Key Thought: Daniel 10 shows us there would be great conflict and the spiritual battle going on behind the scenes. Our prayer life helps engage us in this conflict.
.March 14, 2020

1. Have a volunteer read Daniel 10:1-9.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What does the angel telling Daniel that he is greatly beloved tell you about the emotional link between heaven and earth?
3. Personal Application: Have you ever seen the great controversy battle manifested in your own life? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states: “I don’t think fasting does anything. Why would anyone give up eating for a day, a few days, or even weeks to get God to answer a prayer? What is the usefulness or significance to fasting anyway? How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Daniel 10: 10-19.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. What does this tell us about the spiritual warfare that goes on in the minds of men?
3. Personal Application: How often do you think about just how closely that heaven and earth are tied? How would you live differently if you always kept this truth alive? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Why did God’s angels have to persuade the Persian king to invade Babylon? Why didn’t He just put it in his mind to do it? God can cause anyone to do anything.” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Daniel 10:20,21.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
2. Why does Gabriel tell Daniel that he must return to fight with the prince of Persia and the prince of Greece?
3. Personal Application: How can we make the promise of being conquerors a real experience in our own Christian lives? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “Who is Michael, and why does Daniel call him Daniel’s prince? Aren’t princes sons of God? I thought Michael was an angel. Are angels sons of God? How would you respond to your neighbor?
   (Note: Hebrews 1 tells us that angels are never called sons of God. Luke 3:38 tells us Adam was the son of God. I John tells us we are the sons of God in Jesus. Michael raised the dead in Jude 9. Michael is the archangel – the head or chief of all angels. The voice of the archangel raises the dead in I Thessalonians 4 at the second coming of Jesus. Jesus said it was His voice that would raise the dead. Michael – who is like God – is another name for Jesus.

4. Have a volunteer read Daniel 10:13.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
2. What kind of battle is revealed here?
3. Personal Application: What does this tell us about the warfare going on over our souls and the lives of those we are praying for? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

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Read Daniel 10:4-9. What happens to Daniel here?

As Daniel describes his experience, we can hardly imagine the overwhelming splendor of what he sees. That human appearance (Dan. 10:5-6) harks back to the “Son of man” depicted in the vision of the heavenly judgment (Dan. 7:13). His linen clothing is reminiscent of priestly garments (Lev. 16:4), an aspect that likens this personage to the “Prince of the host” depicted in connection with the heavenly sanctuary (Daniel chapter 8, NKJV).

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Gold is also associated with the priestly regalia as a sign of royal dignity. Last, the likening of this figure to lightning, fire, bronze, and a powerful voice portrays him as a supernatural being. This is someone invested with priestly, royal, and military attributes. This figure also displays interesting similarities to the heavenly being who appears to Joshua shortly before the battle against Jericho (Josh. 5:13-14). In the vision, Joshua sees the “Commander of the army of the LORD” (NKJV). Interestingly, the Hebrew word translated as “commander” (sar) here is the same word translated as “prince” in reference to Michael in Daniel 10:21. But a closer parallel occurs between Daniel and John, who received a vision of the risen Lord on the Sabbath day.

What similarities do we find between Daniel‘s vision of the Son of God in Daniel chapter 10 and those in Joshua 5:13-15 and Revelation 1:12-18?

According to Daniel, those who are with him are frightened off, and Daniel himself falls weak and frail to the ground. The manifestation of God’s presence simply overwhelms him. Yet whatever his immediate fears, Daniel’s vision shows that God is in control of history. Indeed, as the vision unfolds, we will see that God provides Daniel with an outline of human history from the times of the prophet until the establishment of God’s kingdom (Daniel chapters 11 and 12).

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

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Read Daniel 10:1-3. What do we again find Daniel doing?

Daniel does not spell out the reasons for his extended mourning period. But such a fervent intercession is most likely motivated by the situation of the Jews, who have just returned from Babylon to Palestine.

Read Ezra 4:1-5. What challenges are the Jews facing upon their return?

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We know from Ezra 4:1-5 that at this time the Jews are facing strong opposition as they attempt to rebuild the temple. The Samaritans send false reports to the Persian court, inciting the king to stop the reconstruction work. In the face of such crises, for three weeks Daniel pleads with God to influence Cyrus to allow the work to continue.

At this point, Daniel is probably close to ninety years of age. He does not think about himself but about his people and the challenges that they face. And he persists in prayer for three full weeks before receiving any answer from God. During this time, the prophet follows a very modest diet, abstaining from choice food and even ointment. He is totally unconcerned about his comfort and appearance, but he is deeply concerned about the welfare of his fellow Jews in Jerusalem a thousand miles away.

As we look into Daniel’s prayer life, we learn some valuable lessons. First, we should persist in prayer, even when our petitions are not answered immediately. Second, we should devote time to pray for others. There is something special about intercessory prayers. Remember that “the LORD restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends” (Job 42:10, NKJV). Third, prayer prompts God to do something concrete and real. So let us pray always, all kinds of prayers. In the face of unbearable trials, big problems, and overwhelming challenges, let us take our burdens to God in prayer (Eph. 6:18).

<–Sabbath Monday–>

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