Hello Friends!
Welcome back to our Encouraging Concepts Bible study series focused on the powerfully PROPHETIC picture portrayed in the Old Testament book of Daniel painted as a panoramic landscape of World History in FIVE successions “written” in ardent ADVANCE some 2,600 years ago… “The Book of Daniel: Prophecy PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE!”
The Book of Daniel: Prophecy PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE (Chapter 9: Verses 3-19)
3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: 4 And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; 5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: 6 Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 7 O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee. 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. 9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him; 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. 11 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 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 9:3-19
OPENING POINTS TO PONDER: This challenging chapter is divided into TWO parts: The proclaimed PRAYER faithfully followed by the applied ANSWER given. And while this poignant PRAYER occurred at one point in “time” during the life of “Daniel” himself, the avid ANSWER is provided PROPHETICLY in this specific timing of the manifested “Messiah” completely FULFILLED in our lauded “Lord Jesus Christ” a full – 600 Years LATER!
Therefore, “Daniel” made his great amiable ambition and overt objective to boldly BESEECH the “Lord” for mercy towards “Israel” itself…
Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God – Daniel 6:10-11
And the great “God of heaven” ardently ANSWERED on behalf of the virtue visible in this “beloved” man who brilliantly “Blessed” the great “name of God” as he personally – PRAYED Practically!
Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter – Daniel 2:19-23
Incidentally, there is TWICE as much attention given to “Daniel’s” purposed PRAYER provided here in chapter 9 as there is to its amazing ANSWER announced. Biblical PROPHECY is very important indeed and rightly “reveals” the sublime – Significance of PRAYER!
Prophet’s POWERFUL Prayer!
Powerful PRAYER is greatly generated by the WORD of “God” in full. Is grandly grounded in the WILL of “God” in full. Is granted through the WAY of “God” in full. And is fanned by a firm FERVENCY fostered…
And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes – Daniel 9:3
In other words, “Daniel” had fully FIXED his focused “face” upon the “Lord God” Himself. There was a poignant passion with a purposed persistence coupled with an intensity in his PRAYER petition. And “Daniel” did so in “fasting” fervently without food in “sackcloth” and “ashes” both as cultural indicators heralding an honest – HUMILITY of Heart!
THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: As we have seen from the very FIRST cherished chapter of our “study” series, this diligent “Daniel” was brought to “Babylon” by his great “God” along with the BELIEVING remnant of “Israel” when he was quite young:
And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes; Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego – Daniel 1:3-7
And yet he speaks of the nation's REBELLION along with their “transgressions” of the “law” as if they belonged solely to him – Righteous RESPONSIBILITY!
CONFESSION of Failure!
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: Out of ALL the human characters recorded throughout the “scriptures” themselves, “Daniel” appears with the purest of heart. The FAILURES fomented of “Abraham,” “Moses,” “Aaron,” “David” and MANY others are manifold. However, “Daniel” appears to have NO flaw in his character and as the narrative is concerned, he was a perfect man. Of course he was a “man of like passions" and a SINNER just as we are. Yet this devoted “servant” donned a life of LOYALTY unto “God” and His “laws” as he confidently confesses the people's girded GUILT and sordid SHAME collectively – As HIS Own…
“Daniel” had made “confession” along with his rigorous REQUEST for reprieve. WHY? Because these PROPHETIC promises from “God” must be rightly understood as CONDITIONAL in nature:
And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments – Daniel 9:4
Here “Daniel” addresses the “Lord ” as the “great and dreadful God” and from the very opening reminds “God” of his “covenant” and “mercy” to ALL of “them’ that “love” Him and KEEP His “commandments” in heart – OBEDIENT Living!
And God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments – Exodus 20:1-6
He began with a thorough and humble contrite CONFESSION of his nation’s SINS and “God’s” real righteousness in His just “judgments” to come:
We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments – Daniel 9:5
SIN was no vague concept to “Daniel” and he knew it was leaving “God’s” perfect “precepts” and diligently describes the nation’s CONDUCT very plainly as blatant – Iniquity, Wickedness & Rebellion!
