DANIEL SIMPLIFIED

 

CHAPTER 9.8

Gleanings from the Book of Daniel:

A Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series

 

DANIEL

Chapter Nine

The Prayer of Daniel

The Prophecy of Seventy Weeks

 

 

 

Prefix

After reading the prophet Jeremiah, Daniel understood the seventy-year chastisement period for Israel would soon be fulfilled. Accompanied by sackcloth and ashes, as was the tradition, Daniel began to pray to God with humility and a contriteness of heart. Having a proper attitude in approaching God, significantly he first included himself in the acknowledgment of their sins before he pleaded for mercy of his people.

 

 

(Verse 8)

O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against Thee.

 

Confession

In a repetitive way from verse 7, Daniel confessed to God the fact they were captured, national shame belonged to them. All classes of the Hebrew society were equally guilty of sinning against God's precepts, from the forefathers (ancestors) to the kings of Israel.

 

A similar admission was stated by Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 14:7 - O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do Thou it for Thy name's sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against Thee.

 

 

(Verse 9)

 

To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against Him.

 

Adoration

Despite Israel’s rebellion, Daniel appealed to God’s compassion and forgiveness. Although God is a God of righteousness, Daniel understood He was also a God of mercy:

Psalm 106:43 - Many times did He deliver them; but they provoked Him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.

 

 

(Verse 10)

 

Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in His laws, which He set before us by His servants the prophets.

 

Admission

In this humble devout address to God, Daniel also acknowledged two transgressions:

1. We have not obeyed the voice of God

2. We have not walked in the laws of God

 

God’s laws or instructions sent forth by His prophets were ignored by his people and they were without excuse.

Isaiah 30:9 - That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the Law of the LORD.

 

 

(Verse11)

 

Yea, all Israel have transgressed Thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey Thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the Law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against Him.

 

Daniel accepted responsibility for the seventy-year curse placed upon him and the nation. Notice, he does not blame God. Israel bought the consequences upon herself because of her sins and unwillingness to obey God’s commandments. Therefore, God was justified in His punishment, for it had been well stated:

Deuteronomy 28:15ff. - But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee…

 

 

(Verse 12)

 

And He hath confirmed His words, which He spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.

 

Daniel admitted, what God hath warned in His word by decree, He hath confirmed it by His vengeance against Israel and her rulers. In addition, nothing throughout history has ever equaled the great catastrophe that has been brought upon their city, i.e., the capture of Jerusalem by the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar.  

 

 

(Verse 13)

 

As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand Thy truth.

 

Even though the people of Israel had been warned by the Law of Moses, Daniel admitted they failed to call upon the Lord during their punishment and continued their course of disobedience. If only they had repented, they would have received God’s forgiveness.

 

 

(Verse 14)

 

Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all His works which He doeth: for we obeyed not His voice.

 

Next, Daniel reaffirmed God had observed their evil against Him and that in His righteousness He had no choice but to bring judgment upon their sins for their disobedience.

 

The Psalmist succinctly clarifies Daniel’s remarks:

Psalm 119:137 - Righteous art Thou, O LORD, and upright are Thy judgments.

 

 

(Verse 15)

 

And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought Thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten Thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly.

 

Supplication

Now, Daniel appeals to the forgiveness of God by recalling how He mightily brought His covenant people out of Egyptian bondage because of His righteousness. And jointly, he persistently confesses their sins.

 

 

(Verse 16)

 

O Lord, according to all Thy righteousness, I beseech Thee, let Thine anger and Thy fury be turned away from Thy city Jerusalem, Thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us.

 

Petition

Continuing from verse 15, Daniel restates: It is because of their wickedness and the immorality of their ancestors, the city of God and His people have become a disgrace among the surrounding heathen nations. In other words, they have become the subject of ridicule. Therefore Daniel begged on behalf of God’s righteousness that He would reconsider and rescind His anger and wrath.

 

When Daniel made his plea, he was cognizant of three elements:

1. Scripture Prophesized:

Deuteronomy 28:37 - And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither the LORD shall lead thee.

 

2. Scripture Realized:

Psalm 79:4 - We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.

 

3. Scripture Harmonized:

Psalm 85:4 - Turn (restore) us, O God of our salvation, and cause Thine anger toward us to cease.

 

 

(Verse 17)

 

Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of Thy servant, and his supplications, and cause Thy face to shine upon Thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake.

 

Closing Argument

In 586, the Temple built by King Solomon was set on fire and destroyed by the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar. There had been no worship services or animal sacrifices since. The scattered nation only kept the Psalms in their hearts to maintain a sense of worship.

 

As Jerusalem continued to lie in ruins, Daniel beseeched God for an answer to prayer. He asked Him to cause His face to shine upon His sanctuary once again. That is to say metaphorically, like the sun, shining on the sanctuary to keep worship alive.

Psalm 80:3 - Turn (Restore)us again, O God, and cause Thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.

 

 

(Verse 18)

 

O my God, incline Thine ear, and hear; open Thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by Thy name: for we do not present our supplications before Thee for our righteousnesses, but for Thy great mercies.

 

Apart from imploring God to look favorably upon the holy Temple, Daniel then appealed to His mercy. He called upon God’s attention through two Hebraic idioms:

1. Incline Your ear

By using this expression, Daniel, in effect, is asking God to lean down, draw close to him, and listen closely to what he has to say, i.e., simply to intervene (cf. 2 Kings 19:16; Isaiah 37:17).

 

2. Open Your eyes

By using this expression, Daniel, in effect, is asking God to take cognizance or full notice of the specific circumstance (cf. Job 14:3; Proverbs 20:13).

 

Daniel’s rationale was: Attend to the destruction befallen upon the city of God, Jerusalem (cf. Psalm 48:1, 8). It is not for their righteousness, but for God’s sake, says Daniel.

 

 

(Verse 19)

 

O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for Thine own sake, O my God: for Thy city and Thy people are called by thy name.

 

Daniel wanted God to be honored, extolled, and His reputation to be restored. So, in his final climactic plea, Daniel recapitulates his call upon God:

1. To Hear

2. To Forgive

3. To Attend

4. To Act

5. To Delay not

a.  For Your Name’s sake

b.  For Your City’s sake

c.  For Your Nation’s sake

 

Summary/Analysis

John MacArthur presents a foremost encapsulation of the eight elements of Daniel's intercessory prayer:

1. Prayer is generated by the Word of God (Vv. 2-3a)

2. Prayer is grounded in the will of God (v. 2b)

3. Prayer is characterized by fervency (Vv. 3-4a)

4. Prayer is realized in self-denial (v. 4a)

5. Prayer is identified with God’s people (Vv. 5-16)

6. Prayer is strengthened in confession (Vv. 5-15)

7. Prayer is dependent on God’s character (Vv. 4, 7, 9, 15)

8. Prayer consummates in God’s glory (Vv. 16-19)

[MacArthur, John. An Uncompromising Life: Study Notes. Daniel 1, 6, 9:1-19 (Word of Grace Communications, 1983), 101-113.]

 

 

Next, an overwhelming answer to prayer via a prophetic statement will come to Daniel through God’s special messenger, Gabriel. It will include a panorama of world history up until the End Times.

 

 

QUESTIONS:

1. What motivated Daniel to pray?

2. How did God communicate to Israel?

3. How did Daniel pray on behalf of Israel?

4. Why was God’s wrath poured out on Israel?

5. Why was God's punishment for Israel justified?

6. What event did God bring to God’s attention?

7. What did Daniel ask God to do?

 

 

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