This is the seventeenth in a series of expositions of the book of Daniel. This message was delivered at Hillcrest Baptist Church on the morning of January 6, 2013. This message deals with Daniel’s prayer of deliverance, as a response to his study of prophecy. This contains an audio recording of my message, along with my sermon notes and a study outline. Please note that the sermon notes are not a full transcript.
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SERMON NOTES:
Daniel 9:1-19 / A Prayer of Deliverance
v.1:
The Jews had not believed and obeyed the prophets, and this led to their exile in Babylon.
Today we have a world full of people who do not believe and obey the Word of God, consequently we have a world full of people who are in bondage to sin.
The first year of Darius was 539 B.C., the year that Babylon fell to the Medes-Persians.
God had already told Daniel that this was going to happen, and long before that, Jeremiah had prophesied the fall of Babylon.
The overthrow of the Babylonian Kingdom by the Medo-Persians was indeed a momentous event.
It had been revealed to Belshazzar through Daniel’s interpretation of the writing on the wall (5:25-28, 30).
The Babylonian overthrow prepared the way for the liberation of the Jews who had been in exile since Nebuchadnezzar’s first invasion of Jerusalem in 606 B.C, with the first captivity in 605 B.C.
v.2:
Evidently moved by Darius’ victory, Daniel searched the Scriptures to understand the events of which he was a vital part.
He understood that Darius’ victory meant that the termination of the 70-year Captivity was near.
Jeremiah had prophesied that the people of Israel would be exiled from their land for 70 years.
Jeremiah 25:11-12
Jeremiah 29:10
It would be no surprise that Daniel was studying afresh the scroll of Jeremiah. One of the beautiful things about the Word of God is its constant freshness.
The captivity, which began in 605 B.C. was about to end, it was now 539.
The liberated exiles would return to the land in 536.
v.3:
Daniel’s study of the Scriptures led him to turn to God and to pray a prayer of confession (vv. 3-14) and petition (vv. 15-19), with fasting.
Because Daniel spent time searching the Scriptures, he knew how to pray.
It is not uncommon for us to make unbiblical prayers, and then wonder why they aren’t answered.
Daniel devoted himself both to prayer and to the word of God.
It was Daniel’s habit to pray 3 times a day
Daniel 6:10-11
Daniel prepared himself to pray. The sackcloth and ashes shows humility and genuine sorrow.
Without the right attitude toward God (a heart that is right) our prayers are just pious words.
v.4:
He begins with acknowledgment of Gods greatness. This begins the same pattern that we see in the Lord’s prayer, when Jesus teaches the disciples how to pray.
Matthew 6:9-13
1) Acknowledgment and praise of God
2) Confession of sin
3) request for deliverence
vv.5-10:
NEXT IS CONFESSION:
Daniel confessed the sins of himself and his people.
He didn’t make excuses for the people, nor did he say that God’s covenant was too demanding. He simply prayed in humility, acknowledging their sin.
Daniel was fully aware that confession was prerequisite to restoration.
1 John 1:9
vv.11-15:
This refers to the judgment that God brought, as promised, for Israel’s disobedience in the land (Lev. 26: 21–42; Deut. 28: 15–68).
This is in contrast to the blessings associated with faith and obedience (Lev. 26: 3–20; Deut. 28: 1–14).
God had given the promise that even in a time of judgment, if Israel would confess their sin, he would bring blessing again
Lev. 26: 40–42
This promise of blessing for Israel is a beautiful testament of God’s grace. It is also a precursor to God’s similar promise for us in 1 John 1:9
vv.16-19:
Asks for mercy and deliverance, which is the last petition in the prayer which Christ taught His disciples to pray.
True deliverance is deliverance from evil, whatever form that evil might take, and preservation until God’s kingdom comes.
Daniel prayed for restoration in three aspects. In effect he asked God to bring back:
1) Your city (vv.16, 18)
2) Your sanctuary (v.17)
3) Your people (v.19)
God’s answer embraced all three!
Daniel 9:24
Several times in Israel’s ministry, the intercession of one person brought about the nation’s deliverance from judgment.
God doesn’t have to wait for everybody, He will start work when He hears the believing prayers of one faithful intercessor.
Will you be that one?
Daniel’s prayer was answered , the next year Cyrus issued a decree that allowed the Jewish people to return to their land and rebuild the temple. (In accordance w/ Jeremiah’s prophecy)
This is praying in the will of God. This is why it is so important to study scripture as well as pray.
Various aspects of the passage give rich instruction regarding prayer.
True prayer is: in response to the word (v. 2),
characterized by fervency and self- denial (v. 3),
identified unselfishly with Gods people (v. 5),
strengthened by confession (vv. 5–15),
dependent on Gods character (vv. 4 7 9 15),
and has as its goal, Gods glory (vv. 16–19)
In Defense: The Blog 
Posted on January 12, 2013
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