The Day of New Beginnings

Visitation of the Lord

 

Dan. 10:
1 ¶  In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.
2  In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.
3  I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
4  And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;
5  Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:
6  His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.
7  And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.
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.
9  Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.
10 ¶  And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.
11  And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.
12  Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
 
Daniel had a great visitation from the Lord. It was a type of he Lord appearing in our spirits. In verse 8 it says, "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." What comeliness Daniel had was turned into corruption at the appearing of the Lord. The first manifestation of the Lord appearing to our spirits is the corruption of our Adamic natures uncovered. So, it becomes a good thing when we stink so bad we can't stand ourselves. It is because of the Lord appearing to us that we seem so corrupt to ourselves. 
 
Next, Daniel is thrown into a deep sleep. All his perception seems to go out the window. (Awake O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ shall shine upon you.) And then he is set upon his knees and palms of his hands. He is positioned into a posture of worship. And then in verse 11 it says, "And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved... It is God's great love for us that motivates Him to deal with us and to expose us to His presence the way He does. When we sense our corruption afresh and almost despair over what we see in ourselves, it is because He loves us so much. He makes us face these things. When we think God must really despise us because we are so ugly, He affirms again His great love for us. The end result is an even greater cry to be found righteous and pleasing in His sight.
 
And finally, Daniel is enabled to stand upright before the Lord and receive understanding of the ways of the Lord.