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.
I will show thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth - in the secret book of God's decrees (Psalms 139:16; Revelation 5:1); those decrees which are truth - i:e., the things which shall most surely come to pass, being determined by God (cf. John 17:17, "Thy word is truth").
And there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince - to him alone of the angels the office of protecting Israel, in concert with the angelic speaker, was delegated: all the world-powers were against Israel.
Remarks:
(1) There is a spiritual world unseen, which is closely connected with the world of sense that meets our eyes. This chapter draws aside the veil, and gives us a glimpse into the spirit-world, where we see the hidden springs which govern the movements adverse to the people of God in our world, and also the counteracting agency of the loving angels, who, by God's commission, defend His Church on earth. How solemn is the thought that we are not only a "spectacle to angels" (1 Corinthians 4:9), but are a subject of the liveliest and most personal interest to them! If angels of darkness, far more powerful than we, are against us, blessed be God, angels of light, more than able to thwart their sinister designs, are our spiritual champions arrayed on our side, and shall foil all the adversary's designs against us, if indeed we be the people of the Lord!
(2) In many of God's revelations to His people it may be said, as in the case of the revelation to Daniel (Daniel 10:1), "The thing is true, but the time appointed is long." It is the Lord's all-wise way to keep his people waiting, in order to test and to discipline their faith, their patience, and their hope unto the end. Meanwhile, like Daniel, we cannot but "mourn" at times for the trials and depressed state of the Church of Christ. While fasting (Daniel 10:2-3) is not compulsory, nor necessary generally for Christians, yet doubtless, if it can be made to consist of that abstinence whereby the flesh is subdued to the spirit, it becomes a mean of devotion, humiliation, and spiritual-mindedness. In all cases the child of God should not suffer his spirit to be over-powered by the dainties of sense and the pleasures of the appetite.
(3) When sinful, and therefore weak and fearful, man is brought into close contact with angelic beings, his instinctive feeling is that of alarm, and a desire to flee away through fright. The men who were with Daniel, at the first sight of the angel were affected with a great quaking, and fled to hide themselves (Daniel 10:7). Even the prophet himself lost all strength, and waxed deadly pale (Daniel 10:8), and fell with his "face toward the ground" (Daniel 10:9). This instinct of man is a sad testimony to the reality of the fall. The relations of holy communion between heavenly beings and man is interrupted, and love and confidence have given place to guilty fear and trembling.
(4) But the angel raised Daniel again to a standing posture (Daniel 10:9-10), and told him not to fear (Daniel 10:11-12). The child of God may for a time give way to the impulses of his old fleshly infirmity; but he has no real and lasting cause for fear. For angels are not his adversaries, but his fellow-servants and brethren (Revelation 22:9). Every believer is "a man greatly beloved" of God, as was Daniel; and his heavenly Father would have him not to tremble, as do the demons (James 2:19), but to have toward Him that perfect love which casteth out slavish and tormenting fear (1 John 4:18).
(5) From the first day that Daniel did set his heart to understand, and to chasten himself before his God, his woe rds were heard (Daniel 10:12). How comforting it is to us who pray, and are kept seemingly long waiting for the answer, to know that real prayer, resting on the promise of God, is heard at once, and from the very first, though the angel of God's presence may delay for a time in making known to us the answer of peace from God! Prayer delayed is not prayer denied. Nay more, prayer is more effectually answered by being deferred until God's time, and by being granted in God's way, than if it were answered in our time and our way. Therefore, though the answer "tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry" (Habakkuk 2:3). Angels of darkness may, for wise purposes of God, be allowed to retard the manifestation of deliverance to God's people, but they cannot prevent it. At last the cause of the saints shall triumph; because their "help" is laid on one that is mighty (Daniel 10:13; Psalms 89:19). From the first day that we turn to God in prayer, He turns to us in grace.
(6) While slavish fear should be put away from us in our approaches to God, we ought never to lose sight of the majesty of God, and the deep humility and profound reverence which become us as worms of the dust addressing the Lord of glory. As Daniel set his face toward the ground and became dumb (Daniel 10:15), so ought we, when we kneel in the attitude of suppliants, to be dumb in respect to all words of self-justification before Him, overwhelmed with a sense of our own nothingness, and with awe because of His unspeakable holiness Then, as in the case of Daniel, the same glorious God who has made us mute will give us spiritual "utterance," so as "that we may open our mouth boldly as we ought to speak" (Ephesians 6:19-20). And as our weakness, needs a continually fresh supply of spiritual strength, the same God who strengthened Daniel with a touch a second time (Daniel 10:18) will enable those who wait on Him to go on "from strength to strength" until, our earthly pilgrimage having been past, we shall in the heavenly Zion appear before God (Psalms 84:7).
(7) Every child of God may be encouraged by taking to himself the words addressed to Daniel, "Fear not: peace be unto thee; be strong, yea, be strong." Being justified by faith, he has peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; and this peace, accompanied with "joy in God," is the secret of spiritual "strength" (Nehemiah 8:10; Romans 5:1; Romans 5:11).
(8) When one trial to the Church passes away another succeeds. When the difficulties arising from Satanic influences acting through the Persian court against Israel had been counteracted by the ministry of angels sent from God, a new enemy started up in the person of the prince of Grecia, who also was a weapon in Satan's hand, wielded against the people of God. But the new enemy, too, must finally give way to the mighty power wielded by Israel's tutelary angel-prince, Michael in defense of Israel (Daniel 10:20-21). In this evil world the saints must expect tribulation, because Satan their enemy is its prince. But though none else "holds with" them on earth, they have on their side the count less heavenly hosts of the Lord God of Sabaoth: above all, they have Christ Himself, who saith, "Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Therefore let us take courage, remembering that "the scripture of truth" (Daniel 10:21) hath said, "If God be for us, who can be againt us?" (Romans 8:31.)