Series: Daniel
Chapter 9:1-23 ESV
Daniel's Prayer made for his people is a perfect example for intercessory prayer.
You might already know, or you could be wondering what is intercessory prayer?
Intercessory prayer simple put is interceding for others in prayer.
At the time I learned about the practical application of intercessory prayer I realized even though I didn’t know what it was called, I’d done intercessory prayer for years.
I had prayed for other people for years when someone needed prayer. For over thirty years as a Pastor’s wife, I often had people come to me to ask,me to pray for them. When I prayed for them I was specifically going to God to ask (intercede) on their behalf.
We can either intercede for one person, for a group of people, for a country, for our world, or even for the universe.
I have been part of a very large church multi-faceted prayer team that regularly interceded for others.
In Daniel 9:1-19 we are told, “In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans— in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years. Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. 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. To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you. To us, O Lord, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. And the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against him. He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us, by bringing upon us a great calamity. For under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what has been done against Jerusalem. As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us; yet we have not entreated the favor of the Lord our God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by your truth. Therefore the Lord has kept ready the calamity and has brought it upon us, for the Lord our God is righteous in all the works that he has done, and we have not obeyed his voice. And now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly. O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us. Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”
As we read this passage of scripture we can see how ardently Daniel prayed and interceded for the people of God and especially for Jerusalem. The Prophet Daniel is pleading with all his heart!
The prayer team at church I previously mentioned also had members who regularly prayed and fasted for individuals, groups, and ministries.
I learned that fasting took me down the road to seek confession as I sat with God. When I sat with God and sensed the holiness of God, I longed to spend more time fasting and sitting in God’s holy presence.
I’ve been a readaholic since I read my first book when I was four years old. My brother was two years older and two grades ahead of me in school and when I would find his books from first grade I would borrow them (one at a time) and ask my dad to teach me the words.
Most of the books were Dick and Jane books, and I loved Dick and Jane. I didn’t care what I read about, I just knew I desperately wanted to know what it said.
Naturally, when I was introduced to the Spiritual Practice of fasting as an adult I went straight to the library and the bookstore to read everything I could find about a Fasting and Praying.
I discovered that when I fasted I obtained the “Super Power” of hearing God speak clearly.
I was forever hooked!
In Daniel 9:20-23, the Angel Gabriel provided the answer to Daniel: “While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my plea before the Lord my God for the holy hill of my God, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice. He made me understand, speaking with me and saying, “O Daniel, I have now come out to give you insight and understanding. At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved. Therefore consider the word and understand the vision.”
Notice that when Daniel ardently pleaded, his cries were heard. Daniel asked for mercy and when Gabriel appeared he wanted Daniel to know he was loved and his pleas for mercy had been heard! Clearly, Gabriel wanted to give Daniel the answers he sought.
I’m still on the road to learning about intercession and prayer. God is still good to teach and guide me. I’m more convinced than ever that even when I don’t see immediate results, God continues to act on my behalf (and on behalf of others who are involved).
Ultimately I’m ever so grateful for God’s loving care and listening ear!
Know. Know this. Unless a prayer is answered once is is spoken it never goes away. It does not cease.
Daniel's prayer for his people is still active and alive. His prayer for Israel still covers them.
Spiritual Practice: Intercede
Ask God to tell you who to pray for and to show you how to pray.
In God, Deborah
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