“And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land” (Daniel 9:3-6).

Daniel Honors and Respects God in Prayer

This stands as one of the few great prayers recorded in the Bible. Jesus’ prayer to His Father (John 17) is the wonder of them all.

“And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes” (Daniel 9:3).

Daniel now knows that the seventy years are within one or two years of completion. In this prayer he positions himself as Israel’s spokesman to complete their part of the promise. Daniel, in essence, becomes the guarantor of Israel’s restoration.

In great submission he:

1.   Presented supplications – earnest pleadings

2.   Fasted – deprived himself of food

3.   Dressed in sackcloth – coarse dark cloth, symbolizing sorrow and mourning (II Samuel 3:31, II Kings 19:1-2). It was also a sign of repentance (Matthew 11:21).

4.   Ashes – This likely was put on his head or he might have sat on a bed of ashes. Either possibility was a sign of total humiliation and sorrow (II Samuel 13:19, Esther 4:3, Jeremiah 6:26) – in this case, for Israel’s sins.

Symbolically, this introduces the experience of the 144,000 waiting for their restoration. This is a Feast-of-Trumpets experience that all must traverse before they are pronounced holy and totally free of sin.

“With faith founded on the sure word of prophecy, Daniel pleaded with the Lord for the speedy fulfillment of these promises. He pleaded for the honor of God to be preserved. In his petition he identified himself fully with those who had fallen short of the divine purpose, confessing their sins as his own.”[1]

Is there a reason that this prayer is recorded right in the middle of the mareh prophecy? This may be one of the most important issues for God’s people to consider. Remember – the mareh vision is all about the development of a perfect covenant people. While Daniel was praying, more of that vision was given. So far, only Daniel 8:14 and 8:26 are related to it. He was assured that spiritual deliverance would happen and that that group would be adjudicated and purified. God’s dream for a divine character-vindicating church would be realized.

Daniel is gripped with the time in which he was living and knows that restoration to that glorious land would come only if repentance, mourning and humiliation occurred. What we see him doing is a great metaphor for God’s people just before the end of this world. This chapter begins one of the most intensive outlines of how to become holy! Repeatedly, Gabriel said that these things were for “thy people.” That was clarified in 12:1. “Thy people” were all those “found written in the book” of life. Daniel 8–12 is for us.

There is another amazing lesson that Daniel, under inspiration, conveys to all those claiming to be His. God made it clear that when His people break His covenant, He will measure out penalties (Leviticus 26:14-33). Then He will at some point remember His covenant. If His people follow a restoration plan, the covenant promise will be reestablished. BUT – we will see there is a limit to His mercy. Daniel 9, in fact, places a specific time limit on God’s forbearance – then judgment follows. There is then no other chance.

Recognizing this, Daniel begins in this remarkable intercessory prayer for the restoration of his people with utter humiliation and submission. Daniel prays for us as well as for ancient Israel. BUT – there is one significant caveat for everyone. When Gabriel comes during this intercession, he will make it clear that probationary time will soon close.

Many Christians have applied that probation to Daniel’s people only – the Jews. Dispensationalists have made unwarranted gaps in the last week, opening up additional second chance timing at the end. There is, however, a solemn overlooked end-time application specifically for you and me. This prayer continues to reverberate in the echo chambers of the heavenly sanctuary right up until probation closes at the very end. How that applies to us means everything to our eternal security!

The adjudication process of 8:14 represents a legal action within a court setting – “The judgment was set, and the books were opened” (7:10b). God made provision that we might have representation. That only happens when restoration steps are taken by us to represent God’s character. The covenant is beautiful. Jesus will represent us if we demonstrate that we represent His Father. If we fail in using that opportunity, we are alone, without representation, and our case will be rejected. Daniel understands this well and begins those steps.

Covenant Restoration

God said He would “remember my covenant,” “remember the covenant of the ancestors” (Leviticus 26:42, 45) if these steps were followed:

1.  Return to the Lord (Deuteronomy 30:2; Daniel 9:13, 4)

2.  Humble the heart (Leviticus 26:41, Daniel 9:5)

3.  Accept/understand why punishment is given (Leviticus 26:41; Daniel 9:7,11-12)

4.  Harken to His voice (Deuteronomy 30:10)

5.  Confess thine iniquity (Leviticus 25:40; Daniel 9:4, 14-15)

6.  Confess iniquity of forefathers
(Leviticus 26:40, Daniel 9:4)

7.  Obey commandments, statutes and judgments (Deuteronomy 30:2, 16)

8.  Love the Lord (Deuteronomy 30:15, 20)

9.  Walk in His ways (Deuteronomy 30:16)

Listen to Daniel: “And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments” (Daniel 9:4).

Note how Daniel petitioned God:

        He returns, recognizes                                          He knew the result of

              and confesses                                            rebellion against the covenant

God, you keep the covenant (9:4)                        If you break my covenant (Lev. 26:15)

We have sinned and done wickedly,                   Despise my statutes (Lev. 26:14-15)  

rebelled by departing from thy precepts              Abhor my judgments (Lev. 26:14-15)

and judgments (9:5)                                              

We know you have mercy and love to                  Not do all my commandments (Lev. 26:14-15)

those who keep the commandments (9:4).

Not harkened unto prophets, princes and           Not harkened to me (Lev. 26:18)

our fathers (9:6, 10)

                                    O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee (9:7)

To us confusion of faces, we are far                    The Lord shall scatter thee among all people, 

and near in countries whither you                         from one end of the earth unto the other

drove us (9:7-8)                                                      (Deut. 28:64)

Because we have sinned against                       

thee (9:8)

To the Lord our God belong mercies and
forgiveness (though we have rebelled)

This is the dividing point in Daniel’s prayer. He has gratefully acknowledged the mercy and justice of God’s character. Confession is repeatedly moving forward. Now he notes that Israel belongs to God – “We still are part of you. We still are your people. You are merciful and forgiving – don’t forget us!”

This is remarkable. Daniel is including himself with Israel and their rebellion.

The prayer continues:

Haven’t obeyed your voice to walk in your           Walk contrary to me (Lev. 26:21)

voice to walk in your laws (9:10)