Daniel - Chapter 9

A 1-2 Punch of Prayer and Prophecy

Daniel – Chapter 9

Review

1. What did we discuss in the Intro lesson?  What’s important to keep in mind as we work through Daniel?

1. This is what Habakkuk was about.
2. Daniel young (15?) when taken into Neb’s training program (after Jerusalem captured)
1. What did we discuss in Chapter 1?
1. God will maintain His remnant; cultural assimilation will not succeed.
2. God provides all – protection, knowledge, war spoils (to Neb), deliverance.
2. What about Chapter 2?
1. Daniel’s God has real power.
2. God has a plan and it involves His kingdom setup for eternity.
3. What about Chapter 3?
1. Our boys know to obey God and He’s who to worry about.  Neb is nothing.
2. Neb is preserved for future use by God.
4. Chapter 4?
1. Neb is a slow learner
2. God has patience to humble even Neb (and us).
5. Chapter 5?
1. Contrast between Neb and B.
2. God judges the prideful.
6. Chapter 6?
1. God delivers again.
2. Daniel is an amazing example of consistency and strength in his faith.
7. Chapter 7
1. Beginning of prophesy chapters
2. God has a plan.  Daniel gets AMAZING insights and privileges from God.
8. Chapter 8
1. Focus on the RAM and GOAT (Medo-Persian and Greek Empires) and their relationship (foreshadowing) to end-times.
2. This little horn is NOT the little horn from the Roman Empire (10-horned monster), but it points to him.

Introduction

1. How did you all do this week reading Daniel?
2. What’s your opinion of Daniel (thus far)?  Easy, hard, straightforward, confusing, basic, advanced, etc?
3. What is your opinion of this chapter?  Easy or lots of questions, difficult and convoluted?
1. Brutal, if you allow things you CANNOT figure out bog you down.
2. It’s overwhelming the first time its read.  Once it is seen as a prayer and prophecy, it’s that much easier to pick apart.

Lesson

1. vv. 1 [READ – Dan 9:1] Timeline
1. When – “the first year of Darius” – around 539 BCE (see timeline chart)
2. What’s the context?  What has or has not happened by this time?

                                                               i.      Pretty much everything, EXCEPT MAYBE the lion’s den situation.

                                                             ii.      He’s also had the other dreams/visions at this point.

                                                            iii.      Daniel is also seeing a new empire come onto the scene that he’d previously had visions about.  This empire is the silver/bear/ram.

3. So, what did Daniel know?

                                                               i.      That this empire would be slower, but take 3 other major land areas.

                                                             ii.      Another force (the Persians) would come along and actually be more significant than the Medes.

                                                            iii.      That they’d ultimately be defeated by the Greeks (and that the Greeks would be fast, deadly, etc)

                                                            iv.      That the Jews would suffer loss against the “little horn” of the Greek empire.

4. What didn’t Daniel know?

                                                               i.      Exact dates/timelines.

                                                             ii.      Names (ie, WHO the Greek “little horn” was)

                                                            iii.      Other?

2. vv. 2 [READ – Dan 9:2] Daniel knows his Bible.
1. Daniel reads Jeremiah.  He understands that Israel will be captive for 70 years and that time is about up.  [See Jer 25:11-12]
2. What happens when that time is up? [See Jer 29:10]  Israel will be restored by God to their home.
3. vv. 3-21 [READ – Dan 9:3-21] Daniel’s Prayer
1. (v 3) What is the significance of the fasting, sackcloth and ashes?

                                                               i.      Preparation.  Daniel took prayer VERY seriously.  He didn’t HAVE to do these things.  They were not a required part of prayer, but something he could do (just between D. and God) to express D’s sincerity.

                                                             ii.      What do YOU do to prepare for prayer with God?

2. (v 4-6) – who is “we”?

                                                               i.      Israel

                                                             ii.      What does Daniel do is this part of his prayer in regards to the sins of Israel?

1.       He’s specific.  Are we?

                                                            iii.      Did God just tell one person and expect everyone to obey?

1.       That would have been nice, I’m sure, but God sent MANY prophets that talked to kings, princes, fathers, and all people…

3. (v 7) Israel was scattered because of their sins
4. (v 8-14) – What does Daniel do in this passage (starting in v 7)?

                                                               i.      Compares God’s righteousness with Israel’s sin.  Yes, but what’s his point?  Why?

                                                             ii.      Daniel is stating that God was right, correct, just in His actions toward Israel.  Daniel didn’t make excuses.

                                                            iii.      Do we make excuses for our sins?  Sure.  We have a society that makes excuses for sins.  Illnesses, bad parenting, stresses, etc all are blamed for sinful lives, addictions and actions.  Sin is NEVER called sin in society.  There’s no such thing.

5. (v 15-19) – Daniel’s petition and plea – with PASSION:

                                                               i.      He acknowledges God’s actions in the past.  God has saved them, even though they were wicked.

                                                             ii.      He requests God to spare them and Jerusalem, just like He did from Egypt.  But again, not because they deserve it, but to HIS glory.

                                                            iii.      Passion!  V 19 has Daniel begging God because he’s passionate about what he’s asking for.  There’s no apathy or routine here.

