In The Word
Read: Daniel 9: 20-27
Gabriel Brings an Answer
20 Now while 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 in behalf of the holy mountain of my God, 21 while I was still speaking in prayer, then the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision previously, came to me in my extreme weariness about the time of the evening offering. 22 He gave me instruction and talked with me and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you insight with understanding. 23 At the beginning of your supplications the command was issued, and I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed; so give heed to the message and gain understanding of the vision.
Seventy Weeks and the Messiah
24 “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place. 25 So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. 26 Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. 27 And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.”
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
Daniel was not celebrating the revelation of the vision that was given to him concerning his nation. In fact, quite the opposite. Daniel was moved to repentance; he was broken over the fate of his people. It is this brokenness that caused Daniel to cry out to Yahweh. We notice that Daniel did not simply generalize repentance; verse 1 says that he was “speaking, praying, confessing” his sins and the sins of his people. This means that Daniel was giving his sins a name. In other words, he was attacking each sin head on and giving them to God. Again, this was no bedtime prayer. Daniel’s petitions were serious and intense.
We also notice that God noticed him. While he was still crying out, Gabriel appeared to him and delivered a message from God, “At the beginning of your petitions an answer went out, and I have come to give it, for you are treasured by God.” What was the fruit of Daniel’s serious and intense repenting? God heard him. God took notice of him, and, as soon as Daniel began to cry out, God was sending an answer. God also encouraged Daniel by reminding him that he was precious to God.
We live in a nation that is facing exile. We have sinned against God and turned our back on His commands. We should be crying out to God on behalf of our own sins and the sins of our nations. God is looking for those who will address the sins by name, those who will be serious and intense in prayer. These are the people that will have dreams and visions in our time. These are also the people who are treasured by God. Let your petitions be made before Yahweh your God, and He will show you the reward of your repentance.
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