For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Daniel 10:1-14  

1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar). Its message was true and it concerned a great war. The understanding of the message came to him in a vision.

2 At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. 3 I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.

4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris, 5 I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like topaz, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.

7 I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; those who were with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves. 8 So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless. 9 Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.

10 A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.

12 Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. 13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. 14 Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.”

A. Find Out:

1. How long had Daniel been mourning? v.2
2. How did the vision of the man affect Daniel? v.8
3. How did he refer to Daniel? v.11
4. When had Daniel’s words been heard? v.12
5. Why had the man not come earlier? v.13
6. Why had he now come? v.14

B. Think:

1. What does this passage teach us about prayer?
2. What does it teach us about spiritual warfare?
3. What closing picture do we get of Daniel?

C. Comment:

The closing chapters of the book of Daniel recount the vision shared with Daniel which was about, and caused within him, great strife. But before it came (for v.1 merely tells what was about to come) Daniel is mourning, probably for his people who had returned to Jerusalem with many problems.

Whatever the cause, he prays and holds that attitude for three weeks! At the end of the three weeks an angel arrives (NOT Jesus because he wouldn’t be hindered by other angels) and conveys heaven’s appreciation of Daniel.

Then the angel reveals the most amazing thing: he had been sent three weeks earlier but had been hindered for that time from getting through to Daniel by the angelic being who presided over that nation. We get a glimpse of spiritual warfare which leaves us gasping. We see angelic forces in conflict, (apparently energised by the man of prayer) with God’s angels battling on through to bring Daniel the answer to his prayer and revelation!

Within this passage there is much to encourage us when we pray. We need to learn from this that we should pray on through, even when answers seem to be slow in coming. What an example this man Daniel is to us, that he prayed on for three weeks with the same topic. What amazing revelation he received because of it! And us?

D. Application:

1. Do I want to be such a prayer warrior?
2. Share your heart on this with the Lord today.