In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans—in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years. (Dan 9:1-2)
Daniel lived in turbulent times. The siege of Jerusalem. The exile of Judah. The exaltation and humiliation of Nebuchadnezzar. The pride and downfall of Belshazzar. Babylon overthrown by the Medes and Persians. The circumstances surrounding him and his own study of Jeremiah’s prophecy drove Daniel to pray. Perhaps the ancient seeds sown in Daniel 9, preserved for our learning, would be good for your heart today.
Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the LORD my God… (9:3-4)
Notice how Daniel addresses the Ancient of Days.
“O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments…” (9:4)
“Your servants the prophets… spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness…” (9:6-7)
“To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness…” (9:9)
So what did Daniel say to the LORD his God? How did he pray?
Daniel penitently acknowledged.
I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession… (9:4)
“…we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name…” (9:5-6)
“To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame… because we have sinned against you… and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.” (9:7-10)
Daniel humbly remembered.
“As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us; yet we have not entreated the favor of the LORD our God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by your truth. Therefore the LORD has kept ready the calamity and has brought it upon us, for the LORD our God is righteous in all the works that he has done, and we have not obeyed his voice. And now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly.” (9:13-15)
Then, having humbled himself under the mighty hand of God, Daniel confidently cast his anxieties on the LORD.
“O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us. Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.” (9:16-19)
Ours is a different context in a different era. Disciples of Jesus belong to a different kingdom defined by a better covenant. And yet, Daniel 9 may decisively be the reminder you needed today.
I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer…
“O my God, incline your ear and hear.”
“O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act.”
If Daniel could pray like that, with how much more boldness can we pray in the name of the One whose dominion is everlasting, whose kingdom shall never be destroyed?
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb 4:14-16)
Daniel experienced. Daniel read. Daniel perceived. Daniel gained insight. Daniel prayed. And by the end of Chapter 9, Daniel was assured from heaven, “You are greatly loved” (9:23). Isn’t this the path that continues to stretch out before us?
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8:38-39)
So let’s keep penitently acknowledging, turning from our iniquities, humbly remembering, gaining insight from truth, and confidently casting our anxieties on the same great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments.