Hot Pursuit

You’re in the middle of a crisis, or you’ve just been subjected to the most harrowing experience you’ve ever had; and you find yourself mentally and spiritually numb. Oftentimes, many just don’t know how to pray or how to seek out God. Many just freeze spiritually.

We had a very good friend who discovered that she had cancer when she was in her 30s. At the time, everyone was caught off guard. She was involved in one of the earlier experimental treatments for this cancer. During this time she shared with us how she knew the truths about God’s love and care for her. However, she just couldn’t pray; she felt helpless. I assured her that her brothers and sisters would pray for her on her behalf. To the glory of God, she lived for many more years. This was during the later 80s. This year, 2023, she left this earth to be with our Savior.

What do we do during those most difficult times? We know that the only place to turn is to the Lord. Yet, how do we deal with those helpless feelings we experience?

In Daniel 9:1-19, I believe we can find some encouraging guidelines. Pursuing God at all times helps us to pursue God during the horrible times.

Preparation - 9:1-3

In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of Median descent, who was made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans—in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, observed in the books the number of the years which was revealed as the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years. So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes.

At this point in Daniel’s life, most scholars suggest that he was around 80 - 90 years of age. This particular chapter is not a vision or a dream. It’s simply a part of everyday life for Daniel.

We’re reminded that Daniel knew God’s Word well. In fact, here, we see that Daniel was reading from the writings of the prophet, Jeremiah. We see that Daniel recognized these writings as God’s very words; they were divinely inspired. The portion he is reading seems to be Jeremiah 25. In Daniel’s study in Jeremiah, he understands that the Jews would be in captivity for a period of 70 years.

Let me digress for just a bit and point out that this is God teaching through His Word. There was no need for a vision or a dream since the Holy Spirit revealed the information to Daniel through his study. Even for the prophets, dreams and visions were not the norm. They were all students of the Word and they were intentionally living for God every day.

There are those today who suggest that they have been given extra-biblical revelation from dreams and visions. However, this is false and unnecessary since God’s children have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, Who teaches us through His Word, the Bible, which does not need anything additional given to it.

What Daniel realizes at this point, is that the time of captivity by the Babylonians was nearly finished. When we do the math, Babylon first invaded the Jews land in 606 BC. The prophecies which Jeremiah had written were to take place around 539-38 BC. This would have meant there were about two years left.

I find it fascinating to see that Daniel didn’t bother to try to symbolize Jeremiah’s 70 years, as the context gave him no reason to do so. Daniel believed that this prophecy was going to be fulfilled literally.

It’s no wonder that Daniel gives close attention to God at this point. Interestingly, we see Daniel go to God in prayer. As I read this, I am reminded that when we find some incredible insight into God’s Word, I should humble ourselves and continue to seek out God to learn more and to get closer to God.

Daniel is being quite intentional and earnest as he gave [his] attention to the Lord God. This was not a simple child’s nighttime prayer before nodding off. He was going to deal with what he had read with absolute determination to understand, while seeking God.

Just as Daniel was a great and wise scholar about God, he appears to be a great man of prayer, as well. One doesn’t become knowledgeable about the Word of God without spending a great deal of time reading and studying it. Likewise, one doesn’t become a person of prayer without spending a lot of time praying. My friends, to be a student of the Bible and know how to live for Christ, one must study the Bible and practice living what it teaches. In addition, when life implodes or explodes around you, it is helpful to have spent a great deal of time praying beforehand so you remember where your source of power comes.

This great man of God who was also a renowned leader in the Babylonian Kingdom has chosen to put on sackcloth and ashes, while fasting. What we will see next is one of the greatest prayers of intercession in the Bible. The next three points deal specifically with Daniel’s prayer.

Praising - 9:4

I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed and said, “Alas, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments,

This prayer is actually a wonderful example of how Christians can pray even today. It starts out with praise and adoration to the Lord, recognizing God for Who He is. Then in the following verses, there is confession of personal and national sin. Then there is the final part of pleading with God or asking.

As an aside, it seems presumptuous for a believer to make requests of God, if we haven’t seen ourselves in proper perspective. In other words, we need to first recognize who God is and give Him praise. Once we understand this, then we will find ourselves needing to confess our sins. Only at that time do we have any right to make a request of God.

Daniel starts out by showing the intimacy He has with the Lord already. The first time Lord is used shows up as Yahweh, which is the specific name for the God of Israel. Daniel also shows his own personal relationship with the Lord as my God. The next usage of Lord is actually adonai, showing God’s sovereignty.

Look at what Daniel points out as He recognizes Who God is:

The Lord is the great and awesome God. The root of awesome shows that the Lord is the One Who inspires fear.

God keeps His covenant and lovingkindness. This is that loyal love which God shows in keeping His promises and covenants.

Even today, brothers and sisters, we can be encouraged that because we have become part of the covenant relationship with God through Jesus Christ, God will continue to keep His promises to us. My friends, if we are part of that covenant relationship, if we are born again, then we will show it by our love and obedience to Him. Our love and obedience is not a condition to being accepted or having the promises kept; rather it shows that we are part of that relationship of being God’s children.

In view of Who God is, we need to look at what is being confessed.

Penitence - 9:5-14

Are you not amazed that Daniel personally identifies with the nation of Israel, as if he personally participated in all of the sin in which they had committed? Even though Daniel identified with the people, the reality is that he was not and had not been part of their rebellion that put them into captivity.

