Study # 2
January 22, 2023
Broadlands, Louisiana
(No Audio Available)
Thesis: Daniel's recognition of God's intention to restore the nation sponsored a desperate prayer for a "lasting" impact.
Introduction: In our study last week, we considered the prelude to Daniel's prayer. In that study we saw that God had told Jeremiah how long the Babylonian captivity was to last. We are not told why Daniel had to find this out by revelation given to Jeremiah (many are the mysteries of God's choices and actions), but we are told that his immediate response was a serious level of prayer. This prayer, taking up a significant part of this chapter, has to be of particular importance, or Daniel would not have recorded it. Thus, we are going to look into this record to see what we might learn from it.
- I. Daniel's Response: Prayer.
- A. The issues were of such significance that Daniel went "all in" (9:3).
- 1. There are two forms of "prayer" mentioned.
- 2. They were attended by "fasting" (Jeremiah 36), "sackcloth" (Jonah 3:5-8), and ashes (Ezekiel 27:30).
- B. The contents of his prayer.
- 1. He begins by acknowledging the vast difference between "the great and awesome God" and himself and the people of Judah (9:4-5).
- a. The first part of his "confession" is focused upon a most fundamental aspect of God's dealings with men.
- 1) The greatness of God.
- 2) His "typical" pattern in relating to men has two parts.
- a) He keeps His covenant and lovingkindness...
- b) For those who love Him and keep His commandments.
- b. The second part is focused upon how "disqualified" men are to receive such treatment by God.
- 1) We have sinned...
- 2) Committed iniquity...
- 3) Acted wickedly...
- 4) Rebelled...
- 5) Turned aside from His commandments and ordinances.
- 6) Daniel does not exclude himself from these failures.
- 2. Then he pursues this contrast by a continual litany of the failure of the people and the characteristics of Yahweh our God (9:6-14).
- a. We have not listened to Your prophets (even though their words were available to all).
- b. Righteousness belongs to You, but open shame to us as is demonstrated by the present facts of the case in regard to Your response to our unfaithfulness.
- c. This is all our fault: 9:8.
- 1) You are a God of compassion and forgiveness.
- 2) We are in great need of that because of the magnitude of our rebellion.
- a) We have not obeyed so as to walk in Your teachings through the prophets...
- b) All of us are guilty and the curse written in the Law of Moses has been imposed...
- c) You have confirmed Your words in a way that stands out in a great demonstration...
- d) And we have not responded in any good ways.
- e) So You have responded as Your righteousness requires.
- 3. Then he arrives at his appeal (9:15-19).
- a. He appeals for God to put an end to His righteous reaction and listen to his prayer.
- b. He admits that his request is not on the basis of "any merits of our own", but only upon the fact of His compassion.
- II. The Sobering Reality: Man's Condition Will Never Allow "Any Merits Of Our Own".
