Praying with a purpose.
Before getting into the actual prophecy Daniel received from Gabriel in Chapter 9 of Daniel, I think it's important to understand what occurred immediately before that revelation. Keep in mind, that the chapter sequence in The Book of Daniel is as follows: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 5, 9, 6, 10, 11, 12.
Daniel records this chapter in the Hebrew language. The first half of this chapter is referred to by some scholars as "The Interrupted Prayer." It occurs somewhere around 539 BC, which is before Chapter 6, Daniel in the Lion's Den.
It's also worth noting that Daniel already had a dream about the 4 beasts; with the fourth beast giving him great concern. This uncertainty about the 4th beast may or may not have had some influence on Daniel's prayer in the first two-thirds of Chapter 9.
In Chapter 9, Daniel learns from the writings of Jeremiah, who is back in Jerusalem, that there is approximately 3 to 4 years left to the 70 year Babylonian Captivity. Rather than throw a party upon learning that the captivity was coming to and end, Daniel holds a serious prayer meeting between himself and God. Daniel wants to know what is going to happen to his people; some of them are back in Jerusalem and some are with him in captivity. He is distraught because he knows some who are in captivity are still worshiping idols.
Chapter 9 is the only time we see sin associated with Daniel. He identifies with the sins of his people in the following verses:
Daniel 9:4 And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, "O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, 5 we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments. 6 Neither have we heeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings and our princes, to our fathers and all the people of the land."
Daniel knows that God gave Israel a great responsibility. They were to be God's servant and witness to the rest of the world. Daniel knows they have failed, and he is wanting to know what is going to happen to his people as the captivity draws to a close.
If you remember, Daniel had a vision in Chapter 7 of a 4th beast that appeared very different from the other 3 beasts in his dream. The 11th horn that grew out of the 4th beast would wage war against Daniel's people and would be known as the antichrist. Perhaps Daniel is concerned about the pain and suffering his people will encounter under this evil arm of satan.
Daniel continues to pray knowing that the Israelites have not repented. He wants desperately for his people and homeland to be healed. When Charlie Kirk was brutally assassinated, the world was faced with an age-old decision which starts with each one of us. The solution to the evil the world faces is found in 2 Chronicles 7:14 If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Daniel confronts God.
Daniel turns up the heat.
Daniel's prayer intensifies as he chooses his words very carefully. He appears to be contrasting God's righteousness with the sins of Israel. Daniel pleads with God in the following verses:
Daniel 9:15 And now, O Lord our God, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and made Yourself a name, as it is this day--we have sinned, we have done wickedly! 16 "O Lord, according to all Your righteousness, I pray, let Your anger and Your fury be turned away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people are a reproach to all those around us. 17 Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord's sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate. 18 O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies. 19 O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”
It is at this point that Daniel's prayer is interrupted:
Daniel 9:20 Now while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God, 21 yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. 22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, "O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand. 23 At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision."
It's interesting that the Temple back in Jerusalem had been destroyed for some time by King Nebuchadnezzar, yet the "time of the evening offering" was still on Daniel's heart even though he was hundreds of miles from Jerusalem. He knew that the sacrifices and offerings in the Temple was the only way sins could be forgiven, so it held a very significant place in his heart. It is also noteworthy that Daniel is the only person to have been called "greatly beloved" in the Old Testament. Daniel obviously held a special place in God's heart. Perhaps it was Daniel's obedience that allowed God to entrust him with perhaps the greatest End Times prophecy found in the Bible, in verses 24-27 in Daniel Chapter 9.
