Scripture: “And as for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him.” Daniel 11:1 ESV
Observation: The above verse should really be included with Chapter 10 since it is a continuation of the “one having the appearance of a man” strengthening Daniel with intelligence info regarding the spiritual battles in Persia (10:18-21). In 11:1, Daniel learns that this angelic figure also supported the pagan king of Persia, Darius. Why? Because Darius would initiate the return of God’s people to their homeland. And his later successor, Xerxes, would also side with Esther and defend the Jews who remained in Persia (when Haman sought to destroy them), thus ensuring full repatriation of the exiled.
Takeaway: The angelic hosts waged war against the principalities of darkness in Persia first and foremost to confirm the arrival of the Son of Man to God’s people at the appointed time and place in history. And even an “angel from heaven” would strengthen Christ at the Mount of Olives just before his arrest (Luke 22:43) to set that stage for the ultimate showdown between good and evil that would usher in our era under the Covenant of Grace.
It’s an intriguing dynamic: God is sovereign over history; yet, he allows the tension between good and evil to unfold and play out according to his spoken word. And along the way, he sends angelic hosts to strengthen the team. But in this transitional age between Calvary and Christ’s return, we possess the greatest of spiritual warriors in that of the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us and strengthens us so that we might fight to the end and gain victory over sin and death.
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for sending your angelic hosts to strengthen your team and ensure the arrival of your Son at the appointed time in history. And we thank you for sending us your Holy Spirit to dwell in us and strengthen us in our life journeys. So would you please help us rely on him to lead us through earthly spiritual battles to victory over sin and death? Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling