Text: Daniel 9:4-19, Title: Intense Prayer 201, Date/Place: NRBC, 4/25/10, AM
A. Opening illustration: Praying Hyde story, p. 205-206 The Pleasures of God, Piper
B. Background to passage: In response to his vision of suffering in chapter eight, in addition to the reading of Jeremiah, Daniel is about to go before the Lord in prayer. He has done the examination work of looking at the orientation of His soul, and the disciple of his body through fasting and repentance. Now, Daniel records his prayer for posterity’s sake, so that you and I could benefit from it as an example, not only in what we pray for, but how we pray it.
C. Main thought: This morning we will examine the prayer of Daniel
A. Based not on human righteousness (v. 4, 7, 9, 15, 18)
1. As we mentioned last week, Daniel (even though no sin is recorded committed by him) did not approach God based upon his righteousness. Note how he begins his prayer. He approaches God based on God’s character. Look at other verses. Great and awesome, faithful, covenant keeping, righteous, merciful, and a God who has made a great name for Himself. And he is explicit in v. 18. Daniel pleads to the God who is a faithful covenant keeping God with those who love him and follow his commands. And this prayer was really on behalf of the faithful ones.
2. Isa 64:6, Philip 3:9, Rev 3:17-18, Micah 7:18, Lev 10:3, Rom 4:6,
3. Illustration: “If we do not have this foundational vision of God in place when we ask how we can please Him, it is almost certain that our efforts to please him will become a subtle means of self-exaltation, and end in the oppressive bondage of legalistic strivings” –Piper, "Our peace and confidence are to be found not in our empirical holiness, not in our progress toward perfection, but in the alien righteousness of Jesus Christ that covers our sinfulness and alone makes us acceptable before a holy God." - Donald Bloesch, "For what reason do you hope it?" "Because I have used my best endeavors to serve God," was his reply. The Moravian shook his head and said no more.
4. Proper prayer is always founded upon the character of God—who He is, who and why He acts, and what He has promised. Our goodness, giving, baptism, church attendance, prayer life, biblical knowledge, moral uprightness is so flawed that we dare not attempt to come to God on it alone. As it is will prayer, so it is with salvation—we come broken and sinful offering God nothing, and by faith asking from Him. On our own we are but spiritual bankrupt. We pray in Jesus’ name, which means that we are calling as a witness Jesus’ character as the greatest moral judge in the world. The Name of Jesus is highest name or thing upon which to pray. And His death and resurrection are the only basis for our being able to come before God at all. The best way to pray is for things that you know are God’s plan because He has already promised them. And I would also argue that everything that we do of any eternal value is based upon this alien righteousness that is given rather than earned. We come in by faith and walk in faith in the shed blood and the righteousness earned by Christ and imputed to us by that faith. And all this is based on the fact that God is an awesome, great, covenant keeping God, especially to those who love Him and keep His commands. For what reason do you expect God to hear you from heaven? The more that your prayer is based upon Him, not you, the more pleasing it is to Him.
B. Prioritized confession and repentance (v. 5-11)
1. After the declaration of the basis for his prayer, Daniel began to confess sin. Several things to note. The first word he uses is “we.” And over and over through this prayer Daniel speaks in corporate language. He lumps himself in with all of Israel and he speaks of their sin. Daniel also speaks of their sin in a comprehensive way. They didn’t just sin a little…just about every word for “sin” is used; just about every word for “God’s Word” is used as well. Daniel understood the depth of sin. And their sin was willful and rebellious, hearing all the words of the prophets, and doing otherwise. Daniel also agreed with God about their current situation being a result of their sin (v. 11-13); even saying that God said it would be that way. The scripture Daniel has been reading has been cemented in his mind. And Daniel also notes in v. 13 that they have not prayed and turned (repented) like Jeremiah said they would. The implication is that this prayer is the beginning of that repentance.
