Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Daniel
Book: Daniel
Chapter: 10
Overview:
Daniel's
Vision near the
River Hiddekel.
(1-9) He is to expect
a discovery of future events.
(10-21)
1-9. This
Chapter relates the beginning of
Daniel's last
Vision, which is continued to the
End of the
Book. The time
would be long before all would be accomplished; and much of it
is not yet fulfilled.
Christ appeared to
Daniel in a glorious
form, and it should engage us to think highly and honourably of
him. Let us admire his condescension for us and our
Salvation.
There remained
No strength in
Daniel. The greatest and best of
men cannot
Bear the full discoveries of the Divine
Glory; for
No
Man can see it, and live; but glorified saints see
Christ as he
is, and can
Bear the sight. How dreadful soever
Christ may
appear to those under convictions of
Sin, there is enough in his
Word to quiet their spirits.
10-21 Whenever we enter into
Communion with
God, it becomes us
to have a due sense of the infinite distance between us and the
holy
God. How shall we, that are
Dust and
Ashes, speak to the
Lord of
Glory? Nothing is more likely, nothing more effectual to
revive the drooping spirits of the saints, than to be assured of
God's
Love to them. From the very first
Day we begin to look
toward
God in a way of duty, he is ready to meet us in the way
of
Mercy. Thus ready is
God to hear
Prayer. When the
Angel had
told the
Prophet of the things to come, he was to return, and
oppose the decrees of the Persian
Kings against the Jews. The
angels are employed as
God's ministering servants, Heb 1:14.
Though much was done against the Jews
By the
Kings of
Persia,
God permitting it, much more mischief would have been done if
God had not prevented it. He would now more fully show what were
God's purposes, of which the prophecies form an outline; and we
are concerned to study what is written in these Scriptures of
Truth, for they belong to our
Everlasting peace. While
Satan and
his angels, and evil counsellors, excite princes to mischief
against the
Church, we may rejoice that
Christ our
Prince, and
all his mighty angels, act against our enemies; but we ought not
to expect many to favour us in this evil world. Yet the whole
counsel of
God shall be established; and let each one pray,
Lord
Jesus, be our
Righteousness now, and thou wilt be our
Everlasting confidence, through
Life, in
Death, at the
Day of
Judgment, and for evermore.