Daniel 10:18

Dan 10:18 Then there came again and touched me [one] like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,

Ver. 18. Then there came again and touched me.] Not all at once, but by four degrees, was Daniel raised: (1.) He is set upon his knees and palms of his hands, {Dan 10:10} an emblem of prayer; (2.) He is caused to stand upon his feet, though trembling and silent; {Dan 10:11; Dan 10:15} (3.) His mouth is opened to speak, though not without much weakness, fears, and sorrows; {Dan 10:17} (4.) He is fully strengthened here. God loves to hold his praying people long in request. He is also "a God of judgment" - one that well understandeth when and how to bestow his favours; "Blessed are all they that wait for him." {Isa 30:18}

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Dan_10:18

And He strengthened me.

Our Lords humanity a source of comfort

We are not able, as yet, to bear the full revelation of divine things. We ought to be thankful that our God has revealed no more. It appears that, when weighed down under a sense of the divine presence, the readiest method of consolation is found in the touch of a certain sublime, mysterious, human hand. Surely this glorious being was that uncreated messenger of the covenant who, though not born into our nature in Daniels day, yet took upon Himself the similitude of man for a time, as He had done before when on special occasions He appeared to others of the saints before His actual incarnation. The Son of God is also the Son of Man. He is as truly man as if He were not God, and as truly God as if He had never assumed the nature of man. Show how the touch of the hand of Jesus, the man, strengthens us.

I. IT CHEERS US WHEN WE LABOUR UNDER A SENSE OF LONELINESS. Some feel alone because they are the only ones of their house who serve the Lord. Well, there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. The child of God as he grows in grace becomes more lonely. But there are no heights of attainment which Jesus has not surpassed. It falls to the lot of some Christians to stand alone in their contention for the faith. In all our work He is our companion.

II. IT IS SWEET TO FEEL THE TOUCH OF THE HUMANITY OF CHRIST WHEN WE ARE HUMBLED IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD. A blessed extinction of self makes room for infinite love. There is not one covenant blessing but what, if we understood it, would have a humbling effect upon us. At such times of self-annihilation it is strengthening to the mind to feel the touch of that hand, and to perceive that He who is our God is also very near to us.

III. IN SORROW, HOW BLESSED IT IS TO PEEL THE TOUCH OF THE MANS HAND! Pain of body is the portion of many of Gods people. They are seldom long without it. Others endure the affliction of poverty. Some true Christians are naturally of a sombre temperament. There is no abyss of grief into which Jesus has not descended.

IV. THE FACT THAT JESUS IS A MAN, SUCH AS WE ARE, SHOULD GREATLY COMFORT US IN ALL OUR STRUGGLES. It seems hard, this battle of life, this fighting against sin, this contention against inbred corruption. We are apt to think sometimes, Can we ever win? Is not the battle too difficult? In such moments look at yonder man who sits upon the throne of God. He is the typical man. Consider Him who endured such contradiction of sinners against himself.

V. WHAT A BLESSED THING IT IS TO LOOK AT THE MANHOOD OF JESUS CHRIST AT TIMES WHEN WE HAVE BEEN DECEIVED BY OUR BRETHREN. Our natural tendency to idolatry leads us to confide in man. Sometimes there have come the discovery that man is only man, and that some men are not saints, though they talk in a saintly manner. At such times it is most cheering to remember that there is one man who will never deceive us. There is one who has not uttered a promise which He will not fulfil, nor won from us a confidence which He will not justify.

VI. THE SAME IS TRUE IN SEASONS OF DOUBT. There is a class of disciples like Thomas, who think much, and are apt to doubt much. They do not love doubts, they hate them, yet their doubts often go very deep, and undermine the most precious doctrines. A sight of my Lord is the sheetanchor which has held me fast in times of scepticism and doubt. I cannot doubt when I see him.

VII. THE TOUCH OF OUR REDEEMERS HUMAN HAND COMFORTS US IN THE HOUR OF DEATH. One man has broken from the prison of the grave, and therefore all will who are like him.

