Daniel 9 (1)

Introduction
While reading a scroll of Jeremiah’s prophecy, Daniel realized that the time of Israel’s captivity was drawing to an end. But he would not simply sit by and wait for the Lord to work. He sought the promise of God earnestly in prayer. Here is an important lesson for how we must respond to what we read in God’s Word.

Review Habakkuk 2.1-3.

Read Daniel 9.1-3.

Think it Through
1.  God put His Word into writing, and He expects all who read it to “run”. What does that mean? Should our reading of Scripture lead to anything specific? Daniel was reading the book of Jeremiah, and perhaps other “books”, when a passage he had no doubt read many times suddenly came alive to him (cf. Jer. 29.10; Is. 44.24-28). What had God promised His people? Cyrus was now ruler of the Medes and the Persians (Darius was governor or “king” “over the realm of the Chaldeans”, that is, Babylon, cf. 5.31 and 6.28), and Daniel understood that Israel’s restoration was near. God was getting ready to do something very significant, which He had many years earlier promised in His Word. The coming together of various passages Daniel was reading had an immediate effect on him. How do you suppose Daniel felt upon reading this promise? Do you ever experience this as you are reading Scripture?

2.  As he understood these passages, Daniel “ran” to respond. What did he do (v. 3)? Does this seem like something he did only once, or for an extended period? Explain. Daniel would live to hear Cyrus’ proclamation that the Jews should return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple (cf. 2 Chron. 36.20-23; Dan. 10.1). But he did not merely wait around for God to do what He had promised. Rather, he eagerly and diligently sought the promise of God by setting his “face toward the Lord God” in an extended season of prayer. What does this suggest to us about seeking the precious and very great promises of God?

Meditate
“Jeremiah had predicted seventy years for the desolation of the temple, at the end of which the people would again return to Judea and build the temple and the city of Jerusalem. However, this fact did not render Daniel careless but rather encouraged him to pray that God might through his supplications fulfill that which he had graciously promised.” Jerome (347-420 AD)

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1.2-4

Lord, Your promises are so many and so wonderful! And they all come together in Jesus, so help me to claim Your promises today by…

Pray Psalm 126.
Is God’s Church today in need of restoration? Do we have a vision for it? Do you have a vision for the full and flourishing restoration of your soul? Do you sow faith and hope in the Lord, as you wait and work for greater fruitfulness in your walk with and work for the Lord?

Psalm 126.1-6 (Truro: Shout for the Blessed Jesus Reigns!)
When God restored our fortunes all,
We were like those who sweetly dream.
Our mouths with joy and laughter filled,
Made Him our constant song and theme.

Then the astonished nations said,
“The Lord has done great things for them!”
Indeed, great things our God has done,
Whose Name we praise, Amen, Amen!

Restore our fortunes, Lord our King!
Let grace like flowing streams prevail.
All they with tears of joy shall sing
Who sow while yet they weep and wail.

They who in tears of sorrow sow
And cast their seed on every hand,
With joy shall reach their heav’nly home,
And bring the harvest of their land.

T. M Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006.