SERMON SERIES:  LEARNING FROM DANIEL #3

SERMON TITLE:  DANIEL’S PRAYER FOR RESTORATION

TEXT:

Daniel 9:1-11; 17-23

^“In the first year of Darius son of Ahasuerus  (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian kingdom-  in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the LORD given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years.  So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed:  "O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws.  We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.  "Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame—the men of Judah and people of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you.  O LORD, we and our kings, our princes and our fathers are covered with shame because we have sinned against you.  The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; we have not obeyed the LORD our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets.  All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you.
 ¹⁷ "Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, O Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary.  Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.  O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name." While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and making my request to the LORD my God for his holy hill- while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. He instructed me and said to me, "Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding.   As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed.

THE PROMISE OF RESTORATION:

“This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place.” Jeremiah 29:10

Understanding Jerusalem’s Desolation

^“Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us…”  Daniel 9:13 

Understanding of the Character of God

"O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands.”  Daniel 9:4

REPENTANCE PRECEDES RESTORATION:

Confessing Sin Before God

“We  have sinned and done wrong.” Daniel 9:5 

Confession of Specific Sins

“We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws.” Daniel 9:5 

THE PRAYER FOR RESTORATION:

Appealing to God’s Mercy

“We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.”  Daniel 9:18

Asking For God’s Face to Shine Upon His Sanctuary

“And for the Lord’s sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate.”  Daniel 9:17 NKJV

For The Glory of God

“For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.” Daniel 9:19