The Life of Daniel (16)

The prophet Daniel had observed that the time had come in which to expect the end of the captivity. The prophet Jeremiah had spoken of this in Jeremiah 25:9-11: “…these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.” At the end of those seventy years the Lord would punish the king of Babylon and his nation. The first devastation of Jerusalem had taken place in 606 B.C. In the first year of Darius, the period of desolation is almost ended. Daniel did not behold the signs that the liberty to return to Judah had come; therefore, he turned to God in earnest prayer. In his prayer he made a confession of guilt, but he also pleaded upon God’s mercy. The poet says in Psalm 130:3, “If Thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O LORD, who shall stand?” This is the hope and pleading ground for unworthy sinners. Daniel wrestled with his God that He might turn to them in mercy and restore them. Daniel pleaded that the wrath and anger of God might be turned away from God’s holy city.

The character of his prayer

It was indeed a true prayer that Daniel brought before the Lord.

The character of this prayer was, first of all, scriptural. He studied the books, that is, God’s Word, and he pleaded upon what the Lord Himself had spoken in Scripture: “For thus saith the LORD, that after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon, I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place” (Jeremiah 29:10).

He studied the history of his people. It is important that we know the history of the church in order to see who God has been in former years and that He does not change no matter how much the times may change.

His prayer was made with much humiliation, with sackcloth and ashes, repentance, and contrition.

His prayer was enthusiastic by expressing zeal for God’s glory. It was his urgent desire that God’s name might be glorified by the manifestations of His power and faithfulness. His prayer was very intense. “O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for Thine own sake.”

It was a prayer of understanding and earnestness. He brought his petition to the heavenly Majesty, and he knew what he needed, namely, forgiveness, and he continued with a request for restoration.

It was a prayer of holy nearness. Daniel could say, O my God. He is God; therefore, we must come to Him with reverence. He is my God; my implies that we may come close to Him. There is a climax in his prayer; there is confession. The people were ashamed, have sinned, were unrighteous, have rebelled, so there is absolutely no reason in them that the Lord would answer them. However, we read in Psalm 102:17, “He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.” It is the Holy Spirit who teaches undeserving sinners to plead with God by pointing to His own Word. Psalm 119:49 says, “Remember the word unto Thy servant, upon which Thou hast caused me to hope.” Such a pleading pleases the Lord. “Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock” (Ezekiel 36:37). So Daniel came to the Lord’s throne of grace with honest, humble simplicity.

The request in his prayer

What did Daniel desire of God? He said, “and cause Thy face to shine upon Thy sanctuary that is desolate.” We read in Numbers 6:25, “The LORD make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee.” The poet also asks this in Psalm 80:3, “Turn us again, O God, and cause Thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.”

He prayed that the Lord would cause His face to shine upon His sanctuary. That is the temple which is:

1) Typical of the Church of God.

2) Unique—there is but one building where the sacrifices were lawfully offered. God’s children have one God, one Lord, one faith, one baptism.

3) The fabric of wisdom, built by Solomon. The Church of God is a far more wonderful work of wisdom, infinitely superior than that of Solomon.

4) The results of great cost—immense wealth was used for it. Then Church of God, “ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold […] but with the precious blood of Christ.”

5) The place of God’s indwelling—the Lord dwells by His Spirit by His Church.

6) The place of God’s peculiar worship—the Lord said to the Samaritan woman, God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.

7) The throne of Jehovah’s power—Christ’s power through the Holy Ghost still goes out from His Church.

This prayer is free from selfishness. He did not say “cause Thy face to shine upon me” but “upon Thy sanctuary.” Neither did he say, “Lord, send more prophets” or “raise up more kings” but only “cause Thy face to shine.” It is a prayer of great faith, for the temple is all in ruins, but if only the Lord will cause His face to shine upon it. The favor of God is not only a blessing but it is everything. It is a very comprehensive prayer, for if the Lord’s face shines upon His Church, then the walls will rebuild, the Church will grow, and there will be godly men serving Him in truth. Oh, may this also be the prayer for our days. We need God’s face to shine upon His Church, a Church which is in such a low condition, divided, worldly, and often prayerless and far from the place it should be. If His face, undeservingly, would shine upon us, then His presence would be felt, and there would be life, true joy, and real peace whereby the Lord would be honored.

The pleading ground of his prayer

The petitioner knew that there was no reason in him or his people that the Lord would answer. However, he had a firm pleading ground “for the Lord’s sake.” When Daniel looked to his own and the people’s righteousness, he realized there was no hope, but he asked that the Lord have mercy for His own sake.

He also said, “for Thy city and Thy people are called by Thy name.” It is Thy city. He pleaded this special relationship between them and the Lord. They were said to be Jehovah’s people as if he said, “Thy seal is upon Israel, it belongs to Thee.” The Lord had made a covenant and it is like Moses pleading in Numbers 14:13, “And Moses said unto the LORD, Then the Egyptians shall hear it, (for Thou broughtest up this people in Thy might from among them).”

We read also in Joshua 7:9, “For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt Thou do unto Thy great name?” What an earnest pleading there was in Daniel’s prayer. “Take away the derision, the scorn, for the heathens will blaspheme Thy name.” This cannot be done because of us. A poor sinner learns to know that all his rights are gone, but it is the Holy Spirit who teaches him to pray “Do it for Christ’s sake, for His covenant, for His righteousness’ sake.” He learns to plead “Have respect unto Thy covenant. Do it only because of the perfect work of the Mediator. It is Thy Church, and these are Thy ordinances and Thy servants; it is Thy Word, and these are Thy sacraments.” Such prayers will be heard. We read in Psalm 122:6, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love Thee.” Also, Daniel’s prayer received an answer. There will be a rich word of forgiveness, and a promise of a great Deliverer, of the coming of the Messiah. God will save His people for the glory of His holy precious name which is to be praised.

(To be continued)

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