Daniel’s Cry for Mercy

2021-05-16

Pastor Jonathan Falwell

 

Daniel 9:1-10 (CSB) “In the first year of Darius, the son of Ahasuerus, a Mede by birth, who was made king over the Chaldean kingdom — in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the books according to the word of the Lord to the prophet Jeremiah that the number of years for the desolation of Jerusalem would be seventy. So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek him by prayer and petitions, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: Ah, Lord — the great and awe-inspiring God who keeps his gracious covenant with those who love him and keep his commands — we have sinned, done wrong, acted wickedly, rebelled, and turned away from your commands and ordinances. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, leaders, ancestors, and all the people of the land. Lord, righteousness belongs to you, but this day public shame belongs to us: the men of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem, and all Israel — those who are near and those who are far, in all the countries where you have banished them because of the disloyalty they have shown toward you. Lord, public shame belongs to us, our kings, our leaders, and our ancestors, because we have sinned against you. Compassion and forgiveness belong to the Lord our God, though we have rebelled against him and have not obeyed the Lord our God by following his instructions that he set before us through his servants the prophets.”

 

1. Know where deliverance comes from

Verse 3a So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek him by prayer and petitions

  • It is no surprise that we often look to every other source for deliverance other than the one has already promised it
  • It is God we must turn to in times of our greatest need
  • Daniel had seen great and miraculous victories in his lifetime thus far, he knew exactly where to go

 

2. Make things right with him

Verse 4-5 I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: Ah, Lord — the great and awe-inspiring God who keeps his gracious covenant with those who love him and keep his commands — we have sinned, done wrong, acted wickedly, rebelled, and turned away from your commands and ordinances.

  • It is interesting to note that Daniel who had clearly “purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself” (Daniel 1:8) would actually seek to stand for those whom had defiled themselves
  • He placed himself in the same category with a people far from God.

 

3. Just listen

Verses 6-7a We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, leaders, ancestors, and all the people of the land. Lord, righteousness belongs to you, but this day public shame belongs to us

  • Quiet reflection on God’s already revealed Word will give us a clearer picture of who God is and who we are not
  • Our righteousness if but of “filthy rags” compared to Him (Isaiah 64:6)

4.  Righteousness belongs to Him

Verses 18-19a “Listen closely, my God, and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations and the city that bears your name. For we are not presenting our petitions before you based on our righteous acts, but based on your abundant compassion. Lord, hear! Lord, forgive! Lord, listen and act! My God, for your own sake, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your name.”

  • Submitting completely to Him is the first great step towards wholeness
  • Daniel lays out a perfect strategy for seeking God’s strength and deliverance
    • “Lord, hear!” – crying out to God
      • Jeremiah 33:3 Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and incomprehensible things you do not know
    • “Lord, forgive!” – confession and repentance
      • Psalm 32:5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not conceal my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin
    • “Lord, listen” – making our heart’s desire known to Him, petitioning Him for our needs
      • Philippians 4:6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God
    • “Act” – recognizing our deliverance is in His hand

 

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