And I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed, "O, Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of loving devotion to those who love Him and keep His commandments, I prayed to the LORD my GodThe phrase "I prayed" indicates a personal and intentional act of communication with God. The Hebrew root for "prayed" is "פלל" (palal), which conveys the idea of interceding or making supplication. This highlights Daniel's role as an intercessor for his people. "The LORD" is translated from "יהוה" (YHWH), the personal name of God, emphasizing His eternal and unchanging nature. "My God" shows Daniel's personal relationship with God, indicating intimacy and reverence. and confessed
The Hebrew word for "confessed" is "ידה" (yadah), which means to acknowledge or admit. This confession is not just an admission of sin but an act of worship, recognizing God's holiness and righteousness. Daniel's confession sets a pattern for believers, emphasizing the importance of humility and repentance in prayer. O Lord, the great and awesome God
"Lord" here is "אֲדֹנָי" (Adonai), a title of respect and authority. "Great" is from the Hebrew "גָּדוֹל" (gadol), signifying God's supreme power and majesty. "Awesome" is "נוֹרָא" (nora), which conveys a sense of reverence and fear, acknowledging God's mighty deeds and His awe-inspiring presence. This phrase reflects Daniel's deep respect and awe for God's character. who keeps His covenant
The word "keeps" is from the Hebrew "שָׁמַר" (shamar), meaning to guard or preserve. This indicates God's faithfulness and reliability. "Covenant" is "בְּרִית" (berit), a solemn agreement or promise. This highlights the unbreakable bond between God and His people, rooted in His steadfast love and commitment. of loving devotion
"Loving devotion" is translated from "חֶסֶד" (chesed), a rich Hebrew term that encompasses love, kindness, mercy, and loyalty. It is a central theme in the Old Testament, reflecting God's enduring love and grace towards His people. This underscores the relational aspect of God's covenant, based on His unwavering love. to those who love Him
The phrase "who love Him" uses the Hebrew "אָהַב" (ahav), which means to love deeply or have affection for. This love is not merely emotional but involves a commitment to God and His ways. It signifies a reciprocal relationship where God's love is met with the love and devotion of His people. and keep His commandments
"Keep" again is "שָׁמַר" (shamar), emphasizing the importance of obedience and faithfulness. "Commandments" is "מִצְוָה" (mitzvah), referring to God's laws and instructions. This phrase highlights the covenantal relationship, where love for God is demonstrated through obedience to His commandments, reflecting a life aligned with His will. Persons / Places / Events 1. DanielA prophet and a man of prayer, known for his unwavering faith and integrity. In this chapter, he is interceding for his people, Israel. 2. The LORD (Yahweh)The covenant-keeping God of Israel, characterized by His greatness and faithfulness. 3. IsraelThe nation for whom Daniel is interceding, acknowledging their failure to keep God's commandments. 4. BabylonThe place where Daniel is living in exile during this time, a result of Israel's disobedience. 5. CovenantThe sacred agreement between God and His people, emphasizing God's faithfulness and Israel's responsibility to obey. Teaching Points The Importance of ConfessionDaniel begins his prayer with confession, recognizing the sins of his people. Confession is a crucial step in restoring our relationship with God. God's FaithfulnessDespite Israel's unfaithfulness, God remains faithful to His covenant. This encourages believers to trust in God's unchanging nature. The Role of IntercessionDaniel's prayer is an example of intercessory prayer, where he stands in the gap for his people. Believers are called to intercede for others, especially in times of need. Loving Devotion and ObedienceThe covenant relationship with God involves loving Him and keeping His commandments. Our love for God should be demonstrated through obedience. The Power of PrayerDaniel's prayer life is a testament to the power and importance of prayer in seeking God's will and intervention. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Daniel's approach to prayer in Daniel 9:4 serve as a model for our own prayer life? 2. In what ways can we see God's faithfulness in our lives, even when we have been unfaithful? 3. How can we incorporate confession into our daily prayers, and why is it important? 4. What are some practical ways we can demonstrate our love for God through obedience to His commandments? 5. How can we actively engage in intercessory prayer for our community and nation, following Daniel's example? Connections to Other Scriptures Exodus 34:6-7This passage describes God's character as compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, which aligns with Daniel's description of God. Deuteronomy 7:9Highlights God's faithfulness in keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments, echoing Daniel's prayer. Nehemiah 1:5Nehemiah's prayer also acknowledges God's greatness and covenant faithfulness, similar to Daniel's approach. People Ahasuerus, Daniel, Darius, Gabriel, Jeremiah, NahumPlaces Egypt, Greece, JerusalemTopics Agreement, Alas, Awesome, Awful, Beseech, Commandments, Commands, Confess, Confessed, Confession, Covenant, Dreadful, Feared, Fearful, Greatly, Keepest, Keepeth, Keeping, Keeps, Kindness, Love, Loving, Lovingkindness, Loving-kindness, Mercy, O, Obey, Oh, Orders, Prayed, Prayer, Putting, Saying, Sins, Steadfast, TerribleDictionary of Bible Themes Daniel 9:4 1085 God, love of
1230 God, the Lord
1349 covenant, at Sinai
8208 commitment, to God Daniel 9:1-6 8431 fasting, reasons Daniel 9:1-19 8611 prayer, for others Daniel 9:1-23 4926 delay, human Daniel 9:4-6 5354 invasions
8404 commands, in OT Daniel 9:4-14 6624 confession, of sin Daniel 9:4-19 1065 God, holiness of
6655 forgiveness, application Library Daniel: a Pattern for Pleaders
"O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God; for thy city and thy people are called by thy name."--Daniel 9:19. DANIEL was a man in very high position in life. It is true he was not living in his own native land, but, in the providence of God, he had been raised to great eminence under the dominion of the country in which he dwelt. He might, therefore, naturally have forgotten his poor kinsmen; many have done so. Alas! we have known some that have …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 61: 1915The Man and the Book.