VIII. THE MANHOOD OF CHRIST OUGHT TO BE A GREAT COMFORT TO YOU WHEN YOU ARE SEEKING TO DO GOOD AMONG YOUR FELLOW-MEN. This is an awful world, this world of human beings. But Jesus took human nature on Him, and thereby did it the highest honour. He thought it worth while to suffer and die for sinners. Let us think none so bad as to be beyond hope of benefit. Jesus Christ stoops low; so let us do. (C. H. Spurgeon.)

The Vision of Daniel

This is a record of the manner in which God reveals Himself to men, and it especially tells us how God strengthens them to hear His Word and do His Will.

1. Gods strengthening comes through what is divine becoming human. It comes into human relations and human measures. Daniel is represented here as overwhelmed by what he had seen and heard. We cannot take in too much at a time even of the highest and noblest things. They require strength of mind, clearness of intellect, to grasp and to carry them. It is so with knowledge. It is true even of our affections. Just so it is with the presence of God. We cannot dwell too long among the coruscations and flashings of the divine glory. Our week faculties reel and collapse beneath the strain. Too much was unveiled to Daniel, he became strenghtless. How was he restored? How did he gather strength again? One having the form of a man comes to him and touches him. That human touch gives him strength once more. The gentle touch of love, how it darts right through to our hearts core, and makes our blood tingle. The soothing touch of pity is more eloquent than ten thousand words. It is full of comfort, and gives patience and mighty peace. Daniel was no longer alone. He had a companion--a human companion--with him, and found heartfelt and infinite relief. Who was this human form? We do not know. We are not told that it was an angel. We are not told that it was Christ. In one sense it certainly was Christ, for all living manifestations of God are utterances or syllables, so to speak, of that eternal Word of God, of which Christ is the full and perfect embodiment. Better ask, What does He mean? than to press the question, Who is He? His appearance means this blessed, consoling, universal fact, that God is not far from men, and that He gives us power both to endure what He lays upon us, and to do His commandments, by coming to us, as Himself in a sense human, as full of human love and sympathy. There is something in God which is very near to us and very dear. He is the light by which we understand. He is the pulse that beats in the centre of our life. He is the soul of our best and purest joy. When God shows us this side of His character--what I may call the human side of it--then we grow strong, and our poverty and weakness pass at once, and pass utterly away. That is true every way. It is true in regard to our sins; and m regards to our temptations. The knowledge that Christ has overcome is there before us. That alone helps me That perfect man is here, the head and crown of humanity, and He will breathe peace and faith, hope and courage, harmony and victory, into you and into me. (J.F. Stevenson, LL.D.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Dan 10:18-19. Then there came again, &c. — This seems to be spoken of the same angel, namely, the angel Gabriel, touching him again, whereby he was rendered more composed, and had his strength revived. And said, O man, &c., fear not — Thou needest not be under such terrible apprehensions, as if this vision did portend to thee some mischief; for it is a peculiar token of God’s favour to thee.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

again . . . touched me--It was gradually that Daniel recovered his strength. Hence there was need of the second touch, that he might hear the angel with composure.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

18. one like the appearance of a man] ‘appearance,’ as in Dan_8:15, and often in the visions of Ezek. (Eze_1:13-14; Eze_1:26-28, Eze_8:2, Eze_10:1, Eze_42:11).

strengthened me] i.e. both restored my physical strength, and also ‘encouraged’ me, as the same word is rendered in Deu_1:38; Deu_3:28.

