Daniel 9:1-19

A Lesson on Intercession

Prayer is hard. I may be speaking for myself but every time I close my eyes to pray, it’s a struggle to find the right words.

**READ/PRAY**

Plural Noun Proposition: In Daniel 9:1-19, Daniel models for you THREE biblical ways to humbly intercede to God in prayer.

I. Let Gods Word Prompt Your Prayers (vv 1-3)

Daniel 9:1–3 “In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans— in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years. Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.”

In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans

The setting for this prayer in Chapter 9 takes place in the same time period as Daniel chapter 5

Daniel 5:31 “And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.”

Also during the same time as Daniel 6, when Daniel was rescued from the lion’s den by God. And Darius declares in

Daniel 6:26–28 “I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.” So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.”

If Daniel was taken captive in the year 605 B.C. at the age of about 15, he would be over 80 years old now. 12 years have passed since chapter 8, the year is 538 B.C.

Dating here is important, the timing of the prophetic events that have happened in the past and the timing of the prophetic events that will come soon are too accurate to dismiss as a coincidence…and this is what strikes Daniel’s heart.

in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.

“In the first year” is repeated here by Daniel in order to emphasize that the date of this event is of the utmost significance

From 605 B.C. to 538 B.C., is a period of 67 years. And as Daniel is reading the books, namely the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet…he realizes the end of the desolations of Jerusalem are coming to an end in only 3 more years.

The situation causes Daniel to search the Scriptures for God’s prophetic plan. Darius’s first year was his first year to reign over the Babylonian sector after Persia as the “bear” empire of Dan. 7 conquered Babylon, the lion. God sovereignly made Darius king, for “He removes kings and establishes kings” (Dan. 2:21). With 70 years of Babylonian lordship now over, Daniel’s people have come to a point that provokes inquiry about God’s plan for the Jewish people.

Jeremiah forecasted Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, would hold Israel captive for 70 years

Jeremiah 25:9–11 “behold, I will send for all the tribes of the north, declares the Lord, and for Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants, and against all these surrounding nations. I will devote them to destruction, and make them a horror, a hissing, and an everlasting desolation. Moreover, I will banish from them the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the grinding of the millstones and the light of the lamp. This whole land shall become a ruin and a waste, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.”

Daniel reads Jeremiah’s words, that were given to Jeremiah from the Lord in 605 B.C. The year of the exile. He read Jeremiah 25:9-11, and continued reading in vv 12-13

Jeremiah 25:12–13 “Then after seventy years are completed, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans, for their iniquity, declares the Lord, making the land an everlasting waste. I will bring upon that land all the words that I have uttered against it, everything written in this book, which Jeremiah prophesied against all the nations.”

I think Daniel continues reading through Jeremiah’s writings with anticipation as he sees the end of desolation drawing near. Jeremiah pens another writing to the captives in Babylon, about 8 years after 605 in 597, Jeremiah 29.

Jeremiah 29:10–11 ““For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

I don’t have time this morning to address reading and keeping this famous verse in it’s context, but if you want to talk about how this relates to Israel in the 6th century B.C. and not you in the 21st century A.D. later, I’d love to

How did Daniel get these letters from Jeremiah? Remember at the time of the exile, Daniel was promoted and given positions of authority over the province of Babylon,

Daniel 2:48 “Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon.”

He may have personally received the writings of Jeremiah and held on to them throughout his time in captivity

After reading the scriptures, the books of the prophet Jeremiah, Daniel’s reaction is stunning and a little confusing. The end of the exile is near, an opportunity to go back to the promised land, and rebuild their home and temple, would seem a time for celebrating wouldn’t it? But we continue…

Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.”

Daniel lays down his books. Turns and faces Jerusalem and seeks God in prayer

Why? Well he probably didn’t stop reading at Jeremiah 29:11, he continued

Jeremiah 29:12–14 “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.”

Daniel was simply obeying God.

Solomon intercedes in prayer for Israel at the dedication of the temple, anticipating the need of Israel to turn to God in repentance and pleading prayer one day, and so Daniel fulfills and answers Solomon’s prayer

1 Kings 8:33–36 ““When your people Israel are defeated before the enemy because they have sinned against you, and if they turn again to you and acknowledge your name and pray and plead with you in this house, then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them again to the land that you gave to their fathers. “When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, if they pray toward this place and acknowledge your name and turn from their sin, when you afflict them, then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk, and grant rain upon your land, which you have given to your people as an inheritance.”

How did you learn how to pray? I remember first becoming a believer and people would tell me you just talk to God, like a friend. You know the ‘Jesus is my homeboy’ prayers. So that’s what I did. I began praying as if God just needed me to check-in every so often so that I could thank him for my meals and ask for my sick mom to get better. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with prayers that check-in, saying grace before a meal, or praying for the sick. But this morning we’re talking about lessons on intercession. Praying for others.

I remember the first time I heard one of our Shepherds here at Grace pray…now I had dabbled in the Valley of Vision and the Puritan prayers in Piercing Heaven…but I have never sat across from another believer, head bowed, eyes closed, and words of gut-wrenching, heart crushing, pride destroying, neighbor loving, Christ exalting prayer before. I was stunned. And I was nervous because I was next. You now what I’m talking about? You’re sitting in a group in a circle and you’re listening to amazing prayer, after amazing prayer, after amazing prayer, and now it’s your turn.

II. Let Confession of Sin Guide Your Prayers (vv 4-15)

Daniel 9:4–15 “I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “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. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you. To us, O Lord, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord…”

III. Let Gods Mercy be the Hope of Your Prayers (vv 16-19)

Daniel 9:16–19 ““O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us. Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.””