Bible Studies
The Battle Belongs to the Lord (Dan. 10:1-9)
Series: There is a God in Heaven (Studies in the Book of Daniel)Introduction:
1. We are watching with interest as political and military powers jockey for control in the world. Our interest often turns to anxiety, fear and alarm as those elements boil over into our immediate society. We learn new words like “ISIS,” “ISIL,” “jihad,” and “al Qaeda”. 2. Similar forces were at work in Daniel’s day.a. Babylon had overpowered Judah.
b. The Medes and the Persians had overpowered Babylon.
c. Now the Greeks were threatening the Medes and Persians.
3. It would seem that God’s people are pawns batted around by powers beyond their control, but the message of the Book of Daniel is that in spite of Daniel’s current circumstances God is in control and will win the victory. 4. I would like that to be the message that you take away from our study today. I would like you to be comforted by that message and trust in the Lord for His deliverance.Discussion:
I. In chapter 10 Daniel is exposed to a great war that is going on.A. The dateline: The third year of Cyrus king of Persia.
1. Cyrus was the Persian emperor who had conquered Babylon in 539 B.C.
2. Darius the Mede had been left in charge.
3. Cyrus had released captives, but Daniel continues to be in Babylon. Why? Some have suggested because of his age. He has been in Babylon for 70 years. Even if he was a young man when taken captive he is probably 80+ now.
B. While beside the Tigris River he saw a vision of a man whose appearance overwhelmed him (5-9).
1. Is this God? We are reminded of the personage in Ezekiel 1 that represented God. And we are reminded of John’s vision in Rev. 1:15 that represents Jesus.
2. In verses 10ff there is a personage that is a messenger that is sent to Daniel who has been engaged in a battle. Helped by Michael he is now able to come to Daniel. Perhaps this is the same individual introduced in verses 5-9.
3. This one also overwhelms Daniel. He strengthens Daniel so that Daniel can receive his message. He reveals to Daniel that a battle is going on (v. 20) that involves the prince of Persia and will involve the prince of Greece. The one who has strengthened Daniel states that at the beginning of Darius’ reign he arose to encourage and protect him.
a. Recognize that while this is a spiritual battle that is going on it involves physical rulers.
b. Too often we want to create a radical separation between the physical and the spiritual.
c. But such is not what is communicated in Scripture. There is an interrelation between the two. Our spiritual struggle with sin involves our physical bodies. Our observance of the Lord’s supper is spiritual yet involves physical elements. The spiritual battle described in this text involves physical kings.
II. Chapter 11 continues to reveal events that were in the future for Daniel.A. Three more kings will arise in Persia and then a fourth.
1. These have been variously identified by scholars and historians. Depending on who is identified as the first king.
2. If Cyrus is the first: Cambyses, Darius Hystaspis, Xerxes.
3. If Cyrus is not counted: Cambyses, Smerdis, Darius Hystaspis, Xerxes.
4. Smerdis is regarded as an imposter by some and thus omitted.
B. A mighty king will arise from Greece and then his kingdom will be divided into the four points of the compass. Cf. Dan. 8:8.
1. This description fits Alexander the Great.
2. His kingdom was divided between his four generals after his death.
a. Cassander.
b. Lysimachus.
c. Seleucus.
d. Ptolemy.
C. In addition there is a king of the South that will arise (Egypt v. 8). Historically fits Ptolemy of Egypt. Berenice, the daughter of Ptolemy, negotiated a peace agreement. The peace agreement was broken down and the Seleucid Empire ultimately overpowered the Ptolemaic Empire of Egypt. The history at this point reads like a soap opera: marriages, battles, alliances formed and broken.
D. The descriptions given in 11:20ff fit the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes.
1. In an attack against Egypt “ships from Kittim” attack him.
2. These are under Roman authority. See LXX. He is disheartened.
3. Antiochus persecutes the Jews. He does away with sacrifice and attempts to obliterate every trace of Jewish religion. He “sets up the abomination of desolation.” Young (p. 244) identifies this with the setting up of a heathen altar in the place of the altar of burnt offering.
E. The paragraph beginning in v. 36ff and the rest of the chapter have been variously interpreted. Young describes the various interpretations. He concludes, “Precisely what is signified is difficult to determine” (p. 253). That is a sophisticated way of saying, “I don’t know what it means.” I don’t either!
III. Chapter 12 closes with a blessing on those who wait (evidently for the fulfillment of these events) and Daniel is told “Go your way to the end (of your life); then you will enter rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age.”A. Is it talking about Daniel’s final reward as a faithful servant of God? Probably.
B. The blessing on those who wait gives comfort to all those who have not yet received their rest in recognition that God is in control. As so we “eagerly wait for a Savior” (Phil. 3:20).
IV. The Book of Daniel teaches us that there is a spiritual battle going on. It teaches us that God is in control and that although the battle is fierce victory belongs to Him.A. This is a theme evident throughout Scripture.
1. God delivered His people from the Egyptians at the Red Sea (Ex. 14).
2. God conquered the city of Jericho (Josh. 6).
3. At the hands of Deborah and Barak God defeated the Canaanites (Judges 4).
4. God defeated the Midianites with Gideon’s 300 (Judges 7).
5. God defeated Goliath (1 Sam. 17).
6. When Moab and Ammon attacked Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat prayed and his enemies destroyed themselves (2 Chron. 20).
7. When Sennacherib chided God and Hezekiah, God struck down 185,000 of the Assyrians (2 Kings 19:35).
B. The question is, “Are you on God’s side?” He turns His power against those who oppose Him. He even turned it against Israel when they refused to listen to Him. He destroyed Jerusalem at the hands of Neb. Is God your enemy?
C. The irony of the gospel is that the victory is won by dying. Jesus died on the cross and secured victory. He has disarmed the powers and authorities (Col. 2:15). He said His kingdom was not of this world. He has all authority and engages us as soldiers, not with physical weapons, but with spiritual (Eph. 6:10ff). He sends us into the army of the enemy to make disciples (Matt. 28:18-20).
D. Are you worried about the conditions in the world today? Is your fight political? Military? Are your efforts misplaced? We are engaged in a battle, but it is a spiritual battle. Are you amassing guns and ammunition? Are you depending on the government and the military for deliverance? Are you sharing the news of sin and redemption persuading people to enter the kingdom of God? Are you calling on people to die to themselves in order to live with the Lord (Col. 2:12)?
E. The “Battle Belongs to the Lord” (Psalms, Hymns, Spiritual Songs, # 529).
Conclusion:
1. Take courage and be courageous! 2. We win!
