The Prophecies of Daniel - Is the End Near? Session 4 Prayer and Prediction

The Church of Divine Guidance (CDG) Sunday morning adult bible study group is involved in a study of chapters 7-12 of the book of Daniel. In light of all the things that are going on in the Middle East today many Christians and others are wondering if these things are fulfillment of prophecy and a sign that the end is near. It is not my intent to prove or disprove what people are saying about whether these things are the fulfillment of prophecy or not. My goal is to equip you through study so you can make your own determinations.

Daniel 9

Introduction

One morning, shortly after the Medes and the Persians had conquered Babylon, Daniel was reading the book of the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah had been a prophet in Jerusalem when Daniel was a boy. As he read the prophet's words, a couple of passages seemed to leap off the page:   

Jeremiah 25:8-12 (HCSB)8  “Therefore, this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Because you have not obeyed My words,9  I am going to send for all the families of the north’—⌊this is⌋ the LORD’s declaration—‘and ⌊send for⌋ My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and I will bring them against this land, against its residents, and against all these surrounding nations, and I will completely destroy them and make them a desolation, a derision, and ruins forever.

10  I will eliminate the sound of joy and gladness from them—the voice of the groom and the bride, the sound of the millstones and the light of the lamp.11  This whole land will become a desolate ruin, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon for 70 years.12  When the 70 years are completed, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation’—⌊this is⌋ the LORD’s declaration—‘the land of the Chaldeans, for their guilt, and I will make it a ruin forever.

Jeremiah 29:10-11 (HCSB)10  For this is what the LORD says: “When 70 years for Babylon are complete, I will attend to you and will confirm My promise concerning you to restore you to this place.11  For I know the plans I have for you”—⌊this is⌋ the LORD’s declaration—“plans for ⌊your⌋ welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

God promised that Israel's captivity would last seventy years, and then God would bring them back to the land. Daniel began to add up the years since his deportation and realized that the captivity was almost over! As Daniel's mind was gripped by the written Word of God, the urge to pray was born. God's answer to Daniel's prayer was swift—and surprising! This passage not only teaches us about Daniel's response to God's Word; we also learn how we should respond to God's promises to us.

1. In times of deep personal crisis, men and women are often driven to pray. If you have experienced such a time in your life, briefly describe what it was like.

I've had more than one time.  Because I have been a risk taker most of my adult life I have worked with small companies in their early stages of growth and development.  Some have worked out and others haven't which resulted in very difficult financial issues.  There has been the death of children, siblings, and parents all of which take an emotional toll.  It was at these times that we were driven to pray because we had no control and the pressure was tremendous.  When we prayed we recalled the promises in the word of God and as promised in Philippians 4:6-7 we did have peace.  Philippians 4:6-7 (HCSB) ⁶  Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. ⁷  And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 

2. If God had already promised to release the nation after seventy years of captivity, ( Daniel 9:2 (HCSB) In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the books according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet that the number of years for the desolation of Jerusalem would be 70), why did Daniel have to pray?

Jeremiah 29:12-15 says that they (Isreal) would call to God and He would hear so Daniel prayed.  

Jeremiah 29:12-15 (HCSB)12  You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.13  You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 14  I will be found by you”—⌊this is⌋ the LORD’s declaration—“and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and places where I banished you”—⌊this is⌋ the LORD’s declaration. “I will restore you to the place I deported you from.”15  You have said, “The LORD has raised up prophets for us in Babylon!”  

3. In Daniel 9:4-19, which aspects of God's character did Daniel appeal to as the basis of his requests?

1. Great God who keeps His covenant - Daniel 9:4 (HCSB)4  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—  
2. Righteous - Daniel 9:7 (HCSB)7  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 dispersed them because of the disloyalty they have shown toward You.
3. Compassionate and forgiving - Daniel 9:9 (HCSB)9  Compassion and forgiveness belong to the Lord our God, though we have rebelled against Him  
4. Faithful to His Word - Daniel 9:12:14 (HCSB)12  He has carried out His words that He spoke against us and against our rulers by bringing on us so great a disaster that nothing like what has been done to Jerusalem has ever been done under all of heaven. 13  Just as it is written in the law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not appeased the LORD our God by turning from our iniquities and paying attention to Your truth.14  So the LORD kept the disaster in mind and brought it on us, for the LORD our God is righteous in all He has done. But we have not obeyed Him.
5. Forgiving - Daniel 9:19 (HCSB)19  Lord, hear! Lord, forgive! Lord, listen and act! My God, for Your own sake, do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name.

4. Daniel also appealed to God on the basis of specific actions of grace and judgment God had performed for Israel. Which acts did he refer to, and why do you think he chose these particular ones?

Deliverance from slavery in Egypt to the Promised land - Daniel 9:15 (HCSB)15  Now, Lord our God, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and made Your name ⌊renowned⌋ as it is this day, we have sinned, we have acted wickedly.

5. What failures of the nation are identified as the cause for God's judgment?

• Sinned
• Rebelled
• Disobedience
• Ignored God’s prophets

6. Daniel consistently uses the plural pronoun we throughout the prayer. Why do you think Daniel could confess for the whole nation?

Because he knew, based on the fact that God had given him visions of what was to come and the ability to interpret dreams of the kings, that He was a prophet to the nation, therefore a leader.  Plus Gabriel had been told to explain the visions to him.

Daniel 8:16 (HCSB)16  I heard a human voice calling from the middle of the Ulai: “Gabriel, explain the vision to this man.”

Why does he include himself in the confession?

Because he was part of the nation.  Just as we include ourselves as part of the US.  In general what the US does we are a part of even if we don’t specifically do it like war when the military goes to war we say we go to war.

7. What specific insights about your prayer life can you glean from Daniel's prayer?

• Recognize God’s sovereignty
• Confess our sins
• Ask for forgiveness
• Pray God’s promises

Next week we will talk about what Gabriel would tell Daniel, in answer to his prayer, about the future for Israel and perhaps for us. We'll start at Daniel 9:20.

For more study resources on the book of Daniel click these links:

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