Summary of Daniel 9:4-19
Daniel prays and confesses to God that He is great, that they, the people of the Lord, are sinners and have not listened to Him and His commands, and that they are covered in shame. But God is merciful and forgiving. He asks God to hear his requests and to not delay out of His great mercy.
BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 7, Day 3: Daniel 9:4-19
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 7, Day 3: Daniel 9:4-19
Such a great example of prayer and faith, what that looks like, and how we can improve our prayer life, too.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 7, Day 3: Daniel 9:4-19
Daniel started his prayer by recognizing God’s goodness and greatness. He understood God.
Everyone falls short of God. Israel had failed God, not the other way around. Sinners never deserve God’s mercy.
Daniel did not complain, he confessed.
Daniel proclaimed God’s goodness, confessed our sins, and then asked God for His mercy, forgiveness, and restoration. This would accomplish God’s work and give Him glory.
We pray in Jesus’ righteousness, not our own, when we pray in the name of Jesus.
Daniel trusted and depended on God. Daniel prayed fervently for God to act; so should we.
END NOTES SUMMARIZED
Daniel 9:4-19 is the prophet’s profound prayer of intercession on behalf of his exiled people, serving as a timeless model of corporate confession and humility.
The interpretation of its key elements is as follows:
- Corporate Confession: Daniel, a righteous man, completely identifies with the sins of his nation. He consistently uses “we” (“we have sinned,” “we have rebelled”), taking on the full weight of Israel’s guilt rather than separating himself from it. This demonstrates the heart of a true intercessor.
- Affirmation of God’s Justice: The prayer does not question God’s actions. Instead, Daniel affirms that the exile and desolation were the just and righteous fulfillment of the curses promised in the Law of Moses for disobedience. He agrees with God that the punishment was deserved.
- Appeal Based on God’s Character, Not Human Merit: This is the central argument of the prayer. Daniel’s plea for mercy is based entirely on who God is, not on any worthiness of the people. He appeals to God’s reputation (“your Name”), His history as a deliverer (the Exodus), and His “great mercy,” explicitly stating, “We do not make requests of you because we are righteous.”
In conclusion, Daniel’s prayer is a masterful demonstration of how to approach a holy God. It moves from a complete and honest confession of sin to a bold appeal for restoration. This appeal is not based on any deserving quality in the people, but solely on the mercy and covenant faithfulness of God, for the ultimate purpose of glorifying His own name.
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