"In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans, 2 in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years whereof the word of Jehovah came to Jeremiah the prophet, for the accomplishing of the desolations of Jerusalem, even seventy years" (vv.1-2).

Though Daniel is studying prophecy on this occasion we may be certain that he studied all the Scriptures that had been given at that time. "But abide thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them. 15 And that from a babe thou hast known the sacred writings which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 Every scripture¹ inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness. 17 That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work" (2 Tim. 3:14-17).

Having quoted Israel's Great Confession, "Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah: 5 and thou shalt love Jehovah thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might" (Deut. 6:4-5), Moses urged the children of Israel to teach the word of God to their children: "And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be upon thy heart; 7 and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand, and they shall be for frontlets between thine eyes. 9 And thou shalt write them upon the door-posts of thy house, and upon thy gates" (Deut. 6:6-9).

The inspired Apostle Paul was also a student of the Word, for he wrote to Timothy that when he came to Rome to bring certain things of his, among which were the books and especially the parchments (II Tim. 4:13).

"And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. 4 And I prayed unto Jehovah my God, and made confession, and said, Oh, Lord, the great and dreadful God, who keepeth covenant and lovingkindness with them that love him and keep his commandments, 5 we have sinned, and have dealt perversely, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even turning aside from thy precepts and from thine ordinances; 6 neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, that spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 7 O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of face, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee. 8 O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee. 9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgiveness; for we have rebelled against him; 10 neither have we obeyed the voice of Jehovah our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets" (vv. 9:3-10)

According to verse 3, Daniel set his face "to seek by prayer and supplication, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes." He did of course engage in these services by faith.

He addressed God as "Lord, the great and dreadful God, who keepeth covenant and lovingkindness with them that love him and keep his commandments." Nehemiah addressed God as "the great, the mighty, and the terrible God" (Neh. 9:32). In Deuteronomy 28:58,59 Moses urged Israel to "fear this glorious and fearful name, JEHOVAH THY GOD," warning the people in saying, then Jehovah will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance." The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews urges them, saying, "Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, whereby we may offer service well-pleasing to God with reverence and awe: 29 for our God is a consuming fire" (Heb. 12:28,29). From these four passages which speak of God as terrible and dreadful, we learn that He is terrible in that He is a consuming fire to those who spurn His grace and pit their wills against Him. But to those who love Him and fear His name, He bestows His lovingkindness in abundance.

In Daniel 9:5,6 the Prophet, identifying himself with his brethren, calls attention to their sinfulness, saying, "We have sinned, and have dealt perversely, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even turning aside from thy precepts and from thine ordinances; 6 neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, that spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land." In verse 7 the Prophet confesses that righteousness is of God, but confusion of face belongs to them--the entire nation scattered all over the world--"because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee."

According to verse 9, mercies and forgiveness belong to God. Israel is in need of God's forgiveness and lovingkindness, for they have rebelled against Him and have not obeyed the words of Jehovah to walk in His laws, which the prophets have given.

"Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even turning aside, that they should not obey thy voice: therefore hath the curse been poured out upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God; for we have sinned against him. 12 And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil; for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem. 13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet have we not entreated the favor of Jehovah our God, that we should turn from our iniquities, and have discernment in thy truth. 14 Therefore hath Jehovah watched over the evil, and brought it upon us; for Jehovah our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth, and we have not obeyed his voice." (vv. 11-14)

According to verse 11, all Israel have transgressed God's law, even turning aside that they should not obey His voice. The Prophet explains the reason for the collapse of the nation's existence and of the exiles in Babylon. The warning of Moses to Israel was, "Be sure your sin will find you out" (Num. 32:23). Daniel explained the situation as resulting from the curse of God poured out upon disobedient Israel. In Deuteronomy 27:15-26 are twelve statements warning the people of the curse that would fall upon them if they violated any of these prohibitions. Moreover, in Leviticus, chapter 26, and in Deuteronomy chapter 28, God through Moses promises blessings untold to Israel if obedient, but warns them of the consequences of disobedience. The wrath of God was poured out upon Jerusalem and the nation of Israel as upon no other nation, for "under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem." In the Book of Lamentations destruction and wreckage of the entire nation are recorded. A careful study of the Book of Lamentations shows that Jeremiah was speaking specifically of the wreckage and destruction of the Babylonian invasion and captivity; but here and there in this Book are statements made which show that there is placed before Jeremiah's vision the utter collapse of the Jewish nation at the time of the Tribulation. In verse 13 Daniel calls attention to the fact that these evils were foretold by Moses. In verse 14 Daniel calls attention to the fact that Jehovah watches over evil, and that the eyes of Jehovah are in every place, keeping watch over the evil and the good (Prov. 15:3). In bringing these evils upon the Jews, God is righteous in all His works.

"And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly. 16 O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, let thine anger and thy wrath, I pray thee, be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are round about us. 17 Now therefore, O our God, hearken unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. 18 O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousness, but for thy great mercies' sake. 19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God, because thy city and thy people are called by thy name" (vv.15-19).

Daniel's supplication in behalf of his brethren, reminds one, to a certain extent of the intercessory prayer of the Lord Jesus in behalf of believers (John, chapter 17). A sincere conviction and a humble confession pulsates through the entire prayer. Not for a moment does Daniel try to excuse or to justify Israel in the least. He is confident that God is righteous in all His dealings with Israel.

The Prophet prays that God will cause His anger and wrath to cease--according to all His righteousness.

Moreover, it is evident that Daniel is praying with an eye single to God's glory, for he prays that God will turn away wrath from Jerusalem and the holy mountain, "because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are round about us" (v. 16). He prays that God's face may shine upon the sanctuary and the people according to the priestly blessing (Num. 6:22-27). Daniel urges God to open His eyes and behold the desolations of the city which is called by His Name, "for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies' sake" (v. 18).

The conclusion is supplication by pleadings "0 Lord, hear; 0 Lord, forgive; 0 Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, 0 my God, because thy city and thy people are called by thy name." Three times the Lord is addressed in this petition. We Christians may be right in hearing in this passage an echo of the doctrine of the Holy Trinity.

"And while I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before Jehovah my God for the holy mountain of my God; 21 yea, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. 22 And he instructed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee wisdom and understanding. 23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment went forth, and I am come to tell thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision" (vv. 20-23).

According to verse 20, Daniel was speaking and praying, but in verse 21 he is said to have been speaking in prayer. His prayer was therefore audible. In his prayer he was confessing both his sin and the sin of Israel. At the same time he was presenting his petition "before Jehovah my God for the holy mountain of my God." The mountain of God to which he refers is the city of Jerusalem, and especially the Temple site. While Daniel was praying, the man Gabriel whom Daniel had already seen in the vision at the beginning came and touched him. According to Luke 1:19, we see that Gabriel announced the birth of John the Baptist to Zacharias, the latter's father. Also in Luke 1:26 appears the record of Gabriel's visit to Mary concerning the birth of the Messiah. Gabriel is one of the seven angels that stand before God (Luke 1:19; Rev. 8:2), Gabriel talked with Daniel and instructed him, saying, "0 Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee wisdom and understanding." This statement shows that Daniel lacked wisdom and understanding concerning the seventy weeks of desolation of Jerusalem, as foretold by Jeremiah.

The Angel Gabriel saw that it was necessary to exhort Daniel to give serious thought to the message and to understand the vision. A person must be open to conviction and must accept anything and everything that God says.


Footnote:
¹ The word scripture is derived from the latin word meaning "to write." In the Graeco-Roman world of the first century any writing was known as scripture. In this passage Paul states that only those writings that are God-breathed are profitable for spiritual guidance.