(Reflections and notes on Daniel 9. The series has covered the previous chapters in Daniel, you can click here to read those. Previously, Daniel was troubled further by a vision about a ram, a goat and a horn.)
Are you aware of the time you live in? Not just in terms of seeing the circumstances and understanding them, but also getting a good idea of how they play out in the context of life as a whole? Are you aware of where you are in the time of your life? Are you aware of the time in which you live in terms of the peoples around you?
One of the fascinating things about Daniel is that he was very much aware of the time. From Nebuchadnezzar and the removal of God’s people from God’s city, to the time he is now in where he has lived through at least three reigns and two different dynasties. Now his awareness of the time has a bearing on the nature of his prayers. Also worth noting that Daniel does this as he also impresses the new rulers of the kingdom with his wisdom and excellence in the workplace. Daniel’s commitment to excellence is matched with his prayerful focus on God and His people.
Daniel’s Prayerful Approach
This episode in the life of Daniel brings strands of the relationship between God and His people together. It’s also important to bear in mind that what Daniel is praying for in particular in this episode is something that he gets a response about. As in, the desire of Daniel’s heart is about God and Israel and the response he gets is about God and Israel. He may not live to see it, but he is faithful to note it for those who would read it and would see it realised.
On that issue of how it’s fulfilled, the issue of the weeks is not one that should be ignored at all. It plays an important part to this episode in the life of Daniel. Yet it’s interesting to see how much emphasis is put on the response to the prayer, even though the majority of the episode is not about the response. It’s about the prayer. Why is the emphasis on the response? Is it something about how tickled people get at the prophetic and how it was or will be fulfilled? In having so much of a focus are we missing something?
Daniel 9 gives an insight into the prayer life of Daniel. Here he is, a man of wisdom and interpretation, a man who takes the covenant of God very seriously and he’s also in a position to consider what God says through the prophets very carefully too. That word of God to the prophet about the people informs Daniel’s prayer life. His prayer is one that is worthwhile exploring in depth.
O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules.
Daniel 9:4-5 (ESV)
Notice the extent to which Daniel opens up in confessing sins. He recognises the greatness and faithfulness of God. The calamity that took place among the people and in the city of God is the consequence of a people who would act so rebelliously to one who has been so faithful. Daniel makes no excuses for the people. Daniel does not exclude himself from being among the people. Daniel throws himself at the feet of God looking for the mercy of God. This is all so fascinating to pay attention to in the light of Daniel knowing the sign of the time. If you knew that the end of a time of problem was about to give way to a return to a place of goodness, would that lead you to confession and contrition?
Lord, you are in the right; but as you see, our faces are covered with shame.
Daniel 9:7 (ESV)
This position in prayer is deep and touching. Daniel did not commit anything like as horrendous an action as some of those around him and before him. It matters not to him. All that matters to him is how all the people endure the shame because of their action as God goes about doing right. What is right in the sight of His covenant is to make sure the people learn that their rebellion will result in dire consequences. Daniel is keen to stress just how right God is to do what He does. It’s on that basis that Daniel can also make his appeal.
In view of all your faithful mercies, Lord, please turn your furious anger away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain. All the neighboring nations mock Jerusalem and your people because of our sins and the sins of our ancestors.
“O our God, hear your servant’s prayer! Listen as I plead. For your own sake, Lord, smile again on your desolate sanctuary.
Daniel 9:16-17 (NLT)
Daniel’s appeal is not based on anything the people have done. Daniel’s appeal is not even based on the improved behaviour of the people. Daniel’s appeal is rooted in God restoring the cityand the people God’s sake. If the corrupt nature of the people polluted the land of God, Daniel’s prayer is that the return will not be about corrupt folks polluting the kindness of God, but that God will be glorified in the presence of the neighbours. Consider what Daniel is asking God for, consider the implications for what is being restored and for the type of people that will be in the position to appreciate what God is doing for His name’s sake.
God’s Angelic Response
“O Daniel, I have now come out to give you insight and understanding. At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved. Therefore consider the word and understand the vision.
Daniel 9:22-23
Imagine writing that. OK, first imagine hearing that. Heavenly affirmation that you’re highly valued. Now imagine writing that down. To do that, you really have to show a track record in line with that. Here’s Daniel advance in age who has that track record, which is highlighted all the more by his meek, contrite, humble prayer of confession, where he’s not exalting himself, but making the most of God and His Word to His people for His city.
Bear in mind, as we consider this divine response, that Daniel is praying in confession to God for the state of his people in preparation for what he has deemed to be the time for the return to the land. Gabriel’s message appears to refer something beyond what Daniel was hoping for. There are interpretations on how to understand the periods of time mentioned. Some suggest it refers to the anointed one being Jesus, some refer to the anointed one being another saviour type figure for the land of Israel. Just as there are different interpretations for who defiles and when they’ll do it and what that looks like. The takeaway from the message, though, is that where Daniel is looking for what will happen imminently, God is granting him a wider scope to see what God will do to get what He’s looking for. There will be times of testing and trouble as seen with this one who will defile. There will be an anointed one and he will eb cut off from his people. The best news however is the last word …
On the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.
Daniel 9:27 (ESV)
God uses Daniel’s appeal to grant wisdom and insight on bigger things than the imminent. God gives Daniel this reason for hope that whatever happens even in troublesome times – to the point of desolation – that will not be the end of the story. God will deal with those that defile and when you get rid of that, the space is open for purity. Daniel’s prayer referred to how their sins had defiled the land and now in line with this prayer, God would sort it out once and for all. Once again, God uses this opportunity to give Daniel and those who would have the ears to hear reason for hope. Even great reason to hope than returning to a land lost.
God showed Himself to be faithful and true to His word time and time again. As He could be trusted before, so He can be trusted again.
Questions from Daniel 9
What does this episode tell you about the character of God?
What do you learn about prayer from Daniel’s prayer?
What does confession mean in this prayer?
Why is Daniel confessing and what can we learn from that?
What does the nature of God’s rule look like when it comes to relationship between Him and His people?
What reason is there for hope in the response that Gabriel offers?
Why should followers of Jesus pay careful attention to this prayerful conversation?
Some Helpful Resources
Overview of the book of Daniel by the Bible Project
Bob Deffinbaugh’s commentary on Daniel 9 as part of Bible.org’s series relating prophecy to piety.
Daniel’s 70 Weeks Part 1 by I. Gordon on the Jesus Plus Nothing site.
Don Henson on 70 Weeks of Daniel: What Does This Prophecy Mean? on the Life, Hope and Truth site
Commentaries on Daniel 9 by Hank Workman and Brad Boyles of The Warehouse blog
Jim Haeffele’s Bible study on Daniel 9 on the Life, Hope and Truth site.
Study of Daniel 9 as part of Torah Class on from Seed of Abraham ministries
David Guzik’s scripture breakdown of Daniel 9 for Enduring Word site.
Bob Utley’s Bible Study on Daniel 9
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 
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