Then “Daniel” had acknowledged that ALL of the “prophets” of whom “God” had sent to WARN the pious “people” of His pending DOOM to which “Israel” had disregarded in doubt:
Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land – Daniel 9:6
And “Daniel” also acknowledged that “God” is indeed “righteous” in His BRINGING such confirmed “confusion” and drastic “desolation” upon the insolent “inhabitants of Jerusalem” and “all Israel” for their serious “sins” that were WILLFULLY committed “against” Him:
O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee. O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee – Daniel 9:7-8
However, “Daniel” aptly acknowledged that “God” is also magnificently MERCIFUL and faithfully FORGIVING in spite of their flagrant rank “rebellion” aligned “against” His loving “laws” and provided “prophets” present:
To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him; 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 – Daniel 9:9-10
DESERVED Curse!
“Daniel” accurately acknowledged that the TROUBLE experienced by “Israel” was justly “brought” unto them as “it is written” down according to the CURSE consecrated in the “law of Moses” itself:
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. 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. 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. 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 – Daniel 9:11-14
PROPHETIC PROMISE: It is true that “God” constantly KEEPS his wonderful “word” both in the POSITIVE as “blessing” and in the NEGATIVE as “cursing” connotations. And by his lauded lamenting here in these poignant passages, “Daniel” absolutely acknowledges the sheer SHAME and just JUDGMENT that had come “upon” the nigh “nation” of insolent “Israel” as a “curse” due to their dire DISOBEDIENCE to the “law of God” in full…
And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God. Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out… – Deuteronomy 28:1-6
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: Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field. Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store. Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out. The Lord shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me… – Deuteronomy 28:15-20
One of the truest elements in CONFESSION of personal “sin” unto “God” is shown when He directly CHASTENS us for our DISOBEDIENCE and we aptly ACCEPT personal responsibility as such and never BLAME our great – GOD Himself!
PLEADINGS for Mercy!
Now “Daniel” aptly appealed to their DELIVERANCE from the “land of Egypt” and “God’s” righteous “renown” as poignantly PROPHESIED of their frightful future determined DELIVERANCE from the surmised “seventy years” of begotten “Babylonian” bondage:
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 – Daniel 9:15
Then “Daniel” boldly beseeched the “Lord” to turn away His just WRATH in light of the rank “reproach” upon His “city” of jaundice “Jerusalem” judged:
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 – Daniel 9:16
“Daniel” then beseeched his great “God” to wholly “hear” the persistent “prayer” of this solemn “servant” and thus “cause” His faithful “face” to surely SHINE upon the “sanctuary” for the “Lord's sake” alone:
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 – Daniel 9:17
Next “Daniel” had beseeched his glorious “God” to intentionally “incline” His eternal “ear” and everlasting “eyes” to boldly BEHOLD by these “great mercies” manifested unto this chosen “city” cited:
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 – Daniel 9:18
The true essence of INTERCESSORY intentional “prayer” is that it’s much GREATER than any individual and when self has been set aside, “we” become centrally CONCERNED for the needful “things” of other people:
And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart; And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain. For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people. Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you. But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king – 1 Samuel 12:20-25
Finally, “Daniel” soundly supplicated with eager ENTREATIES for his grandiose “God” to fully FORGIVE these permissive “people” for His “own sake” of whom were collectively “called” to be HIS completely:
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 9:19
Beloved, true Biblical INTERCESSION is greatly generated by the WORD of “God” in full. Is grandly grounded in the WILL of “God” in full. Is granted through the WAY of “God” in full. Is fanned by a firm FERVENCY fostered and is rightly REALIZED in sound self-denial as we are – Identified WITH God’s People!
Praise the Lord Jesus Christ!We
are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't
yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus
Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!
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Shane K. Morin <><
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