Prayer: Father, may I use the example of Daniel’s confession as a model for my own need for confession for my city, nation and myself. Amen.
Reading: Daniel 9 key: vs. 3-8 “So I set my face to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes. “I prayed to Adonai my God and confessed, saying: ‘O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and mercy with those who love Him and keep His mitzvot, we have sinned; we have committed iniquity; we have acted wickedly; we have rebelled; we have turned away from Your mitzvot and from Your rulings. We have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, our leaders and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. “‘You Lord are righteousness, but shame covers our face to this day—the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and all Israel, near and far, in all the countries where you have banished them—because they behaved unfaithfully toward you. Adonai, shame covers our face—our kings, our leaders, our fathers—because we have sinned against you.” TLV
Attention: Did you notice that in the opening verses of Chapter 9, that Daniel is reading the writings of Jeremiah the prophet about “the number of the years for the fulfilling of the desolation of Jerusalem would be 70 years (vs. 2b).” He was distressed to discover in the writings of Jeremiah, a prophecy which claimed the exile of Israel would extend for 70 years from the time of desolation. Being aware of a 70-year exile, brought Daniel to the point of confession and intense prayer and fasting for the sins he and his nation had committed, and which brought the judgement of Adonai upon them.
Do we understand the gravity of this discovery? Can we equate the current conditions in our nation and in the nations of the world, to our disobedience and rebellion?
Daniel declares, “We have not obeyed the voice of Adonai Eloheinu by walking in His Torah that He set before us through His servants the prophets. Yes, all Israel has transgressed Your Torah and has turned away—not obeying Your voice. “‘Therefore the curse and sworn judgment written in the Torah of Moses the servant of God has been poured out upon us, for we have sinned against Him. So He has confirmed His words that he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled over us by bringing on us a great calamity. Under the whole heaven nothing like this has ever been done to Jerusalem! As it is written in the Torah of Moses, all this calamity came on us, yet we have not sought the favor of Adonai Eloheinu by turning away from our iniquities and paying attention to Your truth. So Adonai was intent on bringing the calamity upon us, for Adonai Eloheinu is righteous in all His deeds that He has done—while we have not paid attention to His voice (vs. 10-14).”
Notice that Daniel knows from his awareness of the Torah, that he and the nation of Israel have had the “curse” which is judgement, “poured out upon them (us). Repentance and confession restores relationship with Adonai. When we sin against God and we bring His judgement upon us, we become an “object of scorn to all those around us.” Our actions have not matched our words and therefore, they do not believe in or on God.
The conclusion of Daniel’s prayer is and appeal to Adonai, “Lord, hear! Lord, forgive! Lord, listen and act! For Your own sake, O my God, do not delay! For Your city and Your people are called by Your name (19a).” Daniel appeals for mercy upon the nation of Israel, the people who are “called by Your name.”
One last comment, the appearance of the angel Gabriel, gives Daniel understanding and hope regarding the “seventy weeks” and rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple. The interpretation by Gabriel includes a future destruction of “the city” (Jerusalem) and the “sanctuary” (the temple). Gabriel ends his interpretation with a decree the coming of a prince, “Then the people of a prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. But his end will come like a flood. Until the end of the war that is decreed there will be destruction. Then he will make a firm covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of abominations will come one who destroys, until the decreed annihilation is poured out on the one who destroys (26b-27).”
In the next chapter of Daniel, Daniel describes another vision and visitation, this time from Michael, the Archangel of Adonai. The writings of Daniel are important messages about the prophetic end of time. May we listen and heed the warnings of Adonai through his messengers.
Action: I choose to heed the warnings of Daniels through the messenger Gabriel.
Yield: I choose to repent and confess my sins and the sins of my nation.
Engage: I choose to engage with the Holy Spirit and the scriptures in being obedient to Adonai.
Relationship: I choose to live a lifestyle of intimacy with Adonai.
Prayer: Father, like Daniel, I appeal, “Lord, hear! Lord, forgive! Lord, listen and act! For Your own sake, O my God, do not delay! For Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”
Memory Verse: Psalms 119:73 “Your hands have made me and formed me. Give me understanding that I may learn Your mitzvot.” TLV
Music Video: Larnelle Harris—Lord, Listen To Your Children Praying https://youtu.be/o8NVeXNM5h4?si=GI6_zYmK6jZ47lp6
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”