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.
Daniel's physical response: '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.' The encounter completely overwhelmed him—loss of strength, physical corruption (possibly pallor, illness, or withering), total depletion. This parallels Isaiah 6:5 ('I am undone'), Ezekiel 1:28 (falling on face), and Revelation 1:17 (falling as dead). Encountering divine glory exceeds human capacity; even mature believers collapse under theophanic weight. The phrase 'great vision' emphasizes its significance and overwhelming nature. This teaches that genuine divine encounters humble rather than inflate—they reveal human weakness and God's transcendence. False visions or demonic counterfeits typically produce pride or confusion; genuine theophanies produce worship, fear, and physical collapse requiring divine strengthening for recovery.
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern literature records various vision experiences, but biblical theophanies are distinctive: they overwhelm recipients, produce fear and physical collapse, require divine intervention for recovery, and convey authoritative divine truth. Pagan oracles and visions typically empowered practitioners, making them ecstatic, confident, proud. Biblical theophanies do the opposite—reducing recipients to helpless weakness, demonstrating that authority comes from God, not the human vessel. Daniel's decades of faithful service and previous vision experiences (chapters 2, 4-5, 7-8) didn't make this encounter easier—if anything, greater spiritual maturity increased awareness of God's holiness and human inadequacy. This refutes progressive desensitization: deeper relationship with God produces greater, not lesser, awareness of His transcendence.
Questions for Reflection
Why do genuine divine encounters produce physical collapse rather than empowerment or pride?
What does Daniel's continuing inability to handle theophanic visions (despite decades of experience) teach about God's transcendence?
How can we distinguish genuine spiritual experiences (producing humility and worship) from false ones (producing pride or confusion)?
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Analysis & Commentary
Daniel's physical response: '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.' The encounter completely overwhelmed him—loss of strength, physical corruption (possibly pallor, illness, or withering), total depletion. This parallels Isaiah 6:5 ('I am undone'), Ezekiel 1:28 (falling on face), and Revelation 1:17 (falling as dead). Encountering divine glory exceeds human capacity; even mature believers collapse under theophanic weight. The phrase 'great vision' emphasizes its significance and overwhelming nature. This teaches that genuine divine encounters humble rather than inflate—they reveal human weakness and God's transcendence. False visions or demonic counterfeits typically produce pride or confusion; genuine theophanies produce worship, fear, and physical collapse requiring divine strengthening for recovery.