18, 19. A third touch (see Dan_10:10; Dan_10:16), followed by a second reassurance (see Dan_10:11-14) on the part of the dazzling being, restores Daniel’s composure entirely.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man,.... Or one like a man again touched him; the same that touched him before, Dan 10:16, perhaps Gabriel, since he uses the same language in the following verse as he does Dan 10:11,

and he strengthened me; both in body and mind, by his free and familiar conversation with him, and the comfortable words he spoke to him, a divine power accompanying them for that purpose.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Then there came again, and touched me ... - The same one is here referred to doubtless who is mentioned in Dan 10:16 - the angel. He came to him again in this condescending and familiar manner in order to allay his fears, and to prepare him to receive his communications with entire calmness.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Daniel needed a second touch, and another word of encouragement, before he could hear and bear the angel’s words as to the vision and prophecy; and now, being fortified by degrees, he hath got courage.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

18, 19. Once more the angel strengthens him by a touch and comforts him with tender words. (Compare Dan_10:10-11; note Dan_10:16.) It is to be noted that even more than by his touch Daniel was strengthened by the angelic appeal to be strong. Even by the angels and the God of all angels the human will is honored. Man should not lose his strength, his self-possession, and his power of reason even in the presence of the supernatural.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me. The versions here call for no remark. The prophet still stood, but trembling and powerless, unable to comprehend fully the revelation; but now again the strengthening hand touches him. It cannot be regarded as a strain put upon the meaning here, if we see in this repeated presence of one in the form of man a symbol of Christ, who took upon him the form of a servant, and was found in fashion as a man.

Vers. 18, 19.

Divine encouragement.

I THE NEED OF ENCOURAGEMENT.

1. In trouble. It is difficult to work bravely and earnestly in the midst of calamity. The calamities of Israel were discouragements in the way of the service of God.

2. In guilt. Daniel had been confessing the sins of himself and his nation. (Dan_9:5) Nothing is so depressing as the feeling of failure and the knowledge that it has come by our own fault.

1. In weakness. The burden of the mystery of life oppresses all who feel it, as it oppressed Daniel. Before the needs of the world and the tasks of life the strongest man may well feel weak in his own resources, and then his weakness may damp his zeal for service.

2. In fear. When the mystery of the future begins to unveil itself and future troubles appear to be drawing near, the vagueness with which they are seen magnifies the terror of them. The fear which is then roused paralyzes our energies.

II THE SOURCES OF ENCOURAGEMENT.

1. They are found in God. God sends the angel to strengthen Daniel Until we know God, we dread his presence; but when we know him, the more we enter into his presence, the more peace and confidence shall we receive.

2. They spring from the love of God. Daniel is greatly beloved. " The assurance of God"s love is his greatest encouragement. If we know God loves us, we may be assured that he will ward off all real harm, and thus we may lose our fear in his love. (1Jn_4:18)

3. They flow to us through channels of brotherly sympathy. "One like the appearance of a man" touched Daniel. God comes to us in "the Son of man," and through the brotherly sympathy of Christ communicates his Divine encouragement.

4. They manifest themselves by practical results in communicating real strength. Daniel was strengthened. There is a real supply of spiritual strength which is bestowed by the gift of the Holy Spirit. The encouragement this gives is not only in idea, it is in fact. The weak man is encouraged by finding himself becoming strong in the strength of God (Isa_40:29; 2Co_12:10)

III THE WAY TO OBTAIN DIVINE ENCOURAGEMENT.

1. By humility and contritions. Daniel had humbled himself and confessed sin, and thus was prepared for God"s help. We can only be filled with God"s strength when we are emptied of our own self-confidence.

2. By prayer. Daniel was a man of prayer (ver. 12). God encourages us in proportion as we seek his help.

3. By faith As we trust God, he strengthens us, because his strength is spiritual and can only enter us as we voluntarily submit to his influence. (Heb_11:33, Heb_11:34)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

a man The theophanies. Dan 8:15; Eze 40:3; Gen 12:7; Rev 1:9. (See Scofield "Dan 10:6"). See Scofield "Dan 10:10".

The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

the one with an appearance of a man

"the one who looked like a human"

Be strong now, be strong

The words "be strong" are repeated for emphasis.

man greatly treasured

This can also be stated in active form. AT: "you whom God greatly treasures" (See: Active or Passive)

I was strengthened

This can also be stated in active form. AT: "I became strong" (See: Active or Passive)

translationWords

love

fear

peace

lord

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.