March 3, 2003
LifeWay Family Bible Series for March 16
Daniel modeled a prayer of humility and honesty
___Daniel 9:1-10, 15-19
___By Tim Owens
___First Baptist Church, Bryan
___Many people do not pray because they misunderstand of the nature of God. Some people find it hard to believe God cares enough to be interested in their lives. Others question whether God is powerful enough to act favorably in the various situations of their lives or the world.
___Christians can approach God in prayer, not because of their own character, but because of God's unique character. A person's view of God dramatically affects both the attitude and practice of prayer. Daniel 9:1-10, 15-19 presents an excellent model of both the spirit and content of prayer when the focus is truly on God.
___One notices in the opening verses that Daniel was searching diligently the prophetic word of Jeremiah in the Scriptures. As Daniel carefully studied the prophecy of Jeremiah, he noted, "The desolation of Jerusalem would last 70 years" (Daniel 9:2). As Daniel counted the years he had spent in the court of Nebuchadnezzar, then the days that had followed during theperiod of Babylon's difficulties, succeeded by the triumph of the Medes and Persians under Darius, he realized the 70 years mentioned in Jeremiah's prophecy were almost complete. He concluded the day of the deliverance of the Jews was drawing near.
___Daniel's personal investment in the study of Scripture was not a mere intellectual exercise. What he learned from Jeremiah's prophecy stirred him so deeply that he bowed before God in prayer. He could have taken the approach, "If it is God's purpose to restore his people, then he will carry out that purpose, and there is no need to be personally involved in the matter." However, Daniel knew that when God is about to work, he usually begins by drawing his people closer to himself, especially if they have wandered from him. Daniel knew spiritual blessing awaited God's people if they approached God with humility, repentance and praise.
___To approach God in prayer on the basis of his greatness, holiness and mercy means his people approach him with a sense of personal unworthiness. Daniel did not accuse the Jews who had acted so disobediently in years past, nor did he blame his contemporaries at that particular moment in Israel's history. He set his own face toward God and "pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes" (Daniel 9:3). This was an outward expression of a deep and inward repentance.
___In Daniel's prayer, note the frequency of the personal pronouns, "we" and "our." An example of the spirit of Daniel's prayer is found in Daniel 9:5, "We have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws." In this prayer, Daniel acknowledged God's right to judge his people, yet he pleaded for the mercy and forgiveness of God. Daniel included himself in every confession and petition.
___How relevant is the application of Daniel's prayer to contemporary religious life! The sound of murmuring and complaining, driven by pride and selfishness, seems to prevail in many religious settings. The practice of blaming others for the withdrawal of God's blessing is all too prevalent. God is calling his people to make the humble confession, "We will not pass judgment upon them. We will not lift up our hearts in spiritual pride and say, 'Thank you God that we are not as they are.' We too are a part of that Church which has failed."
___God is waiting for his people to acknowledge before him, "We cannot dissociate ourselves with other Christians, and we take our place with them and bow our heads in your presence and own the fact that we have sinned."
___This prayer of Daniel invites the entire family of Christians to join him in his spirit of humility and repentance and to throw their arms of love and faith around each other and say, "O God, we, not they, have sinned and done this evil in your sight." When God's people approach him with this kind of honesty and sincerity, that is when they can look to him expectantly for a measure of restoration and blessing.
___It is this truth that shines out so beautifully in Daniel. Although he is a man of unusual faithfulness (perhaps the most devoted man of his generation), he identifies himself with his failed and failing nation.
___Note the pathos of Daniel 9:18, 19, with which Daniel concluded his prayer--"Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name."
___Prayer of such a character will never fail to receive an answer from God.
___Question for discussion
___
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