Now, let us consider Daniel’s prayer in Daniel 9.
1)
The setting,
9:1-2.
a)
1st year of Darius, son of Ahasuerus, of Median descent.
i)
In other words, it was the first year of Persian rule. The Medes/Persians replaced the Babylonians
as the major power in the Middle East, having a kingdom that stretched as far
east as India.
ii)
This “Darius” was the same king who threw Dan in lion's
den.
iii)
The year was 539-8BC.
iv) Darius
a co-ruler of Cyrus ... "made king over the kingdom of the
Chaldeans".
v) By
our definition, this time would be considered a “crisis.” From the online American Heritage Dictionary
here is the first definition of “crisis:” A crucial or decisive point or
situation, especially a difficult or unstable situation involving an impending
change. The end of the Babylonian
rulers (recorded in Dan. 5, the feast of Belshazzar and the handwriting on the
wall) brought in a new government.
Daniel had proven himself so as to rise to significant heights in the
Babylonian government. Now, what would
the new government do with him? We’re
not saying Daniel was worried, just that this situation fits the definition of
a “crisis.”
b)
The 70 years captivity is coming to an end.
i)
First carrying-away: 606BC. If Daniel’s prayer and the change in
government comes in 539-8 BC then it’s just 2 years (536BC) until the seventy
years would be completed. This is a
critical aspect of the setting of this prayer.
ii)
What this means is that Daniel is moved to prayer by
the results of his study of God's Word!
He read the prophet Jeremiah (25:11-12; 29:10). He believed the word of God!
(1)
Application:
People are generally moved to prayer by their need. Daniel certainly was in a time of need, but
what moved him to pray was the knowledge of God's will. The Proverbs says, One who turns away his
ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination (28:9). Jesus said, If you abide in Me, and My
words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you
(John 15:7).
(2)
Application:
Daniel did not waste time praying for release from captivity when he knew it
was NOT God's will.
(a) Do you see the relationship of God's
Sovereignty & man's responsibility? Daniel
prayed for what is promised.
(b)
Are God's promises only good if we pray? What is the
purpose of this prayer if God will do it anyway?
(i)
Daniel is doing what Solomon said they were to do if
and when they were in captivity. They
were to pray towards the temple (cf. Dan. 6:10; Daniel regularly did this),
confessing their sins (repenting). Then
Solomon asked the LORD to hear this prayer and answer it, which the LORD said
He would do (1 Ki. 9:3).
(ii)
So Daniel is just following Solomon. The fact that the time was drawing near might
have encouraged Daniel as he realized the people in captivity needed to
acknowledge their sins which had put them in their difficult situation.
Prayer must … there is no overstating this
fact …must take place in the context of God’s word. One book belongs in our “prayer closet” and
that book is the Bible.
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