Prayer Day 3: Daniel's Prayer for His People

Daniel 9: 1-19

Some of you girls know how much I can identify with Daniel...(wink, wink) But one doesn't have to have played his part in a children's church skit to appreciate his faithfulness and heart toward God. 

Read Daniel 9: 1-2  (focus on verse 2)

Daniel had been studying the scriptures.  Not long before he was facing a den of lions. I would like to give a quick summary of why Daniel was thrown in the den.  King Darius had issued a biblical day type of audit on 3 high officials of the kingdom, one of which was Daniel to make sure no one was stealing from the kingdom's profits.  In Daniel 6: 3-4 we read, "an excellent spirit was in him and the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint because he was faithful and no error or fault was found in him."   These other high officials were green with envy over this fact so they "...agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce and injunction, that whoever makes petition  to any god or man for 30 days, except you oh king, shall be cast into the den of lions" Dn.6: 7  So, lo and behold, they found him praying 3 times a day as he always had, giving thanks to his Lord...and next we know what happened.  Daniel was thrown into the den of vicious beasts! But he trusted God.  No harm was found on him!  King Darius wrote a decree that all people in his royal dominion were to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel.  If that's not God making a name for Himself I don't know what is!

Now that we have a little background on Daniel's story lets continue....

Daniel was reading the book of Jeremiah and referring to chapter 29:10
"For thus says the Lord:  When 70 years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place"   He at this point realizes that the 70 years are almost over.  Daniel does what he does well and turns to the Lord in prayer seeking mercy for Jerusalem. 

"Daniel's search of scripture prompted interaction...Scripture reading was the way Daniel allowed God to speak to Him in this context, then prayer was the way Daniel spoke back" (Beth Moore "Daniel": Lives of Integrity Words of Prophecy")

Through Jesus we have an open line of communication with God.  One way to hear from Him is to read His word.  Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."

Not only can we hear what the Lord wants to say to us, we also are changed when we take in scripture.  Our thoughts and intentions are penetrated down into our the marrow of our bones.  In 1 Peter 1:23 we are told,"for you have been born again...through the living and enduring word of God."  Christ also says this in John 6:63, "The words that I speak to you they are spirit and they are life"

And now we see Daniel fervently seeking the Lord...Daniel 9: 3 Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes...

In chapter 10 we see Daniel fast again for 3 weeks he went without meat, wine or use of lotions.  This may have been the same type of refrain he used but whatever type of fast he participated in we know that fasting was known specifically for pleas and petitions to God with a spirit of mourning. 

*Have you ever fasted along with praying? It does not have to be limited to food or types of food and drink...fasting can include giving up Facebook or television)...

*If so, did you experience anything special? Did you feel like you heard from God or that He heard you? 

 

 I find it interesting that Daniel gave up using his lotion...The Bath and Body Works of Babylon's stock may have dropped  significantly with all the fasting Daniel was up to.  :) And this guy just wasn't dried out from lack of luxurious cream.  He was literally wearing sackcloth which is defined as a very coarse, rough fabric woven from flax or hemp, sometimes goat hair. If that wasn't uncomfortable enough he was sitting in ashes and piling them on his head. These were used as a symbol of debasement, mourning and/or repentance.  The ashes signified desolation and ruin.  Many different people in the Old Testament wore sackcloth and ashes while grieving over death or repenting for their sins or the sins of Israel.  A humble change of heart was represented while doing so.  Very simply, it was used as an outward sign of one's inward condition.  Psalm 30:11 expresses God's forgiveness to David, "You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy". (got questions.org)

Humbly Daniel bows before the Lord and in verse 4 he addresses God by praising Him and acknowledging His sovereignty and justice.  He proceeds in verses 5-16 to confess the sins of Israel. 

*Go ahead and read Daniel 9:4-16  Notice how Daniel includes himself in this prayer.  He continually says "WE".  I want to yell, you didn't do anything!  For goodness sakes you were just hanging out with the lions (and not the ones from Detroit!) because he prayed to his Lord.  He has been faithful to God.  But Daniel is Hebrew.  He is one of God's chosen people.  He is pleading on the behalf of his brothers and sisters who share his faith and are in exile.

Read the rest of the passage, Dan. 9: 16-19  and fill in the blank

"Now therefore, O our God, ___________ to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for ________  _____  _________, O Lord, make your face shine upon _______ _____________, which is desolate.  O my God, ___________ your ear and hear.  Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by _________  __________.  For we do not present your pleas before you because of _______  ___________________, but because of _________ _________ _______.  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 _________ __________." 

What I think is really neat about this prayer is that Daniel is not whining and fussing about the poor nation.  He acknowledges that the reason they are in exile is because of their own sins and because they did not keep God's laws and commandments.  I also love how he asks God to deliver the people not for their sake but for God's honor.  May we be encouraged to pray for those around us, to fast and mourn for our brothers and sisters not for their own sakes but all for the glory of God.  May He be honored!  May we remember to acknowledge our sin and how we can bring nothing to salvation except that...The rest is up to Him.  He washes us clean and brings us out of exile, out of our sackcloth and ashes and into His kingdom!

The same God of Daniel hears our prayers.  He inclines His ear to hear your voice.  Remember that His word penetrates and transforms our hearts.  He speaks to us through it just as He spoke to Daniel.  Listen to Him as he communicates through the word and talk to Him as you lay your petitions at His feet...

Let us humble our hearts and cry out to God on behalf of our families, churches, friends, co-workers, neighbors....Pray for anyone who the Holy Spirit brings into your mind and include yourself.  Take some time to get down on your knees today.  It doesn't have to be fancy and it doesn't have to be eloquent.  Just pour your heart out to your Savior....