6. (v 20-21) – “Meanwhile, back at the ranch”…  Daniel tells us that action was happening while he was praying.  God acted even quicker than Daniel could ask.  That’s because He’s God.  :)

                                                               i.      Remember, when we talked in the Lion’s den story about his accusers not being able to find anything to condemn him of, so they had to make something up?  Well, that is true, but Daniel knows that he has still sinned (as Romans told us).  This verse indicates that as well.  Even though men couldn’t find fault, God does – simply because we’re human.

                                                             ii.      Gabriel shows up again…around 3pm.

4. vv. 22-27 [READ – Dan 9:22-27]
1. Gabriel was told to go to Daniel when Daniel started praying.  THAT’S service.  :)
2. “greatly beloved” – what a statement!  I hope one day that Gabriel (or Peter at the gates of Heaven) will say that of me.
3. 70 weeks:

                                                               i.      Length – much debate is given to “weeks”.  Is it true weeks as we describe it?  Does a week represent years?  What about the periods OF years?

                                                             ii.      I think that weeks=years is reasonable based on other scripture. 

1.       The previous Jeremiah talks about 70 years of captivity.

2.       2 Chron. 36:21 references Jeremiah and states “3 score and 10 years” (70 YEARS). [See 2 Chron. 36:21]

                                                            iii.      Division / periods of years (v 25-27)

1.       7 weeks (49 years?)

2.       62 weeks (434 years?)

3.       1 week (7 years?)

                                                            iv.      When does this time start?

1.       When the decree to restore Jerusalem is given.

                                                             v.      Yeah, but WHEN does it start.

1.       We don’t truly know.  These are only opinions.

2.       Decree of Cyrus (Ezra 1:1-4)

3.       Decree of Darius (Ezra 6:1-12)

4.       Decree of Artaxerxes (Ezra 7:11-26) in his 7^th year

5.       (a common answer) Decree of Artaxerxes (Neh 2:1-8) in his 20^th year

                                                            vi.      What is to happen during each period?

1.       THIS we know.  The Bible tells us.

2.       7 weeks:

a.       Command to rebuild Jerusalem will be given (and starts the ticker)

b.       Jerusalem will be restored/rebuilt

3.       62 weeks:

a.       The Messiah shows up (we know this because of the next item)

b.       The Messiah is cut off at the end. (Crucifixion)  (Actually BETWEEN the 69^th and 70^th week)

c.       Jerusalem and sanctuary is destroyed (Actually, BETWEEN 69^th and 70^th week)

4.       1 week:  (In the future)

a.       Who is “the prince”?  NOT Christ, but the Antichrist (little horn of Roman Empire/10-horned monster fame)

b.       Israel accepts this prince as THE Messiah.

c.       He makes covenants with Israel, but breaks them (places his image on the temple - Rev 13).  This is the abomination that leads to desolation.

                                                          vii.      Are these weeks purely chronological?

1.       Don’t know.  Only opinion.

2.       Probably not.  God isn’t bound by our timelines, measures, etc.

4. For whom?

                                                               i.      Thy people (Israel)

                                                             ii.      Thy holy city (Jerusalem)

5. To do what?

                                                               i.      To finish the transgression

1.       of Israel.

                                                             ii.      To make an end of sins

1.       This will happen for everyone at the second coming of Christ (Rapture).

                                                            iii.      To make reconciliation for iniquity

1.       This is Christ’s redemption for our souls.

                                                            iv.      To bring in everlasting righteousness

1.       This is Christ’s kingdom that is discussed as the rock that shatters the feet of Nebuchadnezzar’s vision statue, after the Roman little horn (from the 10-horned monster) is destroyed, etc.

                                                             v.      To seal up the vision and prophecy

1.       ie, to fulfill all of the prophecies that Daniel and others have seen/made.

                                                            vi.      To anoint the most Holy.

1.       [See Ezek 41-46]  Eternal temple setup as described in Ezekiel and the anointment of the Holy of Holies.

6. Timelines, in my opinion, are less important than the items/tasks/issues.  God clearly has a plan, both to judge, to save, to collect to go to Heaven.  God will glorify Himself.  God will fulfill all the prophecies, but namely the ones for Israel, Christ, and the future.

Summary

1. What’s your key verse?
1. v 2
2. What characteristics of prayer can we model from Daniel?
1. Preparation
2. Sincerity
3. Specificity
4. Responsibility (don’t make excuses.  Take responsibility for our sinful behavior)
5. Passion (see v 19.  Daniel begs God.  He’s passionate about what he’s praying for)
6. Personal (count how many times Daniel uses words like I, we, our, us, etc)
3. What can we do to express our sincerity to God with our prayer time?  We need to prepare ourselves to meet God by…
1. Protect a set time
2. Find a quiet place to specifically pray.
3. Remove distractions
4. Know His Word.  (I think this is a HUGE part of prayer for a mature(ing) Christian.)
5. Others???
4. Do we pray and admit our sins specifically (and if so, how)?
1. Usually not.  It’s usually “forgive me for my sins”…moving right along.
2. But, we request specifically, don’t we?
3. What does NOT admitting our sins specifically do for/to us?  What happens when we itemize our sins to God?
5. Do we make excuses?
1. Sure.  Stop it.
6. Where are we in “the timeline”
1. We’re in-between the 69^th and 70^th weeks because SOME of the things have happened.  Certainly, the rapture has not.  We do not believe the Antichrist has arrived.
2. Does it matter?  We need to be prepared anyway.  We need to understand that God is progressing with His plan and we ARE part of it.  We should be ready.

Print | posted on Sunday, August 28, 2005 7:57 PM |