Listen to what Daniel says: we have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly and rebelled, even turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances. Moreover, we have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, our princes, our fathers and all the people of the land. Righteousness belongs to You, O Lord, but to us open shame, as it is this day—to the men of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, those who are nearby and those who are far away in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of their unfaithful deeds which they have committed against You. Open shame belongs to us, O Lord, to our kings, our princes and our fathers, because we have sinned against You. To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against Him; nor have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in His teachings which He set before us through His servants the prophets. Indeed all Israel has transgressed Your law and turned aside, not obeying Your voice; so the curse has been poured out on us, along with the oath which is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, for we have sinned against Him. Thus He has confirmed His words which He had spoken against us and against our rulers who ruled us, to bring on us great calamity; for under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what was done to Jerusalem. As it is written in the law of Moses, all this calamity has come on us; yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our iniquity and giving attention to Your truth. Therefore the Lord has kept the calamity in store and brought it on us; for the Lord our God is righteous with respect to all His deeds which He has done, but we have not obeyed His voice.

Wow! Basically, he gives and overview of their history and agrees with God that this people had been wicked. He knows that God has been righteous by judging them in this way. Everyone knew all the warnings from Moses and others. The reality was that the Jewish people deserved even worse than what they received.

As we walk through some of these verses, we see a progression, or rather a regression in their lives.

sinned - Israel had fallen short of what it meant to live holy lives.

committed iniquity/done wrong - a veering off God’s prescribed path in a deliberate, intentional manner; twisted or perverted

acted wickedly - rebellion against God

turning aside - this describes the rebellion against God even more. They turned aside and refused to obey God.

[refused] to listen to God’s messengers which were sent in love to protect His people.

Sadly, not only did those bent on evil suffer, but the innocent also had to suffer. No one was immune to the results of God’s punishment. Yet, verse 9 reminds us that God is abundant in mercy and forgiveness. Even with all of the rebellion, Daniel recognizes that there is hope. Daniel also is reminded that God doesn’t lie. This was all warned about through Moses. Sadly, the people had not repented.

What is involved in repentance? It is found in the phrase giving attention to Your truth. It means to listen and obey. You see, genuine repentance is turning from sin and obeying God. Those who suggest that all one has to do is say the right words, practice certain spiritual duties, be involved in various church activities, yet continually practice sin, are more than likely not even saved. If one truly belongs to God, they will not want to do those things which are an offense to God. If one is truly saved, they will want to live for God in all areas. Yes, people slip and fall into sin. But the true child of God does not willfully continue in sin, according to 1 John and multiple other passages of Scripture.

It is after recognizing Who God is and who they were and what they had done against God, that Daniel begins to look towards praying specifically for Jerusalem.

Pleading - 9:15-19

And now, O Lord our God, who have brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and have made a name for Yourself, as it is this day—we have sinned, we have been wicked. O Lord, in accordance with all Your righteous acts, let now Your anger and Your wrath turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; for because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people have become a reproach to all those around us. So now, our God, listen to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplications, and for Your sake, O Lord, let Your face shine on Your desolate sanctuary. O my God, incline Your ear and hear! Open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city which is called by Your name; for we are not presenting our supplications before You on account of any merits of our own, but on account of Your great compassion. O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For Your own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”

Daniel recalls how God has kept His promises as he reflects on God delivering His people out of Egypt. In verse 16, it almost is as if Daniel is reflecting, that since justice has been served and Israel had been punished according to Jeremiah’s prophecy, then it would be right and just for God to restore the people back to their land.

It may seem strange to pray for a city that has been left in ruins, but remember that Daniel knew God’s Word. You see, in Jeremiah and Isaiah, God had promised to end the Jews’ captivity after the 70 year period of time. He also had promised that He would lead the Jewish people back to the promised land so that they could actually rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.

How do we know this and when might it happen? Isaiah 44:28 ““It is I who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd! And he will perform all My desire.’ And he declares of Jerusalem, ‘She will be built,’ And of the temple, ‘Your foundation will be laid.’ ”” This verse shows that God promised that King Cyrus would allow the Jewish people to go back and rebuild the city of Jerusalem. We also know that this was not because the people had earned this. The people had not proven themselves to be a righteous people. This could only happen because of God’s great mercy.

We, also, can hold onto the promises of God as we pray through them. We’re always told to pray according to the will of God. We dare not assume that if the Bible doesn’t promise it, that we should pray for something as if we can twist God’s arm to doing whatever we want.

Lastly, we hear the final pleading from Daniel 9.19 ““O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For Your own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name.””

Hear - Forgive - Listen - Take Action

Pondering

What do we do during our most difficult times? We know that the only place to turn is to the Lord. Yet, how do we deal with those helpless feelings that often beset us? Do you remember these questions from the beginning? I’m sure you do. You’re waiting for that formula, that action plan, that process to get through all this.

Are you ready? Keep praying.

Keep reading and studying the Bible.

Keep worshiping and fellowshipping with other Christians.

Keep spurring one another on towards love and good deeds, as the writer of Hebrews put it.

Pursuing God at all times helps us to pursue God during the horrible times. If we wait to pursue God just during the horrible times, we won’t know what to do. Yet, if we’re pursuing God all the time—by praying, by reading and studying the Bible, by worshipping with other believers, by encouraging and challenging our brothers and sisters in Christ; when the horrible times come, we’ll know what to do. And if we still feel helpless and petrified, we have our brothers and sisters who will hold onto us and hold us up before the Lord.