Daniel - Dedicated, Diligent, Devout An Overview Study of the Book of Daniel Friends and Fellowship (and Food) McLean Bible Church Fall 2016
Study Outline Session Study Description Primary Bible Chapters Part I: Dedicated, Diligent, Devout 1 Introduction Historical Background So What! - Then and Now Daniel 1 2 Kings 23:29 25:30 2 Chron 36:1 23 2 Pride and Punishment The Image of Gold & the 4th Man in the Fire Daniel 3 3 The Insanity of Pride Daniel 4 4 Weighed and Found Wanting Daniel 5 Relying on God 5 God Protects His Own Daniel 6 6 Intercessory Prayer Daniel 9:1 19
Study Outline Session Study Description Primary Bible Chapters Part II: Worldly Kingdoms & the End of Ages Of Dreams, Visions, & Prophecies 6 Message of 70 Sevens Daniel 9:20 27 7 Message of 70 Sevens (Continued) Dream of the Great Image Daniel 9:20 27 Daniel 2 8 Four Great Beasts and the Ancient of Days Daniel 7 9 The Great Worldly Kingdom Daniel 8 10 From Persia to the End-of-Times Daniel 11 & 12 Revelations 20 11 From Persia to the End-of Times 12 Messengers of God and the End Times Daniel 10
Relying on God Session 6 Daniel 9: Intercessory Prayer
Section 1: Prayers, Fasting, & Supplications
Daniel 9:1 2 Jeremiah 29 Understanding God's Will 1 st year of Darius = 539 538 BC Identifying God's will as expressed through the Prophet Jeremiah How did Daniel Know? Jer. 29:1 2 Jeremiah sent letters to the exiles (captives) in Babylon After Jeconiah, the king, and the queen, et al were carried away. 2 Kings 24:8 16 Jeconiah = Jehoiachin, who was only 18 years old 8 th year of Nebuchadnezzar reign 596 BC
Jeremiah 29 (continued) Jer. 29:4 7 So What! Understanding God's Will God's will settle down in Babylon Don't expect a quick return to Jerusalem Seek the peace of the city of exile PRAY to the LORD for that city of exile. What is God's will for us? Build houses Build your faith on the bedrock of Jesus Christ (Luke 6:46 49), i.e. take care of your spiritual growth Plant Gardens Spread the Gospel (Matt. 13:1 9, 18-23) Marry and reproduce (with other Jews) Multiply (Francis Chan) i.e. raise new disciples of Jesus Christ Pray for peace of the city pray for the area you live, the company or organization you where you work you will have peace.
Understanding God's Will Jeremiah 29 (continued) Jer. 29:10 14 After 70 years be [accomplished at, fulfilled for, finished at] Babylon God will visit the exiles. God will confirm His promise to bring them back to Jerusalem The question is 70 years measured from when? Ezra 1:1 4 In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia God stirred up the spirit of King Cyrus King Cyrus issued written proclamation King Cyrus will build a house to the LORD Called the tribes of Israel to return to Jerusalem. The 1 st year of King Cyrus is measured from when he became king over all Babylon, inheriting all the Jews. (539 538 BC)
Understanding God's Will Jeremiah 29 (continued) Jer. 29:10 14 (Continued) The question is 70 years measured from when? So end of 70 years would be 539 to 538 BC Measuring backwards takes us to 609 608 BC So what happened in that time period? The following time chart covers the period from 627 BC up to 605 BC Around 608 Nabopolassar, King of Babylon, and Cyaxares, King of Media, finally ended Assyrian rule. Babylonia effectively was left in possession of what remained of the southern parts of Assyria Babylonia inherited the remnants of the 10 tribes of Israel, carried off by the Assyrians
Understanding God's Will God ends the Assyrian Empire and raises up the Babylonian Empire
Understanding God's Will Jeremiah 29 (continued) Key to Jeremiah 29:10 14 For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are fulfilled for Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. (v 10) Note: God is NOT saying that Judah will be carried away for 70 years (a common misinterpretation). The 70 years refer to Babylon. Scholars measure the rise (again) of Babylon (aka Neo- Babylon) from the beginning of Nabopolassar (625 BC) God is measuring Babylon from the time the kingdom gained authority over the Exiled (10) Tribes of Israel. (608 BC) Nebuchadnezzar defeated Necoh Pharaoh at Carchemish, in 605 BC and gained control over the kingdom of Judah By 596 BC the children of Abraham were reunited in exile!
1 John 5:14 15 Praying in God's Will 14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. What is the key phrase? Daniel 9:3 Daniel's Preparation Getting ready for heavy duty praying Fasting turn focus from fleshly needs to spiritual Put on sackcloth Sign of humility Put on ashes Sign of mourning Sackcloth + ashes symbol of mourning one's sin(s) Compare to Nehemiah 1:4
Praying in God's Will (Continued) Daniel's Prayer Daniel 9:4 19 Starts with praise, glorifying God (v4) Confession of sins for Israel & Judah (v5 v15) Supplication for God's mercy & forgiveness toward His people (v16 19) Nehemiah's Prayer Nehemiah 1:5 11 Starts with praise glorifying God (v5) Confession of sins for Israel, father's house, and self (v6 & v7) Supplication for God's mercy and forgiveness towards His people (v8 v10) Specific request for self (v11)
Praying in God's Will (Continued) Jesus' Model Prayer Matthew 6:5 8 Not for show Private between you and God Not repetitive chanting. Matthew 6:9 13 Praise and worship God (v9 & v10) Supplication (v11 - v13a) Glorify God (v13b) Jesus Model for Fasting Matthew 6:16 18 Not for show (v16) Turn focus from fleshly wants to spiritual need (v17 -v18) Fasting & prayer go together Fasting without prayer and study of God's word is called dieting
Daniel 9:20 24 God Responds to Prayer Messenger of God arrives Gabriel gabrîy'el [Heb] (gab-ree-ale') {valiant, mighty} man (geber) of God (el) When did God give the command for Gabriel to set forth? Recall the pattern of Daniel's prayer: Started with praise and worship of God Followed by lengthy confession of sins, for himself for Israel, and for Judah Finally, supplication for God's mercy & forgiveness What was Gabriel's mission? Give Daniel skill in understanding. Deliver a vision.
Section 2: The Message from God
Message Delivered by Gabriel Daniel 9:24 27 Almost all English translations: 70 weeks Shâbûa' (shaw-boo'-ah) lit. sevened, i.e. a week (specifically of years): seven, week, (a week of years) Alternative translation, replace weeks with sevens or times seven v24 70 weeks 70 sevens or 70 times seven (years) v25 7 weeks 7 sevens or 7 times seven (years) v25 62 weeks 62 sevens or 62 times seven (years) v27 1 week 1 sevens or 1 times seven (years)
70 Sevens Daniel 9:24 Messianic Prophesy [God] determined 70 Sevens for the Jews and for the Holy City. General interpretation: 70 sets of 7 years Results that will be accomplished over those 70 sevens Finish the transgression Make an end of sins Make reconciliation for iniquity Bring in everlasting righteousness Seal up vision and prophecy Anoint the Most Holy. Off the top of our head, what does this verse look like?
Finish the transgression Gospel Anybody? End of disobedience End of rebellion against God Make an end of sins For as by one man s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man s obedience many will be made righteous. [Rom. 5:19] Make reconciliation for iniquity The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. [Acts 5:30 31]
Gospel Anybody? Bring everlasting righteousness Romans 5:18 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. [2 Cor. 5:21] Seal up the vision and prophecy Bring to an end a specific vision and prophecy. In context of Daniel this might refer to Daniel's vision, recorded in Daniel 8. Anoint the Most Holy Matthew 3:13 17 John the Baptist baptizes Jesus Matthew 26:6 7 Sinful woman anoints Jesus John 12:3 Mary anoints Jesus
TO BE CONTINUED