The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 328

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vere. 1-12, 14-19.-The vision of the <Jhrist. "I was left alone, and ee.w this great \'ision" (,·er. 8). ]t is well to begin by clearing up the context. We have now only one more prophecy in Daniel. This occupies the eleventh chapter. The tenth contains a prologue to the prophecy; the twelfth, an epilogue. In eh. x. 1 the character of the prophecy is indicated: 1. Its subject-matter is afflictive. " The ronflict is great." It covers a time of great calamities (see the Hebrew). 2. The prophecy was to be unusually intelligible. " And he understood the word, and understanding was there to him in the vision." Some haze of mystery there might be, but not the thick darkness which had enrobed preceding revelations. 3. It would certainly be true. "A word was revealed to Daniel . . . and true the word." The prophecy of eh. xi. is the most minute of Scripture ; and hence men have been tempted to disbelieve in it as prophecy, and to regard it as prophecy written after the event. Men might have disregarded it before fulfilment; hence Daniel gives this assurance. We now here concern ourselves with Daniel:a vision of the <Jhriat. I. THE SCENE OF THE VISION. On the Tigris. The first migration to Jerusalem had taken place. Daniel's advanced age made it, perhaps, impossible that he should have joined in it. He may have been on the Tigris : 1. Either on an embassage. 2. Or retired from all official life. II. THE TIME OF THE VISION. 1. 7\DO years after the first migration back from captivity (ver. 1). 2. .A time of surrow. :Mourning was usually for seven days: Daniel mourned for three times seven. Fasting, etc. Why? Realize the circum- stances. The temple was indeed rising; but neighbouring peoples were exerting all their influence with the Persian king to frustrate the work. Therefore anxiety and fear. Daniel's affliction would be in proportion as success seemed certain. Good men grieve over slow progreas of the Divine kingdom, and the fierr,ene,s of the opposition. 3. Time of the Passover. On the twenty-fourth day of the first month came the vision. We infer that Daniel bad consecrated the first three weeks of the new year to devotion. This included the Passover week-a time of unusual solemnity-when he would be in earnest sympathy with his nation. Ill. TeE VISION. That this was none other than the vision of Christ the Lord appears : 1. From the aftM-de'Vilopments of the scene. 2. From a comparison tJJith the 'Vision of rJhrist in the .Apocalypse. (Rev. i.) Compare the two descriptions ot clothina-the girdle, the countenance, the eyes, the feet, the voice. Daniel adds, "His body also was like the beryl." John adds, "His head and his hairs were white," etc. In drawing out the description into detail, note: the clothing was of the finest, purest-the garb of priests, prophets, saints, and angels; the unco~ered portions of the body shone with gemlike splendour; all tha_ sym bole suggest l_1ght- splendour· the girdle of fine gold; the arms and feet "like the eye of polished brass," th~ part that catches the blaze o~ sunli~ht. and throw~ it back; the_ f:ice as lightning, and the eyes as fire; the voice maJest1c. All this may be spintually expanded. IV. THE EFFECT OF THE vreioN. 1. On the companions of the seer. (Ver. 7.) Compare effect on Paul's companions on the way to Damascus, of _the visi~n of the Earue Christ. 2. On the uer. (Vere. 8, 9.) He swooned; but the mighty voice came rollir,g into his ear, as the roar of ocean breaks into the caves upon the shore. Hare we have a picture of the inabuity of man to stand before the unveiled revelations of God (comp. Rev. i. 17). V. 'THE BEBTon.me OF CHRIST THE LoBD. Christ: 1. Sets man erece in the presence CB, X, 1-21.) 'rIIE BOOK OF DANIEL. 801