Daniel’s Prayer for His People
1 In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes,a a Mede by descent, who was made ruler over the kingdom of the Chaldeansb — 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the sacred books, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years.c 3 So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petition, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.
4 And I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed, “O, Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of loving devotiond to those who love Him and keep His commandments, 5 we have sinned and done wrong. We have acted wickedly and rebelled. We have turned away from Your commandments and ordinances. 6 We have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, leaders, fathers, and all the people of the land.
7 To You, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but this day we are covered with shame—the men of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, and all Israel near and far, in all the countries to which You have driven us because of our unfaithfulness to You. 8 O LORD, we are covered with shame—our kings, our leaders, and our fathers—because we have sinned against You.
9 To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, even though we have rebelled against Him 10 and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God to walk in His laws, which He set before us through His servants the prophets.
11 All Israel has transgressed Your law and turned away, refusing to obey Your voice; so the oath and the curse written in the Law of Moses the servant of God has been poured out on us, because we have sinned against You. 12 You have carried out the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing upon us a great disaster. For under all of heaven, nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem.
13 Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us, yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our iniquities and giving attention to Your truth. 14 Therefore the LORD has kept the calamity in store and brought it upon us. For the LORD our God is righteous in all He does; yet we have not obeyed His voice.
15 Now, O Lord our God, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and who made for Yourself a name renowned to this day, we have sinned; we have acted wickedly. 16 O Lord, in keeping with all Your righteous acts, I pray that Your anger and wrath may turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; for because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people are a reproach to all around us.
17 So now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of Your servant. For Your sake, O Lord, cause Your face to shine upon Your desolate sanctuary. 18 Incline Your ear, O my God, and hear; open Your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears Your name. For we are not presenting our petitions before You because of our righteous acts, but because of Your great compassion.
19 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.”
Gabriel’s Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks
20 While I was speaking, praying, confessing my sin and that of my people Israel, and presenting my petition before the LORD my God concerning His holy mountain— 21 while I was still praying, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. 22 He instructed me and spoke with me, saying: “O Daniel, I have come now to give you insight and understanding. 23 At the beginning of your petitions, an answer went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are highly precious. So consider the message and understand the vision:
24 Seventy weekse are decreed for your people and your holy city to stop their transgression, to put an end to sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place.f
25 Know and understand this: From the issuance of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Messiah,g the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of distress.
26 Then after the sixty-two weeksh the Messiah will be cut off and will have nothing.
Then the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood, and until the end there will be war; desolations have been decreed. 27 And he will confirm a covenant with many for one week,i but in the middle of the week he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of the temple will come the abomination that causes desolation,j until the decreed destruction is poured out upon him.k ”
Verses 1–2 – Daniel Discovers Jeremiah’s Prophecy
In the first year of Darius the Mede, Daniel reads Jeremiah and realizes that the seventy-year exile is nearing its end.
Verses 3–10 – Confession and Praise
Daniel turns to God with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes, confessing national sin and praising God’s faithfulness.
Verses 11–14 – Acknowledging Just Judgment
He admits that Judah’s calamities fulfill the warnings given through Moses: “all this disaster has come upon us” (v. 13).
Verses 15–19 – Appeal for Mercy and Restoration
Daniel pleads for God’s mercy “for Your own sake” (v. 19), asking that Jerusalem and the temple be restored.
Verses 20–23 – Gabriel’s Swift Arrival
While Daniel is praying, Gabriel arrives “in swift flight” (v. 21) to give “insight and understanding” (v. 22).
Verses 24–27 – The Seventy Weeks Vision
Gabriel outlines seventy “weeks” (sevens) decreed for Israel: 69 “weeks” lead to Messiah’s appearance and death; a final “week” features a covenant, its breach, and desolation—yet God will end the devastation.
Historical Setting
• Date: c. 538 BC, first year of Darius the Mede (likely Gubaru/Gaubaruva).
• Empire: The Medo-Persian regime has replaced Babylon (Daniel 5:31).
• Jerusalem: Still in ruins since 586 BC, but Cyrus’s decree of return (Ezra 1) is imminent.
Daniel and Jeremiah
• Jeremiah 25:11-12; 29:10 promised a seventy-year exile.
• Daniel’s seventy years began with the first deportation (605 BC) and are now almost complete.
• Daniel models Scripture-based prayer: he studies, believes, and responds.
Pattern of Confession and Intercession
1. Genuine humility (v. 3).
2. Acknowledgment of God’s character—“the great and awesome God” (v. 4).
3. Corporate confession—“we have sinned” (vv. 5-6).
4. Agreement with God’s judgment (vv. 11-14).
5. Bold request for mercy (vv. 17-19).
Compare Nehemiah 1:4-11 and Ezra 9 for similar prayers.
