How Should We Really Pray?
Today the prophet Daniel again intercedes for himself and his people. The people have walked away from God and God allows another nation to come in and take over the city of Jerusalem. The people are scattered and their place of worship is no longer open. Daniel pleads with God for mercy. This is called "intercession". Later in the New Testament we will see Jesus intercedes before God for us.
Daniel reasons with God, that even though the people deserve God's judgement because of their acts of rebellion, they have become the laughing stock to the people around them. He pleads with God for mercy because the house that bears His name is in shambles. He is so bold to pray, "Lord listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God do not delay!" Notice he is not just praying only for himself but the people who bear God's name.
Then, we see something quite amazing. Gabriel, an angel of God, hears his prayer and comes literally flying in to give Daniel a message. The messenger of God says further, as soon as you prayed the word went out, and I have come to give you understanding for you are highly esteemed. Wow! Talk about answered prayer. Gabriel then gives Daniel a vision of when God will forgive the people and send His anointed One to restore the people of God. He tells Daniel that the time will be "seventy times seven". There is much debate over the amount of time this represents. Some say it means seventy time seven years, which is 490 years. Since this is around 586 B.C.E. (Before common era) we see some basis for the correlation. But in reality, I do think it is worth arguing about. The bottom line is that after an appropriate amount of time, God will restore the people through a Messiah, who bears His name and will rule over the new Israel.
So what might this mean for us? Do we pray like this? Can prayer change God's mind? We see Moses' prayer did earlier! What would it mean for your prayer life to realize that as you soon to pray a word goes out to God and His angels? For me it convicts me that my prayer life is often weak, especially when I do not see immediate answers to my petitions. Sometimes I really don't think my prayers will make a difference, because God will do what He wants anyways. But if this is true, why would God want us to pray if it makes no difference in real life. What would you pray for today, if you knew God hears your prayer as soon as it goes out. Though we may not see immediate results, God promises H hears our prayer and will answer in His way and His time. Amen.
Daniel 9:15-25
15 “Now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. 16 Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us.
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:
24 “Seventy ‘sevens’[a] are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish[b] 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.[c]
25 “Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One,[d] 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.
Daniel reasons with God, that even though the people deserve God's judgement because of their acts of rebellion, they have become the laughing stock to the people around them. He pleads with God for mercy because the house that bears His name is in shambles. He is so bold to pray, "Lord listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God do not delay!" Notice he is not just praying only for himself but the people who bear God's name.
Then, we see something quite amazing. Gabriel, an angel of God, hears his prayer and comes literally flying in to give Daniel a message. The messenger of God says further, as soon as you prayed the word went out, and I have come to give you understanding for you are highly esteemed. Wow! Talk about answered prayer. Gabriel then gives Daniel a vision of when God will forgive the people and send His anointed One to restore the people of God. He tells Daniel that the time will be "seventy times seven". There is much debate over the amount of time this represents. Some say it means seventy time seven years, which is 490 years. Since this is around 586 B.C.E. (Before common era) we see some basis for the correlation. But in reality, I do think it is worth arguing about. The bottom line is that after an appropriate amount of time, God will restore the people through a Messiah, who bears His name and will rule over the new Israel.
So what might this mean for us? Do we pray like this? Can prayer change God's mind? We see Moses' prayer did earlier! What would it mean for your prayer life to realize that as you soon to pray a word goes out to God and His angels? For me it convicts me that my prayer life is often weak, especially when I do not see immediate answers to my petitions. Sometimes I really don't think my prayers will make a difference, because God will do what He wants anyways. But if this is true, why would God want us to pray if it makes no difference in real life. What would you pray for today, if you knew God hears your prayer as soon as it goes out. Though we may not see immediate results, God promises H hears our prayer and will answer in His way and His time. Amen.
Daniel 9:15-25
15 “Now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. 16 Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us.
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:
24 “Seventy ‘sevens’[a] are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish[b] 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.[c]
25 “Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One,[d] 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.
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