John Calvin Commentary Daniel 10:13

"But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days; but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me: and I remained there with the kings of Persia." — Daniel 10:13 (ASV)

The angel now assigns a reason why he did not appear at once to the Prophet, who might complain as follows: “What treatment is this, to let me be consumed by grief for such a long time?” For Daniel had remained for three successive weeks in the most severe affliction.

God had indeed heard him from the very first day. How, then, could He still watch this wretched man prostrate in mourning? Why did God not make it openly and truly apparent that he had not prayed in vain? The angel now addresses this objection and shows how he had been occupied elsewhere promoting the Prophet’s welfare.

We should carefully note this, because delay often disturbs us when God does not immediately extend His help and for a long time hides the fruit of our prayers from us. Whenever our passions burst forth impetuously and we easily show signs of impatience, we must remember this expression of the angel, for our prayers may already be heard while God’s favor and mercy are hidden from us.

The experience of Daniel is fulfilled daily in every member of the Church, and without the slightest doubt, the same discipline is exercised towards all the devout. This is our practical reflection. We must note, secondly, God’s condescension in stooping to explain Himself through the angel to His own Prophet.

He offers a reason for the delay of the angel’s return, and the cause of this hindrance was, as I have already stated, His concern for the safety of His chosen people. The wonderful clemency of the Almighty is proven here by His offering an excuse so graciously to His Prophet, because He did not show Himself easily moved on the very day prayer was offered to Him.

But we should derive another practical benefit from this passage: God does not cease to regard us with favor even while He may not choose to make us aware of it, for He does not always place it before our eyes but rather hides it from our sight.

We infer from this God’s constant care for our safety, although it is not shown in precisely the way our minds might conceive and understand. God surpasses all our understanding in the way He provides for our safety, as the angel here relates his mission as being in a completely different direction, yet still in the service of the Church.

It now appears how Daniel obtained an answer to his prayers from the very first day they were offered, and yet remained unaware of it, until God sent him some consolation in the midst of his troubles.

A very different interpretation of this verse has been proposed, for some commentators think the angel was sent into Persia to protect that kingdom. There is some probability in this explanation, because the Israelites were still under the Persian monarchy, and God may have provided some assistance to the kings of Persia for the sake of His own people.

But I think the angel stood in direct opposition and conflict against Cambyses, to prevent him from raging more fiercely against God’s people. He had issued a cruel edict, preventing the Jews from building their temple and showing complete hostility to its restoration. He would not have been satisfied with this rigorous treatment if God had not restrained his cruelty through the angel's help.

If we weigh these words judiciously, we will readily conclude that the angel fought against the king of the Persians rather than for him. The prince, says he, of the kingdom of the Persians, meaning Cambyses, who with his father Cyrus crossed over the sea and contended with the Scythians, as well as in Asia Minor.

The prince of the kingdom of Persia was arrayed against him, as if the angel had said—“He detained me from reaching you, but it was for the good of your people, for if God had not used me to assist you, his cruelty would have been aggravated, and your condition would have been utterly desperate.” You see, then, that there has been no lack of zeal on my part, for God was never deaf to your entreaties. The prince of the kingdom of the Persians stood against me for twenty-one days; meaning, from the time you began to pour out your prayers before God, I have never flinched from any attack or assault by which I might defend your people. The prince of the kingdom of the Persians stood against me; meaning, he was so enraged against the Israelites as to intend to unleash the very worst of his wrath, unless the help I provided for you had been divinely interposed.

He adds next, Behold! Michael, one of the chief leaders or princes, came to strengthen me. Some think the name Michael represents Christ, and I do not object to this opinion. Clearly, even if all angels watch over the faithful and elect, Christ still holds the first rank among them, because He is their head and uses their service and help to defend all His people.

But as this is not generally admitted, I leave it in doubt for the present and will say more on the subject in the twelfth chapter. From this passage, we can clearly deduce the following conclusion: angels contend for the Church of God, both generally and for individual members, whenever their help is needed.

This we know to be a part of the occupation of angels, who protect the faithful. As Psalm 34:8 says, They fix their camp in a circuit round them. God, therefore, sets His angels against all the efforts of Satan and all the fury of the wicked who desire to destroy us and are always plotting our complete ruin.

If God were not to protect us in this way, we would be utterly lost. We are aware of Satan’s horrible hatred for us and of the mighty fury with which he attacks us; we know how skillfully and variously he devises his schemes; we know him as the prince of this world, dragging and rushing the greater part of humanity along with him, while they wickedly hurl their threats against us.

What prevents Satan from daily overwhelming a hundred times over the whole Church, both collectively and individually? It is clearly necessary for God to oppose his fury, and He does this through angels. While they are fighting for us and for our safety, we do not perceive this hidden malice, because the angels conceal it from us.

We may now examine this passage in a little more detail. The angel was stationed in Persia to restrain the audacity and cruelty of Cambyses, who was not content with a single edict but would have forcibly dragged the wretched Israelites back to another exile. And he would have succeeded, if one angel and then another had not confronted him.

The angel now informs us how Michael, one of the chief leaders, came with the necessary reinforcements. The defense of one angel might have been sufficient, for angels have no more power than what is given to them. But God is not bound to any particular means; He is not limited to one or a thousand, as when Jehoshaphat states, it matters not before God whether we are few or many (compare 2 Chronicles 14:11; 1 Samuel 14:6).

For God can save His people by either a small force or a large one, and the same is also true of angels.

But God is eager to demonstrate the care He bestows upon the welfare of His people, and His unique loving-kindness towards the Israelites, displayed by the mission of a second angel. He doubled His reinforcement to bear witness to His love towards these wretched and innocent people, who were oppressed by the slanders of their enemies and by the tyranny of that wicked king.

Finally, the angel says, he was left among the Persian kings, to remove the many obstacles in the way of the chosen people. For, if God had not withstood that flood of weapons with His own shield, the Jews would have been instantly buried beneath it. Let us proceed—