Gabriel’s Appearance
• Gabriel first appeared in Daniel 8:16.
• “Swift flight” (v. 21) emphasizes God’s eagerness to answer.
• The angel comes “at the time of the evening sacrifice”—even though the temple lay desolate, Daniel still measures time by God’s schedule.
The Seventy Weeks (Seventy “Sevens”)
Verse 24: “Seventy weeks are decreed for your people and your holy city…”
Literal view: a “week” = seven years; total = 490 years.
Purpose of the 490 years:
• Finish transgression
• End sin
• Atone for iniquity
• Bring everlasting righteousness
• Seal up vision and prophecy
• Anoint the Most Holy Place
Timeline
1. The starting decree: “to restore and rebuild Jerusalem” (v. 25). Most align this with Artaxerxes’ decree to Nehemiah (444/445 BC; Nehemiah 2).
2. Seven weeks (49 yrs): City and walls rebuilt “in times of distress.”
3. Sixty-two weeks (434 yrs): Extends to “Messiah the Prince.”
• Using prophetic years of 360 days, 69 “weeks” (483 yrs) from 444 BC land in AD 33—Jesus’ triumphal entry (Luke 19:38-42).
4. “Messiah will be cut off and will have nothing” (v. 26)—the crucifixion (Isaiah 53:8).
5. Gap: “The people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary”—fulfilled in AD 70 by Rome (Matthew 24:2).
6. The 70th week:
• “Firm covenant with many for one week” (v. 27) made by a future ruler (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4; Revelation 13).
• Midpoint breach—“he will put an end to sacrifice and offering,” leading to abomination (Matthew 24:15).
• Culminates with judgment—“until the decreed destruction is poured out on the desolator.”
Messiah the Prince
• Title underscores both kingship and promised deliverer (Psalm 2:2; John 1:41).
• “Cut off” yet victorious: death, resurrection, and future return (Acts 2:23-24; Revelation 19:11-16).
The Coming Ruler
• “Prince who is to come” arises from the people who destroyed Jerusalem—historically Roman; prophetically a revived form (Daniel 7:7-8, 23-25).
• The covenant’s breach triggers the final half-week (3½ years), echoed in Daniel 7:25 and Revelation 11:2-3; 13:5.
Connections to Other Scriptures
• Jeremiah 29:12-14—Promise to answer prayer.
• Leviticus 26—Blessings and curses underlying Daniel’s confession.
• Isaiah 53—Suffering Messiah “cut off.”
• Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21—Jesus references Daniel’s abomination.
• Revelation 6-19—Final week’s global upheaval.
Archaeological Notes
• Cyrus Cylinder (British Museum) confirms Persian policy of repatriating exiles.
• The Elephantine Papyri (5th century BC) attest to Jewish communities still longing for a restored temple.
• Nehemiah’s wall-building accounts match Persian records of local opposition.
Literary Structure and Themes
A. Prayer (human voice)
B. Prophecy (divine answer)
Parallel movements stress relationship: seeking God invites deeper revelation.
Major themes:
• God’s sovereignty over kings and calendars.
• The reliability of prophetic Scripture.
• Repentance precedes restoration.
• Messiah’s central role in history.
Practical Takeaways
• Scripture study fuels prayer; prayer opens doors to deeper insight.
• Personal identification with collective sin is vital for genuine intercession.
• God keeps both short-term and long-term promises on precise timetables.
• History moves toward a climax determined by God, centered on Jesus.
1. The Power of Prayer and Confession
Daniel 9 begins with Daniel turning to God in prayer and supplication. He confesses the sins of his people, acknowledging their disobedience. This teaches us the importance of approaching God with humility and honesty. As Daniel prays, he says, "We have sinned and done wrong. We have acted wickedly and rebelled; we have turned away from Your commandments and ordinances" (Daniel 9:5). This reminds us that confession is a powerful step toward reconciliation with God.
2. Understanding God's Timing
Daniel understood the significance of the seventy years of desolation prophesied by Jeremiah. This shows us the importance of being aware of God's timing in our lives. Daniel's awareness led him to seek God earnestly. "In the first year of Darius...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" (Daniel 9:2). Recognizing God's timing can guide our actions and prayers.
3. God's Faithfulness to His Promises
Despite Israel's unfaithfulness, God remains faithful to His promises. Daniel acknowledges this by saying, "The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against Him" (Daniel 9:9). This reassures us that God's promises are steadfast, and His mercy is always available to those who seek Him.
