Yahweh
Lesson 46, Biblical Commentary
Refusing to Compromise
(Daniel, Part 3 of 3)
Biblical Passage: Daniel 9:1–23
Supporting Passages: Daniel 1:1–6; Jeremiah
25:11–12; James 5:16
Memory Verse: Daniel 9:19
Biblical Truth: Daniel’s prayer of faith
demonstrated a God-focused attitude of humility.
Context: The Israelites were living in Babylonian
captivity. Daniel, now over 80 years old, had
spent most of his life in Babylon, and God had
used him mightily. As Daniel found and
understood Jeremiah’s prophecy, his prayer to
God illuminates the truth of God’s continual
remembrance of His covenant with the Israelites.
INVESTIGATION
When Daniel offered this beautiful prayer, he was
over 80 years old. He was renowned for his
righteousness and wisdom (Ezek. 14:14, 20;
28:3). Yet Daniel had a humble spirit. He realized
that he needed God and spent much time in
prayer and fasting. He was willing to humble
himself before God publicly by wearing sackcloth
and sitting in ashes.
Daniel 9 is called a “vision” (v. 23), but Daniel did
not see animals rising out of a sea or rams and
goats as in the visions recorded in chapters 7 and
8. Gabriel appeared in bodily form rather than in
vision. The Hebrew word for “vision” may refer to
a prophetic revelation (Prov. 29:18; Obad. 1; Nah.
1:1; Hab. 2:2), which is the meaning here. This
chapter records Daniel’s prayer on behalf of the
covenant people, Israel. For this reason, the
covenant name LORD (Jehovah or Yahweh)
appears eight times in this chapter (vv. 2, 4, 8, 10,
13, twice in 14, and 20), although it is found
nowhere else in the book. God answers Daniel's
prayer in the form of the “seventy sevens”
(traditionally “weeks”) vision (9:24–27).
Copyright © Clarity Publishers, 2007. All rights reserved
Permission is granted for reproduction only for the study of
Life Bible Study curriculum by a licensed church during
the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted.
IMPORTANCE
This passage teaches that God Is. This is one of
the Bible’s great prayers and a model for
believers today. Daniel had been taken captive to
Babylon almost 70 years earlier (Dan. 1:1–6) but
knew that God would keep His promise to restore
Israel (Jer. 25:11–12). Yet the old prophet did not
come before God making demands. He displayed
humility by wearing sackcloth, sitting in ashes,
and fasting. Neither did Daniel feel that he had
“arrived” spiritually. Though one of the Bible’s
greatest saints, he was still a sinner who needed
to confess his sins to God before pleading for his
nation. God awarded his prayer with an amazing
visit from one of God’s greatest angels, Gabriel.
In what some call the “seventy sevens” prophecy,
God assured Daniel that his people had a bright
future. Daniel’s prayer focused on the greatness,
holiness, justice, and mercy of God—an example
for modern believers. The prophet’s intercessory
prayer for Israel reminds believers that prayer is
important and can affect the destiny of a nation
(James 5:16).
This passage of Scripture is important for adults
because it challenges them to approach God in
prayer with humility and repentance. Because
God is a righteous God, that is the appropriate
response to Him.
INTERPRETATION
Daniel 9:1–2 Daniel lived in ancient Babylon
(modern Iraq) and received this revelation in the
first year of King Darius the Mede (538 B.C.). At
this time, the prophet was over 80 years old.
Xerxes (“Ahasuerus,” in the KJV, NRSV, and
NASB) was the father of Darius the Mede—either
an alternate title for Cyrus the Persian or the
name of some unknown ruler. As Daniel studied
the Scriptures, he noticed Jeremiah's prediction
that Judah would return from the Babylonian exile
after 70 years (Jer. 25:11–12; 29:10). The
captivity period began with the first deportation
(Dan.1:1–6), so Daniel realized that Jeremiah's
amazing prophecy would soon be fulfilled: His
people were going home!
Verse 2 includes three important truths. First,
Jeremiah's writings were: “the word of the LORD.”
Second, the writings were already accepted as
Scripture. These “Scriptures” (literally “writings”)
were the sacred Hebrew writings available in
Yahweh: Lesson 46, Biblical Commentary, Page 1
Daniel’s day. And finally, Daniel believed in
predictive prophecy.
Daniel 9:3 Daniel prayed fervently to the Lord. He
“pleaded with him.” “Fasting” demonstrated to
God the prophet's deep concern for his people.
Wearing “sackcloth” (coarse, rough cloth) and
sitting in “ashes” were expressions of humility
often associated with fasting (Esth. 4:1–3).
Daniel 9:4 Daniel's prayer contains many
allusions to earlier Old Testament passages,
particularly Deuteronomy, Solomon's prayer in
1 Kings 8, and Jeremiah. Elements of this model
prayer include the following: praise of the Lord (v.
4), confession of personal and national sin (vv.
5–14), and petition (vv. 15–19). Petition falls last
because requests made to a holy God are
appropriate after having praised the Lord and
confessed sin.
Daniel’s personal relationship with the Lord (“my
God”) was the basis for his requests. Daniel
praised God as great, awesome, faithful, and
loving, the God who keeps His “covenant of love.”
Love for God and obedience to His commands
are marks of true believers.
Daniel 9:5–6 Daniel pointed out six different
aspects of Israel's sin in verses 5–6. Israel had
“sinned,” “done wrong,” “been wicked,” “rebelled,”
“turned away” from the Lord's commands and
laws, and “not listened” to His prophets. What an
indictment! These words for sin have different
nuances of meaning in the original Hebrew and
are cumulative in effect. Israel was very sinful.
Daniel 9:7–11 Verse 7 contrasts the Lord's
righteousness with Israel's unfaithfulness. Israel's
sin brought about the “shame” of defeat by an
enemy and captivity in foreign lands (vv. 7–8). In
spite of the nation's unfaithfulness, God was
“merciful” and would forgive (v. 9). Because Israel
had forsaken God's Law, “the curses and sworn
judgments written in the Law of Moses, the
servant of God” had “been poured out on” the
nation (v. 11). Deuteronomy 28:15–68 specifies
these “curses”—poor crops, infertility, disease,
lack of rain, defeat in battle, and expulsion from
the land of Canaan.
Daniel 9:12–14 God’s warning of these curses
was fulfilled (v. 12). God does not lie (Titus 1:2).
Copyright © Clarity Publishers, 2007. All rights reserved
Permission is granted for reproduction only for the study of
Life Bible Study curriculum by a licensed church during
the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted.
Daniel described Israel's judgment as unique, yet
other nations had experienced defeat and
deportation. The difference was that the other
nations worshiped mere idols (Ps. 135:15–17;
Isa. 44:9–20). Israel's God was real, however,
and the Jews were God's people.
How could the people of the God of the universe
suffer such a calamity? It was unimaginable. The
expression “as it is written” (v. 13) is rare in the
Old Testament but became common in the New
Testament and in rabbinic literature. The exact
phrase in the Hebrew text referring to that written
in God’s Word appears only here in the Old
Testament. Judah's destruction and exile
(“disaster”) came because God is “righteous” and
judges sin (v. 14). Still, the nation as a whole had
not repented (vv. 13–14).
Daniel 9:15–19 Finally, Daniel offered up his
petition. He knew God had the power to answer
his prayer, for God had delivered Israel from an
impossible situation at the time of the Egyptian
exodus (v. 15). The prophet now pleaded with
God to restore both Jerusalem (“your city”—v. 16)
and the Temple (v. 17). “Look with favor” literally
reads “make your face shine,” an expression
found in the benediction of Numbers 6:25 (see
also Ps. 80:19). Daniel felt concerned for His
people but primarily for God's glory. He prayed
that the Lord would restore the Temple for His
own “sake” (vv. 17, 19). The nations would think
of Israel's God as powerless if He were unable to
protect His “desolate sanctuary.”
Daniel concluded his prayer with an impassioned
plea for God to intervene on Israel’s behalf.
Consider the words he used: “give ear,” “hear,”
“open your eyes,” “see,” “listen,” “forgive,” “hear,”
“act,” and “do not delay” (vv. 18–19). The
language of verse 19 is emphatic in the Hebrew
original—composed of short, staccato-like
sentences and emphatic imperatives—and
reflects Daniel’s emotion as he poured out his
heart to God.
Daniel 9:20–21 Daniel confessed his own sin as
well as that of his people (v. 20). Before he could
enter into God’s presence with his petition, Daniel
had to be made clean. As Daniel prayed, the
angel Gabriel suddenly appeared with the answer
to his prayer (v. 21). Gabriel (Dan. 8:15–16) is
called a “man” because he appeared in human
Yahweh: Lesson 46, Biblical Commentary, Page 2
form. Apparently, Gabriel is the principal angel for Before Daniel offered his petitions, he praised
divine communication. Later, he appeared with God as great, faithful, loving, and holy. We should
good news to Zechariah, the father of John the have a God-centered prayer life. God has given
Baptist (Luke 1:19), and to Mary (Luke 1:26–28). believers the responsibility to intercede for others
(1 Sam. 12:23), including the nations (1 Tim.
Most translations have something similar to the 2:1–2). Consider how much time you spend
NIV description of how Gabriel came: “in swift praying for other people and other countries. Be
flight.” Scripture sometimes depicts angels mindful of opportunities to help your class
(cherubs and seraphs) with wings and flying (Ex. develop a prayerful heart for individuals and the
25:20; Isa. 6:2; Ezek. 1:6, 11, 19, 24), though not nations as a whole.
always (Gen. 18:2, 22; 19:1–2). “In swift flight”
could also be translated “in my extreme
weariness” (NASB). If the idea of “weariness” is
correct, it must apply to Daniel, for angels do not
grow weary. The time of the “evening sacrifice”
fell between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. A literal sacrifice
was not offered in Babylon, but this was a time of
day commonly set aside for prayer (Ezra 9:5; Ps.
141:2).

