In Daniel 9 (an apocalyptic book), Daniel has a lot on his mind and wanted answers from God. He observed in the books the number of the years, which was revealed as the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, 70 years.
After Darius had read the prophetic historical writings of Jeremiah, he thought on the writings and turned to the Lord God in prayer. He entreated the Lord God and sought to seek Him by praying and pleading. Along with prayer, he fasted, putting on sackcloth, and ashes to demonstrate his mournful state.
He prayed to the Lord my God and Daniel made confession. This is what he said. He first of all humbled himself and acknowledged God’s power and supremacy.
“Oh, Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and faithfulness for those who love Him and keep His commandments.” He confessed on behalf of his people.. “We have sinned, we have done wrong, and]acted wickedly and rebelled, even turning aside from your commandments and ordinances. Even more than that, we have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our leaders, our fathers, and all the people of the land.”
What does this say to us? This prayer teaches us “how” to approach the throne of the one and only Holy God! Daniel honors God and prays to Him reverently, humbly. He prays for all his people near and far.
“Righteousness belongs to you, Lord, but to us open shame, as it is this day—to the men of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and all Israel, those who are nearby and those who are far away in all the countries to which you have driven them, because of their unfaithful deeds which they have committed against you.
“Open shame belongs to us, Lord, to our kings, our leaders, and our fathers, because we have sinned against you. To the Lord, our God, belong compassion and forgiveness, because we have rebelled against Him; and we have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in His [f]teachings which He (O)set before us through His servants the prophets.”
Although he is praying for all Israel; this is a prayer we need to pray for our own people and our country! By not obeying the voice of Jesus Christ and accepting Him, aren’t we building up problems upon ourselves?
I ask you…Daniel is saying that because of disobedience, “The curse has gushed forth on us, along with the oath which is written in the Law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against Him.”
Daniel goes on praying. “So He has confirmed His words which He had spoken against us and against our rulers who ruled us, to bring on us great disaster; for under the entire heaven there has not been done anything like what was done in Jerusalem.
“Just as written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us; yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our wrongdoing and giving attention to Your truth. So, the Lord has kept the disaster in store (God has a long memory) and brought it on us; for the Lord our God is righteous with respect to all His deeds which He has done, but we have not obeyed His voice.”
In other words, the Lord has not forgotten what Jeremiah wrote and has not forgotten what would happen if they would not obey. Daniel continues in his prayer, telling the Lord, “You who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and made a name for Yourself, as it is this day—we have sinned, we have been wicked.”
Daniel pleads to the Lord on the basis of His righteousness to turn away the wrath He promised as reward for disobedience. “Lord, in accordance with all your righteous acts, let now your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain; for because of our sins and the wrongdoings of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become an object of taunting to all those around us. So now, our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas, My God, incline your ear and hear! Open your eyes and see!
“We are not presenting our pleas before you based on any merits of our own, but based on your great compassion. Lord, hear! Lord, forgive! Lord, listen and take action! For Your own sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and Your people are called by Your name.”
Gabriel Brings an Answer: “While I was still speaking and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my plea before the Lord my God in behalf of the holy mountain of my God, while I was still speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision previously, came to me in my extreme weariness about the time of the (AO)evening offering.
“And he instructed me and talked with me and said, ‘Daniel, I have come now to give you insight with understanding. At the beginning of your pleas the command was issued, and I have come to tell you, because you are highly esteemed; so pay attention to the message and gain understanding of the vision. Let us consider that “the fervent prayer of the righteous avails much.’”
The Lord will answer our prayers because He hears the prayers of the righteous. Gabriel brings an answer starting in Daniel 9:24-27. Please read here how Daniel prayed against very difficult situations. He appealed to the very depth of what man wants to hear from God in any situation under any condition. Let us pray.
Thanks for reading! Jeanette Grattan Parker is founder-superintendent of Today’s Fresh Start Charter School, 4514 Crenshaw Boulevard, L.A., 90043, (323) 293-9826 www.todaysfreshstart.org (Ask Dr. Jeanette TM) Inquiring Minds Want to Know” All articles are copyright. All rights reserved © Errors? Let me know. Join Sundays for music & message: 11:30am {1-712-775-8971—code 266751} References: (The Holy Bible) NKJ & NASB Bible Don’t stop praying and hoping. Daniel chapter 9, an apocalyptic Old Testament book