I ate no rich food, no meat or wine entered my mouth, and I did not anoint myself with oil until the three weeks were completed. I ate no rich foodThe phrase "rich food" in Hebrew is "lechem chamudot," which can be translated as "desirable bread" or "pleasant food." This indicates that Daniel abstained from foods that were considered luxurious or indulgent. In the historical context, such foods would have been reserved for special occasions or for those in positions of wealth and power. Daniel's choice to abstain reflects a deliberate act of humility and self-denial, aligning with the biblical principle of fasting as a means to seek God earnestly. This act of abstaining from rich foods symbolizes a deeper spiritual hunger and a desire to prioritize spiritual nourishment over physical pleasures. no meat or wine entered my mouth
The abstention from "meat or wine" further emphasizes Daniel's commitment to a period of fasting and mourning. In ancient Near Eastern culture, meat and wine were often associated with celebration and joy. By refraining from these, Daniel was not only practicing self-discipline but also expressing a state of lamentation and earnest seeking of God's presence. This mirrors the Nazarite vow, where individuals would abstain from wine and other luxuries to dedicate themselves wholly to God. Daniel's actions here can be seen as a form of consecration, setting himself apart to receive divine revelation. and I did not anoint myself with oil
Anointing with oil was a common practice in ancient times for personal grooming and refreshment, especially in the arid climate of the Middle East. It was also a symbol of joy and festivity. By choosing not to anoint himself, Daniel was visibly demonstrating his mourning and humility. This act of self-denial is reminiscent of other biblical figures who fasted and mourned, such as David and the people of Nineveh. It underscores the seriousness of Daniel's spiritual pursuit and his desire to humble himself before God, seeking divine intervention and understanding. until the three weeks were over
The specific mention of "three weeks" indicates a set period of time dedicated to this fast. The number three in biblical numerology often signifies completeness or divine perfection. This period of three weeks, or twenty-one days, suggests a complete cycle of seeking and waiting upon the Lord. It reflects Daniel's perseverance and commitment to prayer and fasting, despite the lack of immediate answers. This duration also highlights the importance of patience and persistence in spiritual disciplines, encouraging believers to remain steadfast in their pursuit of God, trusting that He will respond in His perfect timing. Persons / Places / Events 1. DanielA prophet and a key figure in the Old Testament, known for his unwavering faith and commitment to God. In this chapter, Daniel is in a period of mourning and fasting. 2. BabylonThe place where Daniel is during this vision. Babylon is significant as a place of exile for the Israelites and a symbol of worldly power and opposition to God. 3. Three WeeksThe duration of Daniel's fast, which is a time of spiritual preparation and seeking understanding from God. Teaching Points Fasting as Spiritual DisciplineFasting is a powerful spiritual discipline that helps believers focus on God and seek His guidance. Daniel's fast was a deliberate act of humility and dependence on God. Self-Denial for Spiritual GrowthDaniel's abstention from rich food and self-anointing signifies a denial of physical comforts to prioritize spiritual matters. This teaches us the value of self-denial in our spiritual journey. Perseverance in PrayerDaniel's three-week fast underscores the importance of perseverance in prayer. It encourages believers to remain steadfast in seeking God's will, even when answers are delayed. Seeking Understanding from GodDaniel's fast was motivated by a desire for understanding. This highlights the importance of seeking divine wisdom and insight in our lives. Bible Study Questions 1. What does Daniel's choice to abstain from rich food and self-anointing teach us about the role of fasting in our spiritual lives? 2. How can Daniel's example of perseverance in prayer and fasting inspire us in our own prayer life, especially when answers seem delayed? 3. In what ways can we practice self-denial in our daily lives to grow closer to God and seek His guidance? 4. How does Daniel's fasting compare to other instances of fasting in the Bible, such as Jesus' fast in the wilderness or Esther's call for a fast? 5. What practical steps can we take to incorporate fasting and prayer into our spiritual disciplines, and how can these practices help us seek understanding from God? Connections to Other Scriptures Daniel 1Daniel's earlier decision to abstain from the king's rich food, showing his commitment to purity and obedience to God. Matthew 4Jesus' fasting in the wilderness, which parallels Daniel's fasting as a time of spiritual preparation and reliance on God. Esther 4Esther's call for a fast among the Jews, highlighting fasting as a communal act of seeking God's intervention. People Belteshazzar, Cyrus, Daniel, Javan, MichaelPlaces Greece, Persia, Tigris River, UphazTopics Anoint, Anointed, Ate, Body, Bread, Choice, Completed, Completion, Delicacies, Desirable, Eat, Eaten, Ended, Enter, Entered, Entire, Flesh, Fulfilled, Full, Lips, Lotions, Meat, Mouth, Myself, Oil, Ointment, Pleasant, Pleasing, Tasty, Till, Touched, Weeks, WineDictionary of Bible Themes Daniel 10:3 4478 meat
4490 ointment
5164 lips
8475 self-denial Daniel 10:1-3 4544 wine Daniel 10:2-3 8653 importunity, to God Library November 15. "Oh, Man of Desires" (Margin) (Dan. x. 11).