4. The Importance of Intercessory Prayer
Daniel's prayer is not just for himself but for his entire nation. This highlights the power of intercessory prayer. By praying for others, we can stand in the gap and seek God's intervention on their behalf. "Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of Your servant" (Daniel 9:17). Our prayers can have a profound impact on the lives of others.
5. God's Righteousness and Justice
Daniel acknowledges God's righteousness, even in the face of Israel's suffering. "The Lord our God is righteous in everything He does; yet we have not obeyed Him" (Daniel 9:14). This reminds us that God's justice is perfect, and His ways are always right, even when we don't fully understand them.
6. The Role of Prophecy in God's Plan
Daniel 9 contains the prophecy of the seventy weeks, which outlines God's plan for Israel and the coming of the Messiah. This teaches us that prophecy is an integral part of God's revelation, providing insight into His divine plan. "Seventy 'sevens' are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness" (Daniel 9:24). Prophecy assures us of God's control over history.
7. The Assurance of Redemption
The prophecy in Daniel 9 points to the coming of the Anointed One, who will bring redemption. This foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins. "After the sixty-two 'sevens,' the Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing" (Daniel 9:26). This assures us of the redemption available through Christ's sacrifice.
8. The Call to Persevere in Faith
Despite the challenges and the long wait for deliverance, Daniel remains steadfast in his faith. This encourages us to persevere in our faith, trusting in God's promises. "So you are to know and understand that from the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes" (Daniel 9:25). Our faithfulness is crucial as we await God's fulfillment of His promises.
9. The Significance of God's Covenant
Daniel's prayer reflects the importance of God's covenant with His people. He appeals to God's covenantal love and mercy. "Lord, in keeping with all Your righteous acts, turn away Your anger and Your wrath from Jerusalem, Your city, Your holy hill" (Daniel 9:16). This reminds us of the enduring nature of God's covenant with us through Christ.
10. The Hope of Restoration
Daniel's prayer and the prophecy of the seventy weeks ultimately point to the hope of restoration. God promises to restore His people and His city. "He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven,' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering" (Daniel 9:27). This gives us hope that God will restore and renew all things in His perfect time.
These lessons from Daniel 9 encourage us to deepen our relationship with God through prayer, trust in His promises, and remain hopeful for the future He has planned.
For Understanding and Wisdom
Ask God for insight and understanding as we study His Word, just as He granted Daniel.
For God's Will to Be Done
Pray for God's sovereign will to be accomplished in our lives and in the world, trusting in His perfect plan.
For Strength in Intercession
Seek God's strength and perseverance in intercessory prayer, standing in the gap for others as Daniel did for his people.
As we reflect on Daniel 9, may we be inspired to deepen our prayer lives, seek God's wisdom, and trust in His sovereign plan for our lives and the world.
1. How does Daniel's understanding of the prophecies of Jeremiah inspire your approach to studying and interpreting the Bible?
2. Discuss the significance of Daniel's confession for personal and national sins. How can this be applied in your life?
3. How does Daniel's prayer reflect his understanding of God's character?
4. What is the importance of the angel Gabriel's visitation to Daniel's prayer?
5. Discuss the implications of the prophecy of Seventy 'sevens'. How does it relate to God's redemptive plan?
6. How does God's response to Daniel's prayer challenge your perception of divine communication?
7. How can you apply Daniel's approach to prayer and repentance in your personal life?
8. How does God's righteousness manifest in His judgment against Israel?
9. Daniel was in a position of influence in Babylon. How can we use our positions in society to intercede for others, as Daniel did?
10. Why do you think Daniel considered it important to confess the sins of his people in addition to his personal sins?
11. What can you learn about the nature of prophecy and its fulfillment from the prophecy of Seventy 'sevens'?
12. How does this chapter inspire you to trust in God's plan, even in the midst of difficult circumstances?
13. What parallels can be drawn between the exile of the Israelites and spiritual exile today?
14. How do you see the theme of God's mercy and faithfulness played out in this chapter?
15. What does Daniel's immediate prayer response to understanding prophecy tell you about his faith?
16. How does the prophecy of the Anointed One point to the coming of Jesus Christ?
17. How would you handle a situation where you find yourself in a place of influence but also in a place of captivity, as Daniel did in Babylon?
18. Can you identify a time in your life when you felt a deep call to intercession like Daniel? What was the outcome?
19. What can you learn from Daniel 9 about the importance of understanding the times and seasons we live in according to the Bible?
20. Daniel prayed with a deep understanding of God's character and promises. How can this shape your personal prayer life?