Below are some preliminary questions to assist in the study of this passage. For a comprehensive study of the passage, download the Study Guide (PDF download).
1. How does Daniel describe his spiritual condition? See Daniel 10:1-3 (printed below) What caused this? Note Ezra 4:4-5,24 (printed below)
In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, something was revealed to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar). This thing was true and it concerned a great warfare. He understood this thing; indeed, he had understanding of the vision. (2) At that time, I, Daniel, had been mourning for three full weeks. (3) I ate no choice food; I tasted neither meat nor wine; and I did not anoint myself with lotion at all until three full weeks were completed. (Daniel 10:1-3)
Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. (5) They hired counselors to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia…(24) Thus the work on the house of God in Jerusalem came to a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia. (Ezra 4:4-5,24)
At the outset of this chapter (verses 2-3), Daniel informs us that he was mourning for three full weeks. This took place in the third year of Cyrus king of Persia (verse 1). In the first year of his reign, Cyrus released the Jews from captivity and gave orders for the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem (Ezra 1:1-3). But when the Jews returned to Jerusalem and began the task of rebuilding the temple, they ran into opposition (Ezra 4:1-5,24). Indeed, the adversaries succeeded in bringing the work to a halt until the second year of Darius—a period of approximately fifteen years, from about 535 to 520 B.C. (Ezra 4:24). This is why Daniel was in mourning, because he heard that the construction of the temple had been brought to a halt.
2. When Daniel seeks an answer as to why the work of rebuilding the temple has been halted, what does he learn? See Daniel 10:1,13a (printed below)
In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, something was revealed to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar). This thing was true and it concerned a great warfare. He understood this thing; indeed, he had understanding of the vision. (Daniel 10:1)
But the prince of the kingdom of Persia stood against me for twenty-one days. (Daniel 10:13a)
According to verse 1, what was revealed to Daniel was “a great warfare.” From verse 13a, Christ was opposed by the prince of the kingdom of Persia for twenty-one days. Note: “the prince of the kingdom of Persia” is none other than the devil himself in his capacity as “the prince of this world” (John 14:30) and as he exerts an evil control and influence over the kingdoms of this world (cp. Luke 4:5-6). Just as the devil has for twenty-one days hindered the Lord’s response to Daniel’s prayer; so, likewise, Daniel must understand that it is the devil who is presently hindering the re-building of the temple. The devil, operating in the Persian court, has made Cyrus favorably disposed to Israel’s adversaries, thus causing the work to be effectively hindered for the present time. Thus we learn that within the scope of God’s absolute sovereignty (note Daniel 4:34-35), the devil is permitted to effectively, though only temporarily, oppose the Lord and His purposes.
3. What word of assurance does the Lord give Daniel? See Daniel 10:13b (printed below)
Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, so I remained there with the kings of Persia. (Daniel 10:13b)
The Lord is victorious over the devil and his forces of evil: the Lord has insured that His will shall prevail among the kings of Persia. The Lord declares, “I remained there with the kings of Persia;” or, a better rendering, “I am left there with the kings of Persia.” This to say, the Lord has dispatched of the devil’s dominating influence, thus the Lord’s purpose shall be accomplished (note Nehemiah 2:2-8; a passage relating Nehemiah’s request to return to Jerusalem to supervise the construction of the wall of the city and king Artaxerxes’ favorable response). Note: the name and the role of Michael signify two things. First, by means of this angelic being God reveals His unmatchable power (the name Michael means “Who is like God?”) Second, the reference to Michael is intended to indicate how the entire host of the heavenly beings are engaged in this awesome spiritual conflict (note Revelation 12:7).
4. What does the Lord inform Daniel about His previous triumph in this spiritual warfare? See Daniel 11:1 (printed below)
In the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him. (Daniel 11:1)
In Daniel 11:1 the Lord reveals how He previously secured victory in the days of Darius the Mede. In order to fulfill His word spoken through Jeremiah (Jeremiah 25:11-12), the Lord caused the Babylonian empire to fall and Darius the Mede to be established, thereby preparing the way for the deliverance and restoration of His people Israel.
5. With regard to this spiritual warfare, what does the Lord reveal still lies ahead? See Daniel 10:20 (printed below)
Then he said, Do you know why I have come to you? Immediately I must return to fight against the prince of Persia; and when I emerge from that conflict, the prince of Greece will come (Daniel 10:20)
As verse 20b indicates, the Lord will continue to engage in spiritual warfare against the devil as the latter will continue to assault the purposes of Christ by employing the powers and the nations of this world. Note that Ezra 4:6-23 indicates that there would be further attempts to halt the work of God in the days of future Persian kings. As revealed in Daniel 8, it was during the period of the Greek Empire (especially in its divided form following the death of Alexander the Great), that the people of God suffered such severe persecution at the hands of Antiochus Epiphanes. This spiritual conflict between Christ and the devil would reach its height in the days of our Lord’s earthly ministry, with Christ gaining the ultimate victory at the cross of Calvary (note Colossians 2:15).
