Daniel 10:16, commentary and pictures

The vision belongs to what Daniel saw by the Hiddekel river, brought by ministering angels as a communication from God, light received direct from God especially for these last days. Before it Daniel had fasted and afflicted his soul and prayed most earnestly in tears with confession and humiliation, and his prayer was heard and was not in vain.

At the heavenly words Daniel set his face toward the ground and became dumb, then one like the similitude of the sons of men touched his lips so that he opened his mouth and spoke to him that stood before him. He said that by the vision his sorrows were turned upon him and he had retained no strength, and asked how the servant of his lord could talk with his lord when straightway no strength or breath was left in him. One like the appearance of a man came again and touched him and strengthened him, enabling him to speak despite the distress and loss of strength caused by the vision. The verse thus illustrates Daniel's humility, humiliation, and weakness when the Lord condescended to communicate with him.

It is the speech of one greatly beloved who humbled and chastened himself before God, mourning and confessing sin, and whom God then touched, strengthened, and honored with peace. After the divine glory left Daniel unable to speak and unable to endure the sight, the heavenly messenger sent to tell him he was greatly beloved and to give him skill and understanding veiled the brightness of his presence and appeared in humanlike form and touched his lips. The human appearance and the angel's touch made the messenger bearable and helped Daniel bear the revelation, while the glory itself remained more than he could endure. By divine power he was thus strengthened to speak, to hear God's message, and to receive it.

The encounter is an instance of heavenly agencies working for men and reveals a wonderful connection between the universe of heaven and this world. It proves that the very highest angels in the heavenly courts are appointed to work out the prayers which ascend to God from those working unselfishly for the interests and advancement of the cause of God. Each angel has his particular post of duty which he is not permitted to leave for any other place lest the powers of darkness gain an advantage.

The verse belongs to the prophetic visions in Daniel 7-12, which Daniel did not fully understand, and to what was shown to Daniel afterward which is complemented by the revelation made to John on the isle of Patmos, so the two books should be carefully perused together. The prophecies were sealed until the time of the end, when the wise would understand them, and Daniel was promised that he would stand in his lot at the end of the days. The vision by the Hiddekel is now in process of fulfillment and all the events foretold in it will soon come to pass.

The verse teaches that true greatness is humbling self with contrition of heart, confessing sins, and receiving forgiveness and strength from God. The fact that though the angel bade him be strengthened he had to reveal himself as a man like the similitude of the sons of men before Daniel could bear his presence and speak proves that humanity cannot endure unveiled heavenly glory. This shows the wisdom and knowledge of God in laying the plan that Christ should come not with power and arms nor even in the light of an angel, but as a man, so that divinity taking humanity upon Him might touch humanity and as the Prince of Life dispute the power of the prince of darkness.