"Oh, man of desires" (margin) (Dan. x. 11). This was the divine character given to Daniel of old. It is translated in our version, "O man, greatly beloved." But it literally means "O man of desires!" This is a necessary element in all spiritual forces. It is one of the secrets of effectual prayer, "What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them." The element of strong desire gives momentum to our purposes and prayers. Indifference is an unwholesome condition; indolence and …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth Daniel's Band
"O Daniel, a man greatly beloved."--Daniel 10:11. It did not do Daniel any harm to know that he was greatly beloved of God; or else he would not have received that information from heaven. Some people are always afraid that, if Christian people obtain full assurance, and receive a sweet sense of divine love, they will grow proud, and be carried away with conceit. Do not you have any such fear for other people, and especially do not be afraid of it for yourselves. I know of no greater blessing that …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 38: 1892 Elucidations.
I. (Greater licence, p. 104.) In this treatise, which is designed to justify the extremes of Montanistic fasts, Tertullian's genius often surprises us by his ingenuity. This is one of the instances where the forensic orator comes out, trying to outflank and turn the position of an antagonist who has gained an advantage. The fallacy is obvious. Kaye cites, in comparison, a passage [1125] from "The Apparel of Women," and another [1126] from "The Exhortation to Chastity." He remarks, "Were we required …
Tertullian—On Fasting. In Opposition to the Psychics Youthful Confessors
'But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9. Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. 10. And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink; for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The Difference Between Union and Rapture. What Rapture Is. The Blessing it is to the Soul. The Effects of It.
1. I wish I could explain, with the help of God, wherein union differs from rapture, or from transport, or from flight of the spirit, as they speak, or from a trance, which are all one. [1] I mean, that all these are only different names for that one and the same thing, which is also called ecstasy. [2] It is more excellent than union, the fruits of it are much greater, and its other operations more manifold; for union is uniform in the beginning, the middle, and the end, and is so also interiorly. …
Teresa of Avila—The Life of St. Teresa of Jesus How to Make Use of Christ as the Truth, when Error Prevaileth, and the Spirit of Error Carrieth Many Away.
There is a time when the spirit of error is going abroad, and truth is questioned, and many are led away with delusions. For Satan can change himself into an angel of light, and make many great and fairlike pretensions to holiness, and under that pretext usher in untruths, and gain the consent of many unto them; so that in such a time of temptation many are stolen off their feet, and made to depart from the right ways of God, and to embrace error and delusions instead of truth. Now the question is, …
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life A Sight of the Crowned Christ
(Revelation, Chapter i.) "Since mine eyes were fixed on Jesus, I've lost sight of all beside, So enchained my spirit's vision, Looking at the Crucified." "The Lord Christ passed my humble cot: I knew him, yet I knew him not; But as I oft had done before, I hurried through my narrow door To touch His garment's hem. "He drew me to a place apart From curious crowd and noisy mart; And as I sat there at His feet I caught the thrill of His heart-beat Beyond His garment's hem. "Rare was the bread He broke …
by S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks on the Crowned Christ of Revelation Departed Saints Fellow Servants with those yet on Earth.
