◄ What Does Daniel 9:19 Mean? ►

Daniel realised that the time was fast approaching when God's promise to the children of Israel recorded in Jeremiah, to free them from their 70-year captivity in Babylon and to return them to their homeland in Israel, was fast approaching. Daniel did not simply sit down and wait for Jeremiah's prophecy to be fulfilled, but he was proactive in seeking the Lord in prayer and intercession for his people. Daniel set about the task of pleading with the Lord to forgive the sins of His people, and to bring them back from captivity to their homeland.

Daniel interceded for his people in a way that is rarely seen in the people of God today. He confessed the gross sins of his people before the Lord and pleaded with Him to hear, to listen, and to take action on their behalf. He included his own sins in his entreaties and intercessions, for Daniel knew that as a nation Israel had sinned against the Lord and as a nation Israel must repent. The sincerity of Daniel's pleading prayers and the contrition that was in his heart are reflected in his words as for 21 days he cried out, "O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For Your own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name."

Daniel was not pleading the innocence of His people or himself. He confessed the sins they had committed and recognised they were not worthy of God's grace and deliverance, but his prayer was founded on the holy name and the unchanging faithfulness of God towards His people and he wept, "Do not delay, because YOUR city and YOUR people are called by YOUR HOLY NAME." It was for the glory of God that Daniel continued his earnest prayer vigil on behalf of his people.

Much is wrong in the Church today. We have compromised the truth of God's Word and imported world's philosophies into the Church. We have been careless with the heavenly treasure we have in earthen vessels. We have often grieved and quenched the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We have neglected Christ's command to love as I have loved, to walk in spirit and truth, and to abide in Him and He in us. As a people, we have fallen far from the commission and commands that we received from our Commander-in-chief, through Paul and the other apostles of Christ.

Let us, like Daniel, come to the Lord with earnest pleadings for ourselves and for the Body of Christ, that she may ready herself for the soon return of the Lord Jesus Who is coming soon to take us to be with Himself. Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus. 

Loving Heavenly Father, I have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, and have not loved You as I ought. For the sake of Your holy name, forgive me and refresh my heart as I ready myself for Your soon return. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.