Daniel 9:20–24 describes Daniel’s prayer of confession and God’s response through the angel Gabriel, introducing the prophecy of the Seventy Weeks and God’s plan to deal with sin and restore righteousness.
This morning if you have your Bibles it will turn with me to Daniel We want to look at Daniel chapter 9 and we’re going to be looking at the first portion where we left off at chapter 9 beginning at verse 20.
Historical Context of Daniel 9
- Babylonian exile
- Daniel studying earlier prophecy
- The urgency of repentance and prayer
The setting the background for this again Daniel is then in Babylon. He was taken away to Babylon and now he is in the kingdom of the Medes and Persians. As you look at this Daniel has seen what Henry Longfellow was writing in his poem. He was writing in his poem about the civil war that was going on. I shared this on Wednesday night. The civil war that was going on and he had a son in the civil war. There had been brother fighting brother At that time before the civil war there had been a revival that had occurred in America. It claimed to be a Christian nation but; yet, now it was tore apart by war. it was a bloody war and an awful war. People didn’t know why this was happening. Much the same that happened during the time of Daniel.
The nation of Israel had been really a nation that God had established and created. No other nation on earth was created by the Lord. The Lord brought them in and gave them his land. It was not a land that belonged to any other nation, it belonged to the Lord and as the center of this nation was his mountain. You can go back throughout the Old Testament and you’ll see that God did some amazing things on that mountain.
Abraham had been told to go and sacrifice Isaac there which was really a test of Abraham’s faith. And also a means to show that God was the one that would make provision for deliverance. Abraham did not have to sacrifice Isaac for the Lord provided the ram.
And whiles I was speaking, and 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 yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even 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 informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. 23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. 24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
Daniel 9:20–24