Approach God's Throne with Humility and Prayer

This week we are reading chapter 9 verses 1-19. Before we breakdown verses 1-19 here is a brief outline of chapter 9: Verses 1-2 – Historical introduction; 3-19 Daniel’s prayer; 20-27 Revelation of the seventy weeks.

We see in verses 1-2 that Daniel is living in Babylon for over sixty five years. He is now under the rule of Darius from the lineage of the Medes. In verses 3-6 Daniel is seeking the Lord to confess the sins committed by the people of Israel. In verses 7-14 Daniel is now petitioning the Lord and praying that the Lord have mercy on His people. In Daniel’s petition he leans on a merciful God because he knows the people have assimilated to the Babylonian customs and different religions. In verses 15-19 is the prayer that Daniel is praying to God. In this section there are more than 16 verses of prayer that prompts divine revelation.

Daniel provides a great example of how we as Christians are to stand in the gap and pray for others. The message and example that Daniel is providing is one we should all take heed to. Daniel shows us just how much he reverences God through his obedience and prayer, but is also showing us how it should be done. Daniel can see what is happening around him especially socio-economically. He sees the Jewish people turning away from God and gravitating more towards the liberal beliefs and life style of the Babylonians and others throughout the region. Daniel understands God and the power God possess. He understands scripture and the visions he has been given. He knows the farther away from God they get, the more of God’s discipline will come upon the people.

We see many parallels in Daniel chapter 9 and the different societies today. We see secularism increasing over not only our country but across many continents. For example England had a strong Christian base for hundreds if not thousands of years. But now we see it changing very rapidly with very little signs of it returning to what it once was. Case in point, there are laws being passed right now that you can no longer read the bible in public. There are many stories that tell of people being approached by police and officials that are told that you are no longer allowed to read the bible in public places and that the only place you can read God’s word is in a church or your home, otherwise you could face charges including fines and jail. People who want to follow the world use secularism to disguise this very fact (1 John 4:5). Even in the days when Jesus walked the earth we see examples of secularism growing (John 2:13-16).

God has given us the greatest leader in Jesus and the tools we need to fight and win the battle of secularism. The tools are His word and it is our prayer. When we lean on Jesus and engage the tools from God and our willingness to use them against the evil one then we are truly equipped and ready to fight. For most who do not already know, Jesus is the only leader and these are the only tools we need to not only fight but win. We often see people in need, people in distress, people who are hanging on to threads, and people who just reject Jesus Christ. These are the people and the moments we need to get on our knees and pray for, this is our moment to engage in prayer and supplication. We need to stand in the gap by praying for all who are in need. Our prayer as true believers will be heard by the Lord and will be answered in His time and in His way. Sometimes the only thing we can do is stand next to someone and pray for them and their circumstance. When we believe that God will intervene on our behalf, we have truly seen the love of God who pours into us knowing in faith He has heard us.

Lord I want to come to your throne of grace with humility and a righteous mind and a righteous heart. Father, I ask Father that Your presence been seen by all. Lord I ask that a revival like no other would take hold in this world. That the sick be healed, the blind would see and the deaf would hear You Jesus. Lord come, for those who have fallen lift us up so we may see Your Face. Guide us, protect us and provide our every need. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray Amen! Amen!