Daniel 9:11-19
“All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you. “Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you. You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing on us great disaster. Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem. Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth. The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him. “Now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us. “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.””
Daniel 9:11-19 NIV
Daniel is praying and we get to listen in on his prayer. We get to learn from someone so devoted to prayer that he would rather be thrown to lions than give up his time with God. Today we get to look at the grounds or basis of his prayer, the foundation of arguing his case with God.
His prayer grew out of meditation on Scripture, it is saturated throughout with Scripture. Daniel knew his Scriptures. He approached God primarily for God’s sake; not primarily to get things from God, but to get God, God himself. He was in pursuit of relationship with God, so he turned his face to the Lord God.
He came to God as God, the sovereign, the self-existent, the one in control of all things. He reminded himself in tangible ways that God was more to be desired than food, than clothing, even than life itself. He came with the appropriate posture, confessing his sins and the sins of his people; not making excuses or seeking to justify himself, but rather agreeing with God that God is righteous and just and he and his people are getting what they justly deserve.
Daniel was not pleading the innocence of His people or himself. He confessed the sins they had committed and recognised they were not worthy of God's grace and deliverance, but his prayer was founded on the Holy Name and the unchanging faithfulness of God towards His people and he wept, "Do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your Holy Name." It was for the glory of God that Daniel continued his earnest prayer vigil on behalf of his people.
Much is wrong in the Church today. We have compromised the truth of God's Word and imported world's philosophies into the Church. We have been careless with the heavenly treasure we have in earthen vessels. We have often grieved and quenched the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
We have neglected Christ's command to love as I have loved, to walk in spirit and truth, and to abide in Him and He in us. As a people, we have fallen far from the commission and commands that we received from our Commander-in-chief, through Paul and the other apostles of Christ.
It is because of God’s great mercy that He hears us when we pray. He knows that we are weak, unworthy, and helpless to face all that comes our way. But God is merciful to us and responds to our prayers.
Prayer is not a magic incantation that we can invoke to force or entice God to act on our behalf. Rather, prayer is communicating our hearts to one who cares deeply about us. One who delights in responding and showing mercy to His loved ones. It is because of His great mercy toward us that we can come before Him in prayer.
Prayer is an amazing privilege that God has given to His people. The God of creation and sovereign Lord over the entire universe has chosen to give us the right to come before Him. To talk with Him, to make requests of Him, and to seek His direction for life.
Let us, like Daniel, come to the Lord with earnest pleadings for ourselves and for the Body of Christ, that she may ready herself for the soon return of the Lord Jesus Who is coming soon to take us to be with Himself. Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!!!
Father thank You for this day and the amazing grace it holds. Lord pour out Your abundant blessings over my friend and family today. Lord we have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, and have not loved You as we ought. For the sake of Your Holy Name, forgive us and refresh our hearts as we ready ourselves for Your soon return. Lord use us today to be a light of Your love to those in need of it. Be a blessing.
Father, we love You. Amen !
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