Daniel 9
Introduction
Major Ideas
#1: xyxyxyxy (vv. xy-xy)
The secret of prayer is that we should ask in accordance with God’s will. The prayer of faith asks in unwavering trust for what God has already promised to do. Faith is not a matter of looking within ourselves to see how much we feel capable of requesting. What faith does is search the Scripture to see what God has promised to do. That was what Daniel did. We should not do less than that; we dare not ask more than that.
#2: xyxyxyxy (vv. xy-xy)
He appeals for mercy for the people because they bear God’s own name (v. 19); he appeals for the restoration of Jerusalem because it is God’s own city (vv. 18–19); he longs for the rebuilding of the temple because it is God’s own sanctuary (v. 17).
To Daniel God is the “great and awesome God”; He who “keeps His covenant and mercy” (vv. 4, 18); He is a God of “righteousness” (vv. 7, 14, 16); one who shows “mercy and forgiveness” (vv. 9, 18–19); He confirms His word in holy judgment (v. 12); His word is “truth” (v. 14); He is a deliverer of the oppressed (v. 15).
Daniel clearly saw the need of the people. His praying was clearly people-oriented, but it was God-centered. The bottom line of his heart cry was: “Save your people, Lord, ‘for Your own sake’ ” (v. 19).
Only when that phrase is present in our hearts and not merely in our words have we been mastered by a true motive.
#3: xyxyxyxy (vv. xy-xy)
They dare not appeal to the righteousness of God for justice—that would involve their annihilation. The justice they deserved was destruction. So Daniel appealed to the covenantal righteousness of God for mercy: “we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds [they had none], but because of Your great mercies” (v. 18). God would surely respond to this plea because He was and is a God who “delights in mercy” (Mic. 7:18).
In His covenant God had promised to be merciful. Daniel prayed He would be so.
#4: xyxyxyxy (vv. xy-xy)
So Daniel spreads before God the sin (vv. 5–6), shame (vv. 7–8), curse (v. 11), and humiliation (v. 16) that the people had experienced.
Thy truth unchanged hath ever stood;
Thou savest those that on thee call:
To them that seek thee thou art good,
To them that find thee, all in all.