How does Daniel 10:17 illustrate the power of God's presence on believers? Setting the Scene (Daniel 10:17 in Context) Daniel has fasted and prayed for three weeks when a radiant heavenly messenger appears. The sight is so intense that he collapses. He gasps: “ ‘How can I, your servant, speak with you, my lord? For now my strength is gone, and no breath is left in me.’ ” (Daniel 10:17) The Overwhelming Presence of God • God’s nearness exposes human frailty. Like Isaiah who cried, “Woe is me!” (Isaiah 6:5) and John who “fell at His feet as though dead” (Revelation 1:17), Daniel is instantly aware of his smallness. • Physical strength evaporates. The Hebrew behind “no breath is left in me” pictures literal breathlessness, underscoring that divine glory affects the body, not just emotions. • Speech becomes impossible. Daniel’s stammering mirrors the apostles on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:6), reminding us that God’s presence silences self-reliance. From Weakness to Strength • God does not leave Daniel prostrate. A touch and a word restore him: “Peace be with you; be strong now, be very strong” (Daniel 10:19). • Scripture’s pattern: – Elijah, drained under the broom tree, is revived by God’s angelic meal (1 Kings 19:5-8). – Saul of Tarsus, blinded and helpless, is filled with the Spirit and strength to preach (Acts 9:18-20). – Paul learns, “My power is perfected in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). • Divine presence both humbles and empowers. What empties human ability makes space for heaven’s enablement. What This Reveals About God’s Presence Today • God still meets believers personally (John 14:23). His presence may not come with visible glory, yet the same holiness confronts our insufficiency. • Genuine encounters produce reverence, repentance, and dependence—not casual familiarity. • The Spirit supplies the “breath” we lack. Jesus “breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’ ” (John 20:22), fulfilling the promise of sustaining presence (Exodus 33:14). Living It Out • Expect divine encounters to strip away self-confidence—and welcome it. • When you feel spiritually out of breath, remember Daniel: weakness is often the prelude to heavenly strength. • Lean on Scriptures that affirm God’s empowering nearness: – “He gives power to the faint” (Isaiah 40:29). – “In Your presence is fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11). • Approach worship and prayer with awe, anticipating both a humbling and a strengthening touch from the Lord. |
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