Daniel 9:1-4
"In the first year of Darius son of Xerxesa]">[a] (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonianb]">[b] kingdom— 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the LORD given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. 3 So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.4 I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed:"
Let me set the stage here. Daniel gets curious about something he knows because God told Jeremiah some information. Daniel does not receive revelation himself from God in order to recognize that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. In verse 3, Daniel decides to "press into God's presence" (this author's words and not the bible's) through prayer, petition, fasting, and sackcloth and ashes. Daniel goes on to confess the sins of his people (Israel) and says that they are covered with shame (reason for sackcloth and ashes - this represents a deep grievance and mourning).
Earlier I said "uncompromising." In secret, Daniel made a choice to press in. What I want to say to you is that he didn't have to. I do not believe he was forced to go to God with this issue, and moreover I do not believe that God would have looked down on him in any way if He just left it alone at what was already revealed to Jeremiah. Daniel however did not leave it alone. Instead, he cries out to God with a heart that authentically mourns what his people have done against God and earnestly with everything he is desires right relationship between his people and their God. A heart like this:
----------Daniel 9:17-23------------
17 “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. 18 Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. 19 Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”
The Seventy “Sevens”
20 While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the LORD my God for his holy hill— 21 while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. 22 He instructed me and said to me, “Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding. 23 As soon as you began to pray, a word went out, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. Therefore, consider the word and understand the vision:
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------------Daniel 9:22-27-----------
"He instructed me and said to me, “Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding. 23 As soon as you began to pray, a word went out, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. Therefore, consider the word and understand the vision:
24 “Seventy ‘sevens’c]">[c] are decreed for your people and your holy city to finishd]">[d] transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.e]">[e]
25 “Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One,f]">[f] the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. 26 After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing.g]">[g] The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. 27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’h]">[h] In the middle of the ‘seven’i]">[i] he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the templej]">[j] he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.k]">[k]”l]">[l]"
--------------------------------------Some church folk have taken these verses that were entrusted to Daniel to be a more literal road map to when we can expect the last days on earth to be. Sometimes, this has been done severely out of context - and others in a more balanced manner taking into consideration Matthew 24.
None of this end-times talk is my point today.
Consider how this all started: with Daniel contemplating the Word of the Lord to Jeremiah.
We have the bible. We have the Holy Spirit. How many "words" are screaming at us just waiting for us to press into God's presence concerning them. The challenge is whether we will choose to press in...or simply not. We are saved by Jesus. Our sins are covered by the blood of the Lamb. We have just as much right to approach God on these things as the next person. Search your heart and consider why you do not press in! Daniel accepted responsibility and ownership for an entire nation of sins and laid them at God's doorstep. He did not single-handedly perform or commit each sin - but what he does touches God and he receives a clear response. Prayer, petition, fasting, mourning, confessing - Daniel goes all out to hear from God on these things; exercising discipline, desire, and great authenticity while doing so.
Do not compromise or settle in your relationship with God. Be uncompromising like Daniel and his companions were. Show a consistency in what you believe and how you act. Be able to receive His mercy and grace - and share that same mercy and grace with others. Be all that God called you to be. Lead by example and press in. God is anxiously waiting for you to choose Him and to pursue Him. He'll answer.