2. Acts 11:18, 2 Cor 7:10-11,
3. Illustration: prayer of Joe Wright in KS 1996 in the state legislature, “confession means seeing and agreeing with God how our sins have harmed us and others. It is pouring out our shame and deep sorrow to the Lord over our misdeeds. It is repenting of our evil ways, turning around and doing what’s right and good, and it’s seeking reconciliation with others and our God,” “True repentance hates the sin, and not merely the penalty; and it hates the sin most of all because it has discovered and felt God’s love”
4. There is a sense in which we can pray corporately: the sins of our nation, the sins of our family members, and the sins of our church as a whole. It is OK to include yourself in repentance along with everyone else even if you think that you are innocent. You have the right to be wrong if you like. There is a collective guilt by which God holds us accountable for the sins of many. And just maybe God will hear your prayer and forgive others transgressions. And your prayer will definitely affect deliverance. You must know that your sin is far worse than you think. And we are to be honest, open, and specific about how we have offended God. The more aware of your sin and the offense of that sin, the more you will be impressed with the grace of God toward you. We are in need of prayer warriors that will inspire the faithful toward repentance. Repentance is the godly sorrow over sin, the willingness to turn from it, and the request for forgiveness from it. It is the gateway to Christ, as well as the proper maintenance to that relationship, especially when there is egregious sin. But the proof of true repentance is the behavior and desires that follow it.
C. Desperate plea for mercy (v. 16-19)
1. Out of 17 verses total, Daniel spends only the last four on petition; and very little of it is asking for specific actions to be done for Daniel and Israel. The nutshell version is that Daniel prayed for mercy upon Israel after the way they had acted in their covenant with God. The only thing that Daniel specifically asked for was that God would cause His face to shine yon His sanctuary (which by the way, God did, not only in the return from exile, but Herod’s temple too). Everything else is very general—anger be turned away, hear our prayer, incline your ear, open your eyes, forgive, listen, act, etc. But these kinds of prayers honor the Lord’s authority in these matters, unlike modern preachers that act as though they can vouch for God in specific circumstances. Daniel knows that God will act on behalf of His chosen ones. Daniel is still praying based on the character of God, and still confessing sin, but he undergirds this prayer by asking it “for the Lord’s sake.” Implicitly, “Your sanctuary…Your own sake...for Your city…Your people…Your name;” explicitly he says in v. 17 and 19 it is for Your sake. Again, based on the character of God’s name, or His core being; but also on His glory, which is the reason that He does all things.
2. Isa 43:7, 21, 48:11, Rom 9:17, Ps 72:19, Ezek 36:20-23
3. Illustration: Piper quote on p. 107 in The Pleasures of God about basing prayer upon the glory of God,
4. What proportion of your prayer time do you spend asking for things? How much time do you spend praying for mercy? Realize how much mercy we need, and how much we are given. We must realize the covenant implications of our relationship with Christ, you agreed to it just as you agreed to covenant with the church—Christ saves, you surrender all; Christ is the Treasure, you sell out for it; Christ bore the cross for you, now you bear the cross for Him. I do think that it is right and proper to ask the Lord confidently to hear us and act on our behalf. Also we must remember that in prayer we bow to His will, not ours. Name it, claim it has it all wrong. Begin to base your prayers explicitly on the glory of God. Speak to Him about His kingdom coming, about His righteous plans, about His fame and glory. Know that all that you ask Him to do is for the basis of advancing the fame of His name among Tifton and the globe. And when you pray for the advancement of God’s fame, rest assured He will answer, for He has promised that He would fill the earth as the waters do the sea with His glory.
A. Closing illustration:
B. Recap
C. Invitation to commitment
Additional Notes
• Although Charles Wesley had been engaged in preaching the gospel with much diligence and earnestness, he did not know what it was to enjoy peace with God until he was in his thirtieth year. Being laid low by an alarming illness, and seeming as if he were going to die, a young Moravian named Peter Bohler, who was undergoing a course of preparation by him to go out as a missionary, asked him, "Do you hope to be saved?" Charles answered, "Yes."
"For what reason do you hope it?" "Because I have used my best endeavors to serve God," was his reply. The Moravian shook his head and said no more.
That sad, silent, significant shake of the head shattered all Charles Wesley's false foundation of salvation by endeavors. He was afterwards taught by Peter Bohler the way of the Lord more perfectly, and brought to see that by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ men are justified. And now in his sick-room, he was able to write for the first time in his life, "I now find myself at peace with God"; and it was on this occasion he composed that beautiful hymn, "O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer's praise!"
Our hope likewise need only rest in the finished work of our remarkable Redeemer. Our righteousness is not about our righteousness. Our righteousness is the gift of the imputation, the transfer, of the righteousness of Christ credited, as it were, to our account.
