Daniel 9 (7)

Introduction
Daniel 9 rehearses the failure of Israel to be the people and Kingdom God intended. It also shows us that human kingdoms, be they ever so outwardly powerful and threatening, must ultimately fail as well. That only will remain which God the King has ordained, and which His Messiah accomplishes within the framework of the New Covenant and the Kingdom which is not of this world. Worldly kingdoms must all fail; our faithful God will never fail.

Review Daniel 2, 7, and 8.

Read and Meditate on Daniel 9.

Think it through.
1.  Daniel shows us how to pray in times when the blessing and favor of God are being withheld. How was this the case with Israel in Daniel’s day? Why was this the case? Summarize Daniel’s approach to praying about this situation. What did his prayer include? Do you think this is what praying for the Kingdom to come entails? Explain. Is this a time in the life of God’s Church when we should be praying like Daniel? Explain.

2.  God’s answer to Daniel’s prayer was to give him more revelation to enlarge on and expand that which he had already received. There is instruction for us here in what to expect as God answers our prayers. Explain. Daniel confessed the failure of Israel’s kingdom; and he foresaw that kingdom’s final destruction, and the ruin of the kingdom that would destroy it. He could not have understood this vision completely, only in outline. But the message of a coming Kingdom that would triumph over all others was clear enough from chapter 7. How is that Kingdom related to the vision of the Son of Man from chapter 7, the Messiah Who is to be “cut off” in Daniel 9.26, and the covenant He “confirms” with the “many” (v. 27)? Why would Messiah be cut off? Who is in view here, and how does He relate to the promised Kingdom? 

Meditate
“When the times were fulfilled in the days of Augustus, the foretold Christ came to his people, was crucified and fulfilled all the things written about him through the holy angels and prophets…Since the prophet Daniel was one of those longing to see the coming of the Messiah, our Lord himself says about him and the others, ‘Many prophets and just people longed to see those things that you see, but they did not see them, and to hear those things that you hear but did not hear them.’” Basil of Seleucia (fl. 444-468AD)

But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.Hebrews 10.12-14

Thank You, Jesus, that You allowed Yourself to be cut off for my sins, and that You have been raised and seated at the Father’s right hand so that I…

Pray Psalm 126.
Ask God to give you a vision for revival, then go forth to “sow” that vision to your fellow believers.

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

A free PDF download of this week’s study is available by clicking here.

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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).