Page 251 - Daniel

used to portray panoramic prophetic events, his interpretation of
Jeremiah was literal and he expected God to fulfill His Word.

Second, Daniel realized that the Word of God would be fulfilled only
on the basis of prayer, which led to his fervent plea recorded in this
chapter. On the one hand, Daniel recognized the certainty of divine
purposes and the sovereignty of God that would surely fulfill the
prophetic word. On the other hand, he recognized human agency, the

necessity of faith and prayer, and the urgency to respond with human
action as it relates to the divine program. His custom of praying three
times a day with his windows open to Jerusalem revealed his own heart
for the things of God and his concern for the holy city.

Third, Daniel recognized the need for confession of sin and national
repentance as a prelude to restoration (Deut. 30:1–3; Jer. 29:10–14).
With this rich background of the prophetic program revealed through
Jeremiah, Daniel’s own prayer life, and his concern for Jerusalem as the
religious center of Israel, Daniel expressed his confession and

intercession to God on behalf of his fellow exiles.
Because Daniel, for the first time, used the word “LORD” or Jehovah in

Daniel 9:2, repeating the expression in verses 4, 10, 13, 14, and 20,
some critics have used this as an argument against the authenticity of
this passage and the prayer that follows. However, it seems perfectly
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natural for Daniel to use the personal covenantal name of God in a
context where he is interceding on behalf of his people to the God “who
keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his

commandments” (v. 4). Daniel’s entire prayer is based on Israel’s
covenant relationship to God, so his use of God’s personal name, which
He revealed to Israel, is both appropriate and expected.

DANIEL’S PREPARATION FOR PRAYER (9:3–4)

9:3–4 Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer
and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to
the LORD my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and
awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who
love him and keep his commandments.”