The Book of Daniel

The Book of Daniel
“Daniel’s Penitential Prayer”
Daniel 9:1-19

Wayne J. Edwards, Pastor

A serious study of the Book of Daniel is essential to our clear understanding of biblical prophecy, especially what is called the “end-time events.” However, two other subjects in the Book of Daniel that are often overlooked

• The absolute sovereignty of God – God is in control of all things, and His plan of redemption is unfolding just as He ordained it, even before the foundation of the world.
• The necessity of intercessory prayer – chapters 2,6,9,10 reveal Daniel’s devotion to God in prayer. Daniel spent much time alone with God, which is why he was endued with the wisdom of God, and why he received direct revelations from God.
• When Daniel saw what God was about to do to finish His judgment upon the Israelites, Daniel “set his face to pray,” and with supplication, he interceded for his people.

There are at least three possible reasons for the predicament our nation, and the world is in today:

• This is where we are on the cycle of events that are common to every society.

	“A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. The average age of every society has been about 200 years.” Alexander Tyler – 1787
This is the result of our rejection of God, and our failure to submit to His authority.
	“We must realize God has died in our cosmos, in our history, in our existence!” J. Altizer, Professor of Religion Emory University – 1965
This is where we are on God’s prophetic calendar. Everything is ready for the “end-time events” to unfold.

In Daniel 9:1-19, the prophet shows us how to pray for a nation that is facing God’s judgment.

• In chapter 8, God told Daniel that Israel’s time of deliverance had not come; there were more dark days ahead.
• In chapters 9-11, Daniel received a vision from God about Israel’s future – so heart-wrenching an angel had to assist Daniel in his understanding and acceptance of it.
• In chapter 9:1-19, once he saw what God was about to do to finish His judgment upon the Israelites, Daniel fasted, put on sackcloth and ashes, and interceded before God on behalf of his people

1.  Daniel’s Inward Motivation – Daniel 9:1-3

When Daniel read the prophecy of Jeremiah, he understood what God was saying to him by his knowledge of “the books.”

• Daniel was a student of the Scriptures – he built his prayer life around the truth of God’s Word.
• Daniel “set his face to prayer” – he was disciplined, deliberate, and determined about his prayer life.

“What a man is on his knees before God, that he is and nothing more.”
Robert Murray McCheyne – Scottish Minister – 1813-1843

2. Daniel’s Outward Confession – Daniel 9:4-15

Notice Daniel’s Pattern of Prayer –

• Adoration – giving God the glory due His holy name.
  • 4 – “O Lord, great and awesome God!”
  • Irael had broken covenant with God – they had lost respect for His holiness, His majesty, and His honor.
  • Confession – admitting to God that we have fallen short of His glory.
    • 5 – “We have sinned and committed iniquity; we have done wickedly; we have rebelled from your precepts.”
    • 6 – “We have failed to listen to and heed your prophets.”
    • 7 – “We have been unfaithful to you.”
    • 10ff – “We have not obeyed the voice of the Lord, our God.”
    • Daniel knew that his people had worshipped God in vain for many years – they had drawn near to God with their mouth, but their hearts were far from Him.
    • Rather than complain to God about his circumstances, Daniel confessed his sins and the sins of his people.

“If you sin secretly, confess it secretly; keep the details to yourself. If you sin openly confess it openly to those you have hindered. If you have sinned spiritually, confess it to the whole church, for you have been a hindrance to its work.”
J. Edwin Orr

3. Daniel’s Upward Intercession – Daniel 9:16-19

• Supplication – the condition and position of the physical body during the time of prayer – kneeling, prostrate, sackcloth, ashes – humbling oneself before a Holy God.
• Intercession – the prayer offered on behalf of others.
• 2 – Daniel prayed in response to what he read in “the books” – the bible.
• 3 – Daniel prayed with fervency.
• 3 – Daniel prayed with self-denial.
• 4 – Daniel identified with those for whom he prayed.
• 5-15 – Daniel confessed their specific sins by name.
• 4,7,9,15 – Daniel appealed to God’s character as he asked for God’s forgiveness.
• 16-19 – Daniel was more concerned about God’ glory than his people’s needs.

God chose the nation of Israel to be a light to the Gentiles. Through their witness, they were to show others the way to

• But rather than being a light to the Gentiles, they added to their darkness by their lack of integrity and their insincere worship of God.

The Church is to represent the Body of Christ in the world: those whom God has called out of the darkness of depravity and into the light of His truth.

• He has also called us to go back into that darkness, and with the brightness of His indwelling glory, show others the way to God through their faith in Jesus Christ.
• However, if we hide our light for any reason or shade it by compromising our convictions, we have only added to their darkness and hindered their discovery of the one, true God.