Your Daniel Ebook for this lesson - Apostolicfaithonline.org

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Daniel
Chapter 9
The vision in Daniel 9 was given to Daniel during the same time period of Daniel 6. This
Darius is the person mentioned in Daniel 6. The Xerxes (or Ahasuerus) mentioned here is
not Esther’s husband. The events described in the book of Esther happened about 50
years later
It was the first year of the reign of Darius the Mede, the son of Ahasuerus, who became
king of the Babylonians. During the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, was studying the
writings of the prophets. I learned from the word of the Lord, as recorded by Jeremiah the
prophet, that Jerusalem must lie desolate for seventy years. So I turned to the Lord God
and pleaded with him in prayer and fasting. I wore rough sackcloth and sprinkled myself
with ashes.
Daniel pleaded with God to bring about the promised return of his people to their land.
The prophet Jeremiah had written that God would not allow the captives to return to their
land for 70 years (Jeremiah 25:11-12; Jeremiah 29:10). Daniel knew of this prophecy and
realized that this 70-year period was coming to an end.
In Daniel’s prayer for the nation he confessed his own sin, using the pronoun “we”
throughout. In times of adversity, it’s easy to blame others and excuse our own actions. If
any Israelite was righteous, it was Daniel; and yet he confessed his sinfulness and need
for God’s forgiveness. Instead of looking for others to blame, first look inside and
confess your own sins to God.
I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: "O Lord, you are a great and awesome God!
You always fulfill your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and keep your
commands. [5] But we have sinned and done wrong. We have rebelled against you and
scorned your commands and regulations. [6] We have refused to listen to your servants
the prophets, who spoke your messages to our kings and princes and ancestors and to all
the people of the land.’
Daniel knew how to pray. As he prayed, he fasted, confessed his sins, and pleaded that
God would reveal his will. He prayed with complete surrender to God and with complete
openness to what God was saying to him. When you pray, do you speak openly to God
Examine your attitude. Talk to God with openness, vulnerability, and honesty, and be
ready for God’s reply.
The captives from Judah had rebelled against God. Their sins had led to their captivity.
But God is merciful even to rebels, if they confess their sins and return to him. Don’t let
your past disobedience keep you from returning to God. He is waiting for you and wants
you to return to him.
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