Wow, where do you start with Daniel 9? It is probably the most prophetically rich chapter in the whole Bible. In fact, one Bible scholar called Daniel 9 “the backbone of prophecy.” The prophecy of seventy weeks (9:24-27) provides a timeline for world history and confirms that the prophetic clock centers on Israel. As Dr. Ben Albert taught us last year at CBC, “When it comes to biblical prophecy, watch Israel.”
But the part of Daniel 9 that catches my attention this morning is Daniel’s prayer. It is a model for us as we pray for our own nation today. I like what John Walvoord said about Daniel’s prayer:
While God honors the briefest of prayers, as the experience of Nehemiah 2:4 indicates, effective prayer requires faith in the Word of God, proper attitude of mind and heart, privacy, and unhurried confession and petition. Daniel’s humility, reverence, and earnestness are the hallmarks of effective prayer.
What basic points can we learn from Daniel’s prayer?
1. Effective prayer begins with God’s Word. Daniel was actually reading Jeremiah’s prophecy in 25:11-12 when he was compelled to pray. Jeremiah had prophesied that Israel would go into captivity in Babylon for 70 years. Daniel had been in Babylon for 67 years at this time (so he is probably 80-85 years old) so he realizes that the end of the prophecy is near. This realization drives him to his knees.
God speaks through His Word. Daniel responds in prayer. This is a great example to us. Sometimes we don’t know how to pray. If we begin to see prayer as a response to God’s Word then we can gain guidance in our prayer life. Start off the day reading God’s Word and then pray back to God the things that He teaches you through His Word. God speaks. We respond.
2. Effective prayer must flow out of our hearts. Prayer is not mechanical. Certainly there are times that we pray when we don’t necessarily feel like praying. But even in those times, prayer should be a reflection of the burdens and concerns of our hearts. As Charles Spurgeon once said, “Our prayers are often cold because our hearts are cold.” When Daniel reads God’s Word about Israel, here was his response: I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes, and I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession… (9:3-4a).
Daniel was serious. He did not have to be cajoled into prayer; it was the automatic response of his heart. He was so broken and burdened for his nation that he dropped to his knees and pleaded for God’s mercy. I wonder why I don’t pray that fervently for our nation. It probably begins with the load of distractions that divert my passion and numb my heart. Lord, renew the hunger in my soul for You and Your glory.
3. Effective prayer acknowledges God’s holiness and our sin. Daniel spends the first half of his prayer confessing the sin of his nation. We have sinned…we have rebelled…we have ignored Your word…we deserve to be ashamed…we have been unfaithful…we have not obeyed Your word…we have no excuse. Daniel did not point the finger at other people. He included himself in his prayer. Though Daniel had been faithful to the Lord, in his heart he still knew that he was not blameless. He was also part of the problem.
It is too easy for us to point the finger and blame the woes of our nation on a host of other people. We will never know effective prayer if we don’t see the sin in our hearts, if we are not broken over our own sin, our own unfaithfulness. The problem with America does not start with them…it starts with me.
4. Effective prayer asks God to act based on His glory and righteousness not our comfort and preferences. Daniel has specific requests for God. Let Your anger be turned away…hear my prayer…cause Your face to shine on Your temple…incline Your ear to me…see our desolations. Hear, Lord! Forgive! Listen! Act! Do not delay!
Daniel’s prayer is both humble and bold. He pleads for God’s mercy and asks for quick action. And the basis of his prayer is not “because of our righteous deeds but because of Your great mercies” (9:18). God wants us to ask. He wants us to come boldly before His throne. But He also wants us to ask in humility with a passion for His glory not just a desire to get what we want so that life will be easier for us.
When it comes to praying for our nation, we should be bold. We should be specific. But we should also examine our hearts and ask, “Why do I want what I am asking? Is it because I want to see God’s glory manifested and His gospel proclaimed? Or is it because I simply don’t want to face difficulty and I want life to be more comfortable for me?” Certainly none of us want to go through trials or difficulties but if the bulk of our prayers are centered on our own comfort then we shouldn’t expect God to answer. It is when we delight ourselves in the Lord that He gives us the desires of our heart (Psalm 37:4). It is in seeking His kingdom first and foremost that all these other things are added unto us (Matthew 6:33).
Lord, I realize that my heart is so far from the heart of Daniel. Grow me. Deepen my faith. Clarify my focus. Renew my love. Give me a passion for Your glory.
We are less than three weeks from a major election in our nation. Keep reading through Daniel’s prayer in Daniel 9 and let it be a guide for you as you pray for our own nation the next 19 days.
Steve that is so true about our prayers and why we pray them, because we don’t like difficulties. I pray our Merciful God will forgive us.. Thank GOD for that message thru you to us. God Bless You.