Saying Farewell to Fear # 4
“God Calls A Nation to Repentance”
Daniel 9:1-19
We are living in a time of great delusion – perhaps even the time
of great delusion the Apostle Paul said would occur just before the appearance of the Antichrist. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12)
- Our political leaders lie to us without apology.
- The news media lie to us daily without guilt or shame.
- Governmental leaders create false events to stir fear and panic among the people, so they will willingly forfeit their personal freedoms for what appears to be government protection, when in fact it is only more government control.
In times like these, the only source of truth we can turn is the divinely inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word of God.
- The Bible is the only source of truth that has the power to transform our lives by renewing our minds and giving us the wisdom we need to live in this world today.
- According to the Scriptures, many of the major events that are happening in the world today are “birth-pangs” indicating the nearness of the Lord’s return, i.e., God is using these events to call His people to repentance.
A study of the Book of Daniel is essential to our understanding of biblical prophecy, especially what is called the “end-time events.”
- However, there are 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, and 10 reveal Daniel’s devotion to God in prayer. Daniel spent much time alone with God, which is why he was endowed with the wisdom of God and received direct revelations from God.
In Daniel 9:1-19, the prophet shows us how to pray for a nation that is facing God’s judgment.
- In 605 B.C., King Nebuchadnezzar invaded Israel, and in 587 B.C., he seized Jerusalem and took some of the brightest youth to Babylon to become his servants.
- Daniel was among those taken, and he spent the rest of his 85 years of life in captivity.
- Rather than fight against his servitude, Daniel adjusted to what he perceived to be God’s will, and God anointed him with learning in all kinds of literature, and with wisdom to interpret dreams and visions.
- In chapter 8, God told Daniel there were more dark days ahead for Israel – their time of deliverance had not come.
- In chapters 9-11, Daniel received a vision from God about Israel’s future – it was so heart-wrenching that 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.
“Now, therefore, says the Lord, turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning. Rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness.”
Joel 2:12-13
1. Daniel’s Inward Motivation – Daniel 9:1-3 – Vs. 3 – “Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.”
When Daniel read the prophecy of Jeremiah, he understood what God was saying to him by his knowledge of “the books.”
- According to Bible scholars, Daniel read the prophecy contained in what we know as Jeremiah, chapters 25-29.
- 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
2. Daniel’s Outward Confession – Daniel 9:4-15 – Vs. 4 – “And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession.”
Notice Daniel’s Pattern of Prayer –
- Adoration – giving God the glory due His holy name.
- Vs. 4 – “O Lord, great and awesome God!”
- Israel had broken covenant with God because they had lost respect for His holiness, His majesty, and His honor.
- Confession – admitting to God that we have fallen short of His glory.
- Vs. 5 – “We have sinned and committed iniquity; we have done wickedly; we have rebelled from your precepts.”
- Vs. 6 – “We have failed to listen to and heed your prophets.”
- Vs. 7 – “We have been unfaithful to you.”
- Vs. 10ff – “We have not obeyed the voice of the Lord, our God.”
- Daniel knew 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.
- However, rather than complaining about his circumstances, Daniel confessed his sins and the sins of his people.
3. Daniel’s Upward Intercession – Daniel 9:16-19 – Vs. 16 – “O Lord, according to all Your righteousness, I pray, let Your anger and Your fury be turned away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; because of our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers.”
- 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.
- Vs. 2 – Daniel prayed in response to what he read in “the books” – the bible.
- Vs. 3 – Daniel prayed with fervency.
- Vs. 3 – Daniel prayed with self-denial.
- Vs. 4 – Daniel identified with those for whom he prayed.
- Vs. 5-15 – Daniel confessed their specific sins by name.
- Vs. 4,7,9, and 15 – Daniel appealed to God’s character as he asked for God’s forgiveness.
- Vs. 16-19 – Daniel was more concerned about God’s glory than his people’s needs.
Application:
- Regardless of the severity of the event, we must accept it within the providence of God, and therefore for our good and His glory.
- If the catastrophic event is not an expression of God’s judgment or His wrath, we can only conclude that it is a form of His discipline: God’s call for His people to repent of their sins, and to return to their first love for Him.
- However, if that is true:
- Where is the evidence of our repentance?
- Where are the cries for confession, repentance, reconciliation, restoration, and restitution?
- Where are the calls for God’s people to cry out unto God for His forgiveness, His mercy, and His grace?
“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”
Acts 3:19