In this and the following lectures I attempt an account and estimate of the Prophet Jeremiah, of his life and teaching, and of the Book which contains them--but especially of the man himself, his personality and his tempers (there were more than one), his religious experience and its achievements, with the various high styles of their expression; as well as his influence on the subsequent religion of his people. It has often been asserted that in Jeremiah's ministry more than in any other of the …
George Adam Smith—Jeremiah Whether the Time of the Future Judgment is Unknown?
Objection 1: It would seem that the time of the future judgment is not unknown. For just as the holy Fathers looked forward to the first coming, so do we look forward to the second. But the holy Fathers knew the time of the first coming, as proved by the number of weeks mentioned in Daniel 9: wherefore the Jews are reproached for not knowing the time of Christ's coming (Lk. 12:56): "You hypocrites, you know how to discern the face of the heaven and of the earth, but how is it that you do not discern …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica That Whereas the City of Jerusalem had Been Five Times Taken Formerly, this was the Second Time of Its Desolation. A Brief Account of Its History.
1. And thus was Jerusalem taken, in the second year of the reign of Vespasian, on the eighth day of the month Gorpeius [Elul]. It had been taken five [34] times before, though this was the second time of its desolation; for Shishak, the king of Egypt, and after him Antiochus, and after him Pompey, and after them Sosius and Herod, took the city, but still preserved it; but before all these, the king of Babylon conquered it, and made it desolate, one thousand four hundred and sixty-eight years and …
Flavius Josephus—The Wars of the Jews or History of the Destruction of Jerusalem From the Supplement to the Summa --Question Lxxii of the Prayers of the Saints who are in Heaven
I. Are the Saints cognizant of our Prayers? II. Ought we to appeal to the Saints to intercede for us? III. Are the Saints' Prayers to God for us always heard? I Are the Saints cognizant of our Prayers? On those words of Job,[267] Whether his children come to honour or dishonour, he shall not understand, S. Gregory says: "This is not to be understood of the souls of the Saints, for they see from within the glory of Almighty God, it is in nowise credible that there should be anything without of …
St. Thomas Aquinas—On Prayer and The Contemplative Life The Blessing of God.
NUMB. VI. 22-27. We have already seen the grace of GOD making provision that His people, who had lost the privilege of priestly service, might draw near to Him by Nazarite separation and consecration. And not as the offence was the free gift: those who had forfeited the privilege of priestly service were the males only, but women and even children might be Nazarites; whosoever desired was free to come, and thus draw near to GOD. We now come to the concluding verses of Numb. vi, and see in them one …
James Hudson Taylor—Separation and Service Three Things Briefly to be Regarded in Christ --viz. His Offices of Prophet, King, and Priest.
1. Among heretics and false Christians, Christ is found in name only; but by those who are truly and effectually called of God, he is acknowledged as a Prophet, King, and Priest. In regard to the Prophetical Office, the Redeemer of the Church is the same from whom believers under the Law hoped for the full light of understanding. 2. The unction of Christ, though it has respect chiefly to the Kingly Office, refers also to the Prophetical and Priestly Offices. The dignity, necessity, and use of this …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion General Account of Jesus' Teaching.
