Daniel 10:8
Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.
By the Hiddekel after three full weeks of mourning without pleasant bread, flesh, wine or anointing, Daniel was left alone with a great vision of One clothed in linen with gold, beryl, lightning, fire, polished brass and a voice like a multitude, and his healthy radiant vigor was turned to ruin like death and decay so that no strength remained in him. He fell helpless as one dead, unable to speak, see or bear the presence, face to the ground in deep sleep with sorrows upon him and no breath left in him, until the angel veiled his glory, touched him to give strength, set him trembling upon knees and hands, and came in human form so Daniel could endure to speak with him. In the presence of divine holiness and heavenly glory, greatness and perfection, human weakness, imperfection and sin become clear, and what seemed right and comely in wisdom, righteousness, strength and beauty is exposed as worthless, corruptible decay and vileness. Though greatly beloved of Heaven, honored and faithful, Daniel's sense of purity and strength gave way in unworthiness, sinfulness, humility and contrition without any claim to sinlessness, for the clearer sanctified people see Christ the humbler their view of self becomes. This is the impression upon all who have the greatest manifestation of the Spirit and a clear perception of God and of Jesus Christ, that they do not boast or uplift self but become contrite in spirit, as Peter also was overwhelmed by his own unholiness in Jesus' presence. The vision belongs to the prophecies of Daniel 7-12 of what would transpire in the latter days, sealed until the time of the end and now in process of fulfillment, and the soul thus touched hates selfishness and self-love, dethrones self and pride, seeks purity through Christ's righteousness in harmony with God's law, and to the contrite thus humbled with confession God says fear not and gives peace and strength to stand and hear forgiveness.
Vision Leaves Daniel Helpless
By the bank of the Hiddekel, one of the great rivers of Shinar, during the Babylonian captivity Daniel was left alone with the great vision after mourning three full weeks without pleasant bread, flesh, wine, or anointing. His earnest prayer, fasting, confession, and humility had not been in vain, for his prayer was heard through God's communication delivered by ministering angels. What he saw was One clothed in linen with loins girded with fine gold of Uphaz, body like beryl, face like lightning, eyes like lamps of fire, arms and feet like polished brass, and voice like a multitude.
Comeliness means healthy, dignified, radiant appearance, and when his was turned into corruption his natural vigor became ruin and he retained no strength. His appearance lost its healthy, radiant look and became like that of a dead or decaying person. The sight left him unable to speak, see, or bear the presence, and he fell helpless as one dead. When he heard the speaker's words he fell face down in a deep sleep toward the ground. He became dumb with sorrows upon him, with no breath left in him, trembling and unable as servant to talk with his Lord.
He could not bear the sight of the angel and the glory of God, and even he, though greatly beloved, could not endure the full glory shown to him. The angel had to support him, touch him to give him strength and set him trembling upon his knees and hands. God's glory had to be veiled and disclosed in a way Daniel could withstand, and later the messenger took on humanity and came in human form so he could speak with Daniel. This illustrates why Christ came in humanity, because people could not have borne Him had He appeared in all His glory.
Holiness Exposes Human Corruption
In the presence of divine holiness the weakness, imperfection and sinfulness of humanity become clear, for the glory surrounding the heavenly messenger overwhelmed Daniel until his vigor failed and his dignified appearance became as corruption with no strength remaining in him. The clearer the view of Christ in His purity, greatness, glory and perfection, the humbler the view of self, so that sanctified souls see their own condition ever more distinctly and their personal perfection seems ever smaller. What once seemed right and comely in them is then seen as unworthy, corruptible and decayed when set against His purity and glory.
Human wisdom, way, righteousness, strength and beauty are exposed as worthless when sinful man beholds divine glory. The independence and self-supremacy in which people glory are seen in their true vileness as tokens of servitude to Satan, and self is dethroned so that it no longer holds supremacy of the soul. Proud man must therefore become a fool that he may be wise, laying human reasoning and knowledge beneath the cross of Calvary, surrendering his own righteousness, and counting all in which humanity glories as loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ the Lord.
Even though Daniel was greatly beloved of Heaven, honored by Heaven and faithful in serving God, his sense of his own purity and strength gave way before the Son of God come to instruct him, and he recognized his unworthiness, sinfulness and corruption with no strength to bear the presence. His response was humility and contrition rather than any claim to personal sinlessness or purity, for seeing the angel's purity brought him low. True sanctification therefore produces humility and not a claim to be sinless.
This is the impression made upon all who receive the greatest manifestation of the Spirit of God, for a clear perception of God and His Spirit and a knowledge of the true God and of Jesus Christ humbles people so that they do not boast or esteem themselves, speak no boastful word of self-esteem, and are not uplifted in self, but become contrite in spirit. Daniel was thrice called greatly beloved because he was contrite in spirit, and faithful, and true. As Peter was overwhelmed by his own unholiness in the presence of Jesus, so Daniel fell as one dead before the angel when his comeliness was turned to corruption.
Prophecy And Transformed Living
This collapse of strength belongs to the visions and prophecies recorded in Daniel 7-12, which reveal important future events and what would transpire in the latter days. Those prophetic writings were not fully understood even by Daniel, for they were sealed until the time of the end when they would be understood. The light of the vision seen by the bank of the Hiddekel, one of the great rivers of Shinar, came direct from God and was given especially for these last days as light for future ages down to the present time. That vision is now in process of fulfillment and all the events it foretold will soon come to pass, with the assurance that Daniel would stand in his lot at the end of the days.
When a soul is touched by such a sense of its weakened and imperfect condition, with comeliness become corruption and no strength retained, it hates selfishness and self-love. It then seeks purity of heart through Christ's righteousness, in harmony with God's law and Christ's character. Beholding Christ in His self-denial and lowliness likewise humbles people to give up pride and the desire for supremacy.
Learning from Christ's meekness and lowliness empties the soul of self and pride and love of supremacy, so that self is dethroned and no longer holds supremacy of the soul. There is silence in the soul, with yielding of self to the disposal of the Holy Spirit, seeking no highest place but taking highest place at the feet of the Saviour. The one thus humbled looks to Jesus and waits for His hand to lead and His voice to guide. Proud man must become a fool that he may be wise, laying human reasoning and knowledge beneath the cross of Calvary and surrendering his own righteousness, for human wisdom, way, and righteousness are exposed as worthless when sinful man sees divine glory. All in which humanity glories must be counted as loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ the Lord.
The man who has humbled and chastened himself before God with confession of sin while working out his own salvation with fear and trembling is honored by God and understands true greatness. Exalted position amounts to nothing, and only righteousness and truth give honor. To the contrite God says fear not, gives peace, and gives strength to stand and hear forgiveness.