Saturday

Related Verses
Dan. 10:4-9
4 And on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, while I was by the great river, that is, the Hiddekel,
5 I lifted up my eyes and I looked, and there was a certain man, clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with the fine gold of Uphaz.
6 His body also was like beryl, His face like the appearance of lightning, His eyes like torches of fire, His arms and His feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of His words like the sound of a multitude.
7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; instead, a great dread fell on them, and they fled to hide themselves.
8 Thus I was left alone and I saw this great vision; and no strength was left in me, but my color turned deathly pale; and I retained no strength.
9 Yet I heard the sound of His words; and when I heard the sound of His words, I fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.

Dan. 9:23
23 At the beginning of your supplications the command went forth, and I have come to tell you, for you are preciousness itself. Therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.

Dan. 10:11, 19
11 And he said to me, Daniel, man of preciousness, understand the words that I am about to tell you and stand in your place, for I have now been sent to you. And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling.
19 And he said, Do not be afraid, man of preciousness. Peace to you. Be strong, yes, be strong. And when he spoke to me, I received strength and said, Speak, sir, for you have strengthened me.

Related Reading
The excellent Christ, the centrality and universality of God’s move on the earth, appeared to Daniel for his appreciation, consolation, encouragement, expectation, and stabilization. 

First, the excellent Christ appeared in His priesthood for taking care of His chosen people (Dan. 10:5a). His priesthood is signified by the linen robe…The fact that Christ is clothed in linen signifies that His humanity is His priestly robe. At the time of Daniel 10, Christ Himself, God’s centrality and universality, was a Priest taking care of the children of Israel in captivity. 

Second, Christ appeared to Daniel in His kingship (signified by the golden girdle) for ruling over all the peoples. Verse 5b says that His “loins were girded with the fine gold of Uphaz.” A girdle is for strengthening. Christ’s kingship is signified not by linen but by gold. His priesthood is human, whereas His kingship is divine. (Life-study of Daniel, pp. 93-94) 

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Furthermore, for His people’s appreciation Christ appeared also in His preciousness and dignity as signified by His body being like beryl (Dan. 10:6a)…The Hebrew word [for beryl] could refer to a bluish-green or yellow precious stone. This signifies that Christ in His embodiment is divine (yellow), full of life (green), and heavenly (blue). 

Furthermore, Christ appeared in His brightness for shining over the people. His brightness is signified by His face being like the appearance of lightning (v. 6b). 

Christ’s enlightening sight for searching and judging is signified by His eyes being like torches of fire (v. 6c). 

Christ also appeared in His gleam [of polished bronze (v. 6d)] in His work and moves, tested by people and testing people…In typology, bronze signifies God’s judgment, which makes people bright. God’s judgment is a kind of trial. Christ was judged, tried, by God, and God’s trial and judgment made Him bright like polished bronze. Such a Christ is the One who has been tested by others and who also tests others. 

Finally, Christ appeared to Daniel in His strong speaking for judging people. His strong speaking is signified by the sound of His words being like the sound of a multitude (v. 6e). 

Christ…is precious, valuable, complete, and perfect. As a man, He is the very centrality and universality of God’s move to carry out His economy. He is so precious, bright, shining, enlightening, and testing. As the Priest, He is taking care of us, and as the King, He is ruling over us. How wonderful He is! 

In 4:26 Daniel said to Nebuchadnezzar, “Your kingdom will be assured to you after you have come to know that the heavens do rule.”…The earth is under the rule of a heavenly administration…Furthermore, we are under God’s heavenly rule for Christ. The purpose of the heavenly ruling is to complete God’s elect so that Christ may be preeminent, that He may be the first—the centrality—and everything—the universality. 

Because the heavens rule, Christ is with us in all our situations. When we are sick, He is with us. When we are in turmoil, He is with us. 

We all need to learn three things: that this universe is under God’s administration; that God’s intention in His administration is to make Christ preeminent, to cause Him to have the first place in everything; and that for the accomplishment of God’s intention, we, His people, His elect, must give Him the best coordination and cooperation. Through our coordination and cooperation, God will consummate His eternal intention to make Christ preeminent through the rule of the heavens. (Life-study of Daniel, pp. 94-95, 77-78) 

Further Reading: Life-study of Daniel, msgs. 1, 5-6, 12-13, 15, 17

Further Reading:
Further Reading: Collected Works of Watchman Nee, Set 3, Vol. 14, ch. 48

Hymn: #541
1 Not the law of letters,
But the Christ of life
God desires to give us,
Saving us from strife;
It is not some doctrine,
But ’tis Christ Himself
Who alone releases
From our sinful self.

2 Any kind of teaching,
Any kind of form,
Cannot quicken spirits
Or our souls transform;
It is Christ as Spirit
Gives us life divine,
Thus thru us to live the
Life of God’s design.

3 Not philosophy nor
Any element
Can to Christ conform us
As His complement;
But ’tis Christ Himself who
All our nature takes
And in resurrection
Us His members makes.

4 Not religion, even
Christianity,
Can fulfill God’s purpose
Or economy;
But ’tis Christ within us
As our all in all
Satisfies God’s wishes,
And His plan withal.

5 All the gifts we’re given
By the Lord in grace,
All the different functions
Cannot Christ replace.
Only Christ Himself must
Be our all in all!
Only Christ Himself in
All things; great or small!