Return from Exile: Introduction (5)

Pray Psalm 85.1-3.
LORD, You have been favorable to Your land;
You have brought back the captivity of Jacob.
You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people;
You have covered all their sin.
Selah
You have taken away all Your wrath;
You have turned from the fierceness of Your anger.

Sing Psalm 85.1-3.
(Lyons: O Worship the King)
O Lord, You Your favor showed to Your land;
Your people You saved by Your mighty hand.
Their sins You forgave, all Your wrath You withdrew;
You turned back the anger which to them was due.

Read Daniel 9.1-19; meditate on verses 17-19.

Preparation
1. How did Daniel identify himself?

2. What did Daniel seek from the Lord?

Meditation
Daniel had been in Babylon for 70 years. He was among the first of those carried away captive. Yet God saw to it that he and his friends should be readied for service to the Babylonian king, and it was in one or another capacity of leadership and advising that Daniel served all that time.

Now, reflecting on Jeremiah’s words (Jer. 25.11, 12), Daniel realized the 70 years of captivity had been accomplished. But he took nothing for granted. Though he was one of the holiest men in all Scripture, Daniel fell to confessing sin and crying out in repentance for the forgiveness of the Lord. He invoked the covenant promises of God (v. 4), recalled the words of the prophets (v. 6), and acknowledged the justice of God in sending His people into captivity (v. 7).

But he also called on the mercy and forgiveness of God (vv. 8, 9), that He would be merciful to His faithless people (vv. 10-12) and deliver His people from captivity in Babylon, just as He had previously delivered them from captivity in Egypt (vv. 13-15). He appealed to the righteousness of God (v. 16), called upon His favor (v. 17), and pled for His mercy (vv. 18, 19), calling on the Lord speedily to fulfill the promises of His Word, to “listen and act” on behalf of His people.

Just as the people of God in Daniel’s day could not bring about their own restoration from captivity, neither can we. They needed God both to hear their pleas and act on their behalf. So do we. But we must first acknowledge our captivity to the world and its priorities and ways. Then we must repent of whatever we are doing which denies, ignores, or is contrary to the Word of God. And we must plead, like Daniel, that God would hear, forgive, listen, and act without delay to restore us to His promises and covenant.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“…I, Daniel, understood by the books…” (Dan. 9.2).

“For thus says the LORD: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place” (Jer. 29.10).

“When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple…and He said to those who sold doves, ‘Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!’” (Jn. 2.15, 16).

“Then His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up’” (Jn. 2.17).

Daniel, and Jesus’ disciples knew the Word of God. The disciples knew the Old Testament, and Daniel knew as much of Scripture as had been given by his day. They all had a working knowledge of God’s words to His people—what He required from them, what pleased and displeased Him—what caused His wrath and judgment.

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3.16, 17).

Be in the Word. You do not want to be caught unaware of what God wants for you. And for His Church.

How else will you know to be ready in season and out of season? (2 Tim. 4.2).
How else will you know the Law? (Ex. 20.1-17).
How else will you know the steps to revival? (2 Chron. 7.14).
How else will you know the plans God has for you? (Jer. 29.11; Eph. 2.8-10).
And how else will you know of His saving, forgiving, and restoring love? (Jn. 3.16; 1 Jn. 1.9; Joel 2.25-27).

Read. “Listen and Act!”

For reflection
1. Why is it so important that you spend daily time in the Word of God?

2. Daniel prayed that God would “listen and act”. We need to do the same. Explain.

3. Whom can you encourage today to spend more time with God in His Word?

O Lord, hearken and do. Not hearken and speak only, but hearken and do; do that for us which none else can do; and defer not. Here are several pleas and arguments to enforce the petitions. Do it for the Lord Christ’s sake; Christ is the Lord of all. And for his sake God causes his face to shine upon sinners when they repent, and turn to him. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Daniel 9.4-19

Pray Psalm 85.4-13.
Thank God for great revivals in the past. Pray that He would again revive His people, that He would renew us in our mission, and that believers everywhere would hunger for His Word and for more of His salvation.

Sing Psalm 85.4-13.
(Lyons: O Worship the King)
Restore us, O God, renew us in peace,
and cause all Your wrath against us to cease.
Will You evermore all Your wrath to us show?
Revive us that we may Your joy again know.

Lord, show us Your love; restore us, we pray!
And help us to hear the words that You say.
Speak peace to Your people; in truth let us stand.
We fear You; let glory and grace fill our land.

In Jesus God’s grace and truth are combined;
both goodness and peace in Him do we find.
Truth springs from the earth as He walks in our midst,
And righteousness flows from the heav’ns as a gift.

The Lord by His grace will give what is good;
our land will produce abundance of food.
And righteousness will go before the Lord’s face,
and make of His footsteps a way in this place.

T. M. and Susie Moore

We are convinced that this new study, Return from Exile, will be one of the most important we have done. We encourage you to share this installment with friends. Use the icons at the top of this column to encourage your friends to join you in this study.

Two books can help us understand our own captivity and lead us to seek revival and renewal in the Lord. The Church Captive asks us to consider the ways the Church today has become captive to the world. And Revived! can help us find the way to renewal. Learn more and order your free copies by clicking here and here.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available free by clicking here.