^A Matt. IV. 17; ^B Mark I. 14, 15; ^C Luke IV. 14, 15. ^a 17 From that time Jesus began to preach [The time here indicated is that of John the Baptist's imprisonment and Jesus' return to Galilee. This time marked a new period in the public ministry of Jesus. Hitherto he had taught, but he now began to preach. When the voice of his messenger, John, was silenced, the King became his own herald. Paul quoted the Greeks as saying that preaching was "foolishness," but following the example here set by …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Fifthly, as this Revelation, to the Judgment of Right and Sober Reason,
appears of itself highly credible and probable, and abundantly recommends itself in its native simplicity, merely by its own intrinsic goodness and excellency, to the practice of the most rational and considering men, who are desirous in all their actions to have satisfaction and comfort and good hope within themselves, from the conscience of what they do: So it is moreover positively and directly proved to be actually and immediately sent to us from God, by the many infallible signs and miracles …
Samuel Clarke—A Discourse Concerning the Being and Attributes of God Appendix v. Rabbinic Theology and Literature
1. The Traditional Law. - The brief account given in vol. i. p. 100, of the character and authority claimed for the traditional law may here be supplemented by a chronological arrangement of the Halakhoth in the order of their supposed introduction or promulgation. In the first class, or Halakhoth of Moses from Sinai,' tradition enumerates fifty-five, [6370] which may be thus designated: religio-agrarian, four; [6371] ritual, including questions about clean and unclean,' twenty-three; [6372] concerning …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah The Fulfilled Prophecies of the Bible Bespeak the Omniscience of Its Author
In Isaiah 41:21-23 we have what is probably the most remarkable challenge to be found in the Bible. "Produce your cause, saith the Lord; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob. Let them bring them forth, and show us what shall happen; let them show the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. Show the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods." This Scripture has both a negative …
Arthur W. Pink—The Divine Inspiration of the Bible "And There is None that Calleth Upon Thy Name, that Stirreth up Himself to Take Hold on Thee,"
Isaiah lxiv. 7.--"And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold on thee," &c. They go on in the confession of their sins. Many a man hath soon done with that a general notion of sin is the highest advancement in repentance that many attain to. You may see here sin and judgment mixed in thorough other(315) in their complaint. They do not so fix their eyes upon their desolate estate of captivity, as to forget their provocations. Many a man would spend more affection, …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning The Sin-Bearer.
A COMMUNION MEDITATION AT MENTONE. "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."--1 Peter ii. 24, 25. THE SIN-BEARER. THIS wonderful passage is a part of Peter's address to servants; and in his day nearly all servants were slaves. Peter begins at the eighteenth verse: "Servants, be subject …
Charles Hadden Spurgeon—Till He Come Jesus Heals on the Sabbath Day and Defends his Act.
(at Feast-Time at Jerusalem, Probably the Passover.) ^D John V. 1-47. ^d 1 After these things there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. [Though every feast in the Jewish calendar has found some one to advocate its claim to be this unnamed feast, yet the vast majority of commentators choose either the feast of Purim, which came in March, or the Passover, which came in April. Older commentators pretty unanimously regarded it as the Passover, while the later school favor the feast …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel The Being of God
Q-III: WHAT DO THE SCRIPTURES PRINCIPALLY TEACH? A: The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man. Q-IV: WHAT IS GOD? A: God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. Here is, 1: Something implied. That there is a God. 2: Expressed. That he is a Spirit. 3: What kind of Spirit? I. Implied. That there is a God. The question, What is God? takes for granted that there …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity The Manifestation of the Messiah
(JOHN I. 31.) "Before me, as in darkening glass, Some glorious outlines pass, Of love, and truth, and holiness, and power-- I own them thine, O Christ, And bless Thee in this hour." F. R. HAVERGAL. The Herald's Proclamation--The Meeting of John and Jesus--Christ's Baptism--"It Becometh Us."--"My Beloved Son." John's life, at this period, was an extraordinary one. By day he preached to the teeming crowds, or baptized them; by night he would sleep in some slight booth, or darksome cave. But the …
F. B. Meyer—John the Baptist The Intercession of Christ
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us! T he Redemption of the soul is precious. Fools make mock of sin (Proverbs 14:9) . But they will not think lightly of it, who duly consider the majesty, authority, and goodness of Him, against whom it is committed; and who are taught, by what God actually has done, what sin rendered necessary to be done, before a sinner could have a well-grounded …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2 Destruction of Jerusalem Foretold.
^A Matt. XXIV. 1-28; ^B Mark XIII. 1-23; ^C Luke XXI. 5-24. ^a 1 And Jesus went out from the temple [leaving it to return no more], and was going on his way; and his disciples came to him ^b as he went forth ^a to show him the buildings of the temple. ^b one of his disciples saith unto him, Teacher, behold, what manner of stones and what manner of buildings! ^c 5 And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and offerings, he said [The strength and wealth of the temple roused …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Christ's Priestly Office
Q-35: HOW DOES CHRIST EXECUTE THE OFFICE OF A PRIEST? A: In his once offering up of himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God, and in making continual intercession for us. 'Now once in the end of the world has he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.' Heb 9:96. What are the parts of Christ's priestly office? Christ's priestly office has two parts - his satisfaction and intercession. I. His Satisfaction; and this consists of two branches. [1] His active …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity The Scriptures
Q-II: WHAT RULE HAS GOD GIVEN TO DIRECT US HOW WE MAY GLORIFY AND ENJOY HIM? A: The Word of God, which is contained in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him. 2 Tim 3:16. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,' By Scripture is understood the sacred Book of God. It is given by divine inspiration; that is, the Scripture is not the contrivance of man's brain, but is divine in its origin. The image of Diana was had in veneration …
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