Meditations On Manhood--Daniel 10:18
Day 7
Yesterday, I was fascinated with the Two Source Theory that a supposed long lost book of Q was the source of the common parable sayings found in Matthew and Luke, particularly the parable of the blind leading the blind from Luke 6:39-40.
Why the fascination?
Besides being a total nerd about odd stuff like dusty theories and ancient, lost books, there is, beyond all of my pragmatism and logic, the wonderful, sometimes chilling, mysteries of my faith.
That primordial feeling inside of me that there is so much going on just outside of my awareness, just outside out my field of vision.
I can’t explain the feelings of mystery or the strangeness of knowing that I don’t know why things happen the way that they do.
Charles Spurgeon, in a sermon from 1876, contained in Meditations on Manhood, introduces the mystery of Daniel’s apocalyptic encounters with angels in Daniel 10.
Daniel, at the time, didn’t understand anything about what was happening to him any more than I do now–but he was sufficiently jolted by the visions he saw of the great war coming that he fasted and prayed for 3 weeks.
Then God sends an angel to Daniel to explain the visions to him.
Spurgeon references Daniel 10:18.
Daniel 10:18 Then this one with human appearance touched me again and strengthened me.
Spurgeon uses verse 18, I think, as a jump off point to explain that the hand of God’s power and His Word is enough to redress all of our grievances and rectify whatever trouble we are in.
One touch from heaven is all it takes.
Spurgeon writes:
“Do you feel yourselves guilty before God? Do you wish for mercy? Come, then, and come directly, for Jesus Christ, a man like yourselves, invites you. Remember, you cannot go to God without a mediator, but you may go to Christ without a mediator: you may go just as you are.”
And his point is well taken.
Jesus is another MAN that I can speak to, in a way that I could never speak to God.
Jesus was as human as I am now–except without all the self-defeating sin that riddles my body.
Daniel lived about 150 years before Jesus, so God sent Daniel an angel to explain what his visions meant.
Spurgeon emphasizes that Jesus Christ is our mediator–but that’s not what fascinates me about Daniel 10.
I was totally into the SECRET AGENCIES described in Daniel 10.
Like a school-aged kid watching Kingsman: The Secret Service or any James Bond or Mission: Impossible movie, for the first time, I was–oh, yes, yes, yes!
Daniel 10 describes the “prince of Persia” and the “prince of Greece” in a way that suggests that these people aren’t people-people like Biden and Harris are national leaders, but angelic beings arrayed against God’s purposes with Israel.
Demonic beings.
David E. Stevens writes in Daniel 10 and the Notion of Territorial Spirits:
“The designations “prince of Persia” and “prince of Greece” refer to angelic (demonic) beings. These were not mere human princes nor were they “territorial spirits”; they were powerful national angels or “empire spirits” who opposed God’s carrying out His purposes through His people Israel.”
And Daniel was sensitive enough to sense this evil all around him and he reacted the way believers are reacting now to the sense of evil that pervades our land.
Last Sunday, I’ve never seen Mass so packed. These are the winter months here in North Myrtle Beach, so tourists are sparse–but the pews were filled and there were people standing in the back and up and down the side walls.
Why?
I think people are sensitive to evil–but like me–don’t exactly have a grip on just what the heck is going on, or who is responsible, or why.
C.S. Lewis describes the errors we can make about evil in The Screwtape Letters:
“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.”
I think most of us know and feel the evil in our midst.
But we have been anesthetized by our phones, by the latest “Restaurant Week”, by the latest Netflix sensation, (and for me) by the latest NFL, NBA, or MLB news.
Again, C.S. Lewis warns us. From God in the Dock:
“If devils exist, their first aim is to give you an anesthetic -- to put you off your guard. Only if that fails, do you become aware of them.”
I think every believer, maybe even non-believers too, are seeing apocalyptic visions. That vague feeling that none of what we have going now, in our society, is going to end well.
So we pray. We pack the churches.
One touch from Heaven is all it takes. 🙂
Lord, like Daniel, we face challenges that seem insurmountable and are afraid for our futures. We ask You to strengthen us with and uphold us.
Lord, help us to persevere in prayer, knowing that You hear our cries and will answer according to Your will.
Amen.