"I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets." That the saints do not remain insensible, while their bodies are in the dull, but become angels, * see and serve God and bear his messages, and minister to the heirs of salvation, hath been argued from several considerations, in the preceding discourse; but we chiefly depend on revelation. The text and several other scriptures, we conceive to be our purpose, and sufficient to establish our theory, and that the same is illustrated and confirmed …
Andrew Lee et al—Sermons on Various Important Subjects The Doctrine of Satan.
I. HIS EXISTENCE AND PERSONALITY. 1. EXISTENCE. 2. PERSONALITY. II. HIS PLACE AND POWER. 1. A MIGHTY ANGEL. 2. PRINCE OF POWER OF THE AIR. 3. GOD OF THIS WORLD. 4. HEAD OF KINGDOM OF DARKNESS. 5. SOVEREIGN OVER DEATH. III. HIS CHARACTER. 1. ADVERSARY. 2. DIABOLOS. 3. WICKED ONE. 4. TEMPTER. IV. OUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS SATAN. 1. LIMITED POWER OF SATAN. 2. RESIST HIM. V. HIS DESTINY. 1. A CONQUERED ENEMY. 2. UNDER ETERNAL CURSE. VI. DEMONS. THE DOCTRINE OF SATAN. Throughout the Scriptures Satan is set …
Rev. William Evans—The Great Doctrines of the Bible Annunciation to Zacharias of the Birth of John the Baptist.
(at Jerusalem. Probably b.c. 6.) ^C Luke I. 5-25. ^c 5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judæa [a Jewish proselyte, an Idumæan or Edomite by birth, founder of the Herodian family, king of Judæa from b.c. 40 to a.d. 4, made such by the Roman Senate on the recommendation of Mark Antony and Octavius Cæsar], a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course [David divided the priests into twenty-four bodies or courses, each course serving in rotation one week in the temple …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Of a Private Fast.
That we may rightly perform a private fast, four things are to be observed:--First, The author; Secondly, The time and occasion; Thirdly, The manner; Fourthly, The ends of private fasting. 1. Of the Author. The first that ordained fasting was God himself in paradise; and it was the first law that God made, in commanding Adam to abstain from eating the forbidden fruit. God would not pronounce nor write his law without fasting (Lev. xxiii), and in his law commands all his people to fast. So does our …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety A Treatise of the Fear of God;
SHOWING WHAT IT IS, AND HOW DISTINGUISHED FROM THAT WHICH IS NOT SO. ALSO, WHENCE IT COMES; WHO HAS IT; WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS; AND WHAT THE PRIVILEGES OF THOSE THAT HAVE IT IN THEIR HEARTS. London: Printed for N. Ponder, at the Peacock in the Poultry, over against the Stocks market: 1679. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," and "a fountain of life"--the foundation on which all wisdom rests, as well as the source from whence it emanates. Upon a principle …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 Jesus' Feet Anointed in the House of a Pharisee.
(Galilee.) ^C Luke VII. 36-50. ^c 36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. [We learn from verse 40 that the Pharisee's name was Simon. Because the feast at Bethany was given in the house of Simon the leper, and because Jesus was anointed there also, some have been led to think that Luke is here describing this supper. See Matt. xxvi. 6-13; Mark xiv. 3-9; John xii. 1-8. But Simon the leper was not Simon the Pharisee. The name Simon was one of the most common among the Jewish …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Jesus Calls Four Fishermen to Follow Him.
(Sea of Galilee, Near Capernaum.) ^A Matt. IV. 18-22; ^B Mark I. 16-20; ^C Luke V. 1-11. ^a 18 And walking ^b 16 And passing along by the sea of Galilee [This lake is a pear-shaped body of water, about twelve and a half miles long and about seven miles across at its widest place. It is 682 feet below sea level; its waters are fresh, clear and abounding in fish, and it is surrounded by hills and mountains, which rise from 600 to 1,000 feet above it. Its greatest depth is about 165 feet], he [Jesus] …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Links Daniel 10:3 NIVDaniel 10:3 NLTDaniel 10:3 ESVDaniel 10:3 NASBDaniel 10:3 KJV
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