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Dan. 9:1-3

Lesson # Dan. 9:1-3
Study Material - Dan. 9:1-3

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Dan. 9:1-3

1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of Median descent, who was made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans-- 2 in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, observed in the books the number of the years which was revealed as the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years. 3 So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.

In the first year of the reign of the first king over Babylon, Darius, who was of Mede descent, and the appointed king over this portion of the Persian-Mede Empire, then it was at this time that Daniel had been studying the book of Jeremiah.

This was