the
God-man. But then, what opposition? What conflict? Coming to the
words of the text, He has had assurance in verse
12, thy words were heard and I am come for thy words. He has not prayed in vain. None
ever pray in vain, our prayers are heard. But it says, the prince
of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days. Who is this prince? It is not
Cyrus. We're not to think of Cyrus.
Nor are we to think of Darius, the Mede, or the Median. These
men are referred to here as kings. As it says at the end of the
13th verse, I remain there with the kings of Persia. Who is the
prince of the kingdom of Persia? this prince is none other than
Satan it's the devil himself who is
opposing Daniel it's that one of whom the Apostle
speaks to the Ephesians the prince of the power of the air the spirit
that now worketh in the children of disobedience it's that prince,
that wicked prince that fallen angel. Or remember how we see
his opposition and how active he was at the time of the restoration
of the Jews. We read of him in the third chapter
of the book of the prophet Zechariah. Zechariah, together with Haggai,
ministering at the time of Ezra, encouraging the people as we
saw. But what do we read there in Zechariah chapter 3? The Prophet
says, He showed me Joshua, the high priest, standing before
the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to
resist him. And the Lord said unto Satan,
The Lord rebuked thee, O Satan, even the Lord that hath chosen
Jerusalem rebuketh thee. Is not this a bran plucked out
of the fire? Oh, this is the high priest.
There, together with Ezra and Zerubbabel, are those who are
engaged in this great work of the rebuilding of the temple
of the Lord. Or how it goes on into the fourth
chapter. Read there in Zechariah chapter
3 and 4. But here is Satan, you see. This
is the priest. and how active satan is in opposing
the prayers of the people of God how he trembles when he sees
the weakest saint upon his knees though he trembles he is not
inactive he will oppose that saint of God he will attack him
He will seek to undermine his praying faith. He will turn him
away from his petitions unto God. Oh, there is such a spiritual
conflict, and Daniel knew this. Daniel knew this. There had certainly
been a very real conflict, of course, when the empire of the
Babylonians and the Chaldeans was overthrown by that of the
Medes and Persians. And eventually the great empire
of the Medes and Persians would also be brought to an end by
conflict under Alexander the Great and the Grecians. It's
spoken of here at the end of the chapter. Verse 20 then said,
He knowest thou wherefore I am 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. Now there were the
succession of great empires the Babylonians, the Medes and the
Persians, the Grecians and then after that the Romans and there
is Little Israel in the midst of all these things caught up
in all this terrible turmoil. It was very real conflict. But
we're thinking more particularly of that spiritual conflict. The Prince of the Kingdom of
Persia withstood much. Says Daniel. One and twenty died. or during that period at the
beginning of the year, even in the Passover month. But lo! Again, remember the significance
of that word lo, it's really the same as the word behold,
which we have back in verse 5. Behold a certain man, or consider
that man the strength of that word behold fix the eye on that
man and so here we read but lo behold fix the eye consider Michael one of the chief princes came
to help me Daniel says and I remain there with the kings of Persia
who is this Michael that is being spoken of Well, Dr. Gill, without any hesitation,
says that this is the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the Lord Jesus Christ.
It's the same person, you see. It's that certain man. It's that
one man that he beheld in verse 5, and now he beholds him again. And he is that one who comes
to help. all that conflict that Daniel's
experiencing in all his prayers at this particular time and how
he needs that gracious enabling that comes from the Lord. Though to speak thou be not able,
always pray and never faint. Prayer's a weapon for the feeble,
weakest souls can wield it best. Always for weak souls, and this
is what Daniel is in the midst of all this conflict. Going up
and seeing those lines of Joseph Hart in the Hymn 882, that his
prayer supports the soul that's weak, though thought be broken,
language lame. Pray if thou canst or canst not
speak, but pray with faith in Jesus' name. Although we cannot
speak, though words do fail us, that is a name that we have to
look to, that is a name that we have to plead. Prayer, you
see, is such a constant spiritual conflict. It is no easy thing
to pray. And this is what we see in Daniel.
Yes, we have the prayer there in chapter 9, a remarkable prayer. And we might read it through
and say what a fine prayer it is, but how costly it was. What
conflict there was in his own soul, wrestling with God in his
prayers. And the Apostle makes that abundantly
clear. when he speaks to us of that
provision that God has made for the Christian in that armour
that's spoken of at the end of Ephesians, in Ephesians chapter
6. Verse 11, put on the whole armor
of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the
devil. For we wrestle not against flesh
and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers
of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness
in high places. Wherefore take on to you the
whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil
day, and having gone all to stand. or to withstand Him, to stand
before God in that attitude of prayer. Praying always with all
prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto
with all perseverance and supplication for all saints, says the Apostle.
How there is to be then this conflict, and how we see it here
in the words of our text tonight. What are the weapons of our warfare
against Him who is the Prince of the Kingdom of Persia who
withstands us? It is but prayer. All the weapons of our warfare,
they are not carnal, but they are mighty through God. That
is the great wonder of prayer. Here is Daniel. The Lord hears
his prayer there in the 9th chapter, the Lord answers his prayer and
answers it remarkably not only in terms of a deliverance out
of the captivity but that great promise concerning the 70 weeks
which are determined upon the people, upon the Holy City the
work of the Lord Jesus Christ spoken of there in verse 24 of
the previous chapter but not only that promise concerning
the work of Christ but also the granting of this remarkable vision
Christ is revealed to him he beholds the Lord Jesus Christ
well God favours him but then what of Daniel's experience when
he sees something of the glories of Christ that's where we were
last Lord's Day verse 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 he's all weakness
he's all weakness what is he to do? he feels his sinfulness That's why he's so weak. Nothing
of himself. All uncleanness, all filthiness. All he's made to feel it. But
if any man sin, remember we have an Advocate with the Father.
Jesus Christ the Righteous and He is the propitiation for our
sins. He is the source, the only source
of His strength and His enabling. What does He say later here?
Verse 18, Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance
of a man, and he strengthened me, 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. Oh, we see all that strength
then is found only in the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, how the Lord
so graciously comes to strengthen His praying servants. Prayer
is heard, prayer is answered in spite of every opposition
because of Him who is our Advocate, even the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. And we see it here in the book
of Daniel, as I said last week, there is gospel. Oh, thank that
God grant that we might have eyes to behold the wonders of
the Lord Jesus Christ in every part of Scripture. Search the
Scriptures, he says, to those Jews. In them ye think that ye
have eternal life, and these are they that testify of me. O Daniel, that man so greatly
beloved! Then said he unto me, Fear not,
Daniel, for from the first day 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. 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. Oh, the Lord grant his blessing
upon his word, for his name's sake. Amen.