Daniel 9:22–23 Gabriel’s mission consisted of

giving Daniel “insight and understanding” about
his request (v. 22). “As soon as” Daniel had
begun to pray, the Lord sent Gabriel with an
“answer” because Daniel was “highly esteemed”
(v. 23). Daniel’s fervent prayer, humble spirit, and
commitment touched God’s heart. God sent
Gabriel, one of His prominent angels, with an
answer to Daniel’s prayer. God will always reward
those who seek Him with an answer as well as
the joy of having fellowship with Him.

IMPLICATIONS
This story demonstrates the importance of
personal confession as well as confession on
behalf of our nation. God chooses to move when
His people, or at least a remnant, are right with
Him. We discover God’s promises in His Word.
However, before seeking God to move on His
promises, we need to make sure we have taken
care of personal sin through confessing and
turning from out sins. Daniel was one of the
Bible's greatest saints, yet he still had not
reached the point where he could say, “I am clean
and without sin” (Prov. 20:9). Even after believers
experience salvation, they need to confess daily
sins. Do you confess your sins immediately to
keep your fellowship with God unhindered? How
can you help your class understand the
importance of praying for forgiveness?

Copyright © Clarity Publishers, 2007. All rights reserved Yahweh: Lesson 46, Biblical Commentary, Page 3
Permission is granted for reproduction only for the study of
Life Bible Study curriculum by a licensed church during
the licensed year. No online or other duplication is permitted.