August 31: WHEN GOD COMES NEAR
And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. Therefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength. Daniel 10:7-8
God’s faithful servant Daniel was about to be given another prophetic vision. It’s an understatement to say that the unveiled glory of God—revealed directly—is alarming to man in his present sinful state. Those who were with Daniel did not know God. Moreover, they did not know of the greatness of His mercy. The nearness of Christ in His glory is a terror to any who know not of His goodness. Even Daniel, who had loved the LORD since childhood, was thoroughly stunned. The brightness of the Divine Presence cannot help but heighten fallen man’s awareness of his own sinfulness. Upon seeing the Lord, Isaiah had declared, “Woe is me, for I am undone!” (Isaiah 6:5a).*
The sight of Jesus in His glory (vv.5-6) had Daniel describing himself thusly: no strength remained in me; for my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength. Daniel’s close-up experience with the LORD Himself left him in utter weakness, aware of his own imperfections.
Yet I heard the sound of his words; and while I heard the sound of his words I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground (v.9).
This same response had occurred the first time Gabriel came to clarify the earlier vision (see 8:18). The particular Hebrew word, radam, translated deep sleep, is associated with a numbing weariness (used also in Judges 4:21; Psalm 76:6; and Jonah 1:5-6). It points to a fatigue-induced lack of awareness, yet [Daniel] heard the sound of his words. Daniel’s determination to hear, in spite of his weakness, brings us to a fascinating comparison with the aged apostle John’s experience. Note these side-by-side comparisons between Daniel 10:5-12 and Revelation 1:13-17:
A certain man – One like the Son of Man; Clothed in linen – Garment down to the foot; waist girded with gold – chest girded with golden band; face like lightning – countenance like the sun; eyes like torches of fire – eyes like a flame of fire; feet like burnished bronze – feet like fine brass; the voice of a multitude – voice as the sound of many waters; no strength, face to the ground – fell at His feet as dead; a hand touched Daniel – He laid His right hand on John.
Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. Daniel 10:10
Daniel had seen a vision of Christ, but now, the hand that touches him is that of Gabriel. This is Gabriel’s third visit to Daniel. The first two visits contained partial explanations of Daniel’s previous visions, and now he has returned to finish his assigned task (8:15-19 & 9:21-22). Let us not forget that Daniel wished to know the truth about the fourth beast (7:19), from which comes the little horn…
He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; But he shall be broken without human means. 8:25b
*Compare to Genesis 3:8; 15:1,12; Ezekiel 1:28; Acts 9:1-9; Revelation 6:15-16