Conclusion of DANIEL HUMBLY PETITIONS JEHOVAH

God had warned the Israelites of the consequences of disobeying him and disregarding the covenant he had made with them. (Leviticus 26:31-33; Deuteronomy 28:15; 31:17) Daniel acknowledges the rightness of God's actions, saying: "He proceeded to carry out his words  that he had spoken against us and against our judges who judged us, by bringing upon us great calamity, such as was not done under the whole heavens as what has been done in Jerusalem.  Just as it is written in the law of Moses, all this calamity-it has come upon us, and we have not softened the face of Jehovah our God by turning back from our error and by showing insight into your trueness. And Jehovah kept alert to the calamity and finally brought it upon us, for Jehovah our God is righteous in all his works that he has done; and we have not obeyed his voice." -Daniel 9:12-14.

Daniel does not seek to justify the actions of his people> Their exile was justly deserved, as he readily confesses:  "We have sinned, we have acted wickedly." (Daniel 9:15) Neither is his concern simply for relief from suffering. No, he bases his appeal on Jehovah's own glory and honor.  By pardoning the Jews and restoring them to their homeland, God would fulfill his promise through Jeremiah and would sanctify His holy name. Daniel pleads: "O Jehovah, according to all your acts of righteousness, please, may your anger and your rage turn back from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain; for,, because of our sins and because of the errors of our forefathers, Jerusalem and your people are an object of reproach to all those round about us." -Daniel 9:16. 

In fervent prayer, Daniel continues: "Now listen, O our God, to the prayer of your servant and to his entreaties, and cause your face to shine upon your sanctuary that is desolated, for the sake of Jehovah.  Incline your ear, O my god, and hear.  Do you open your eyes and see our desolated conditions and the city that has been called by your name; for not according to our righteous acts are we letting our entreaties  fall before you, but according to your many mercies.  O Jehovah, do hear.  O Jehovah, do forgive.  O Jehovah, do pay attention and act.  Do not delay, for your own sake, O my God, for your own name has been called upon your city and upon your people." (Daniel 9:17-19) If God were unforgiving and left his people in exile, allowing his holy city, Jerusalem, to lay desolate indefinitely, would nations regard him as the Universal Sovereign?  Might they not conclude that Jehovah was powerless against the might of the Babylonian gods?  Yes, Jehovah's name would be reproached, and this distresses Daniel.  Of the 19 times  that the divine name, Jehovah, is found in the book of Daniel, 18 occur in connection with this prayer!

Next time: GABRIEL COMES SPEEDILY

From the book:  PAY ATTENTION TO DANIEL'S PROPHECY! 1999