2. Daniel’s Prayer Daniel 9:1-19

3. Introduction Dan 9:1 –The first year of Darius the Mede A descendant of Ahasuerus, a royal name among the Medians and later Persians Made king over the land of Chaldea (former Babylonian Empire) –The date would be approximately 538 BC

4. The reason for the prayer Dan 9:2 –Daniel knew the prophecy of Jeremiah, regarding 70 years of Babylonian captivity (Jer 25:9-12; Jer 29:10) –The 70 years of Jerusalem began in 606 BC, with the captivity of Daniel and the first devastation of Jerusalem (2 Chr 36:5-7) –Daniel has been counting the years This year (based on Jewish reckoning) could be the time of the return –Any portion of a year being considered a year, the fulfillment could still be another year, or a bit more, away

5. Preparation for prayer Dan 9:3 –Daniel set his face toward the Lord God To make request by prayer and supplications This may have included facing toward Jerusalem (Dan 6: 10-11) But would imply more a mental attitude –[Do we think about approaching God before we pray?] With fasting, sackcloth, and ashes –Physical preparations which illustrated his humility and contrition and removes distractions of ease and comfort –Similar to the practice of others (David, Nehemiah, Jonah, etc) »Matt 9:14-15 – Jesus said there would be times when His disciples would fast

6. Daniel addresses his prayer Dan 9:4 –As great and awesome We should be mindful of Who God is (Mt 6:9) –Who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him and keep His commandments –Ps 103:17-18; Jn 14:15 –God will keep His promises, but is under no obligation to help those who do not obey Him

7. Confession of sin Dan 9:5-6 –On behalf of self and his people, he confesses their... Sinning and committing iniquity Doing wickedly and rebelling Departing from His precepts and judgments Failing to heed His servants, the prophets, who spoke to their kings, princes, fathers, and all the people (2 Chr 36:15-21) –Some of those things happened many years earlier, but it is never past time to confess faults 1 Jn 1:8-10

8. Sin and Mercy Dan 9:7-9 –Contrasting their sin with God's mercy To Judah, Israel, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem belong shame of face –Those both near and far off in countries where God had driven them –To them, their kings, princes, and fathers –Because of their unfaithfulness against God, their sin and rebellion (Ezra 9:6-7) To God belongs mercy and forgiveness –Even though they had rebelled against Him (Ezra 9:8-9)

9. Sin and Justice Dan 9:10-14 –The nature of their sin They have not obeyed the voice of the Lord They have not walked in His laws set before by His prophets They transgressed His law, and departed so as not to obey His voice They had not prayed that they might turn from their iniquities and understand His truth –Fulfillment of God's warnings ( Lev 26:14-39; Dt 28:15-68) Curse and oath written in the Law has been poured out He has confirmed His words spoken against them by bringing a great disaster upon them Especially the disaster which has come upon Jerusalem

10. A simple summary Dan 9:15 –An acknowledgment of how much they owed God, starting from Egypt –A simple acknowledgment of their complete unworthiness (Lk 18:13)

11. Daniel’s petition Dan 9:16-19 –Turn away His anger and fury From His city Jerusalem, His holy mountain Because of their sins and iniquities For which they have become a reproach –Hear his prayer and supplications –Cause His face to shine on His sanctuary, which is desolate –See their desolation, and the desolation of the city called by His name –Hear, forgive, act and not delay!

12. Basis for his petition His passionate plea based, not because of their righteous deeds, but upon... –God's righteousness, and for His sake –God's great mercies, and for His city and His people called by His name Echoing the words of Solomon in his dedication prayer for the temple (1 Kings 8:46-53)

13. Conclusion Like the penitential prayer of David in Ps 51, this prayer of Daniel is an example of how to confess our sins and seek God's forgiveness –To seek forgiveness on the basis of God's mercy, not one's own righteousness (Ps 51:1-2) –To admit one's sins before God (Ps 51:3-4) As we confess our sins, remember the example of godly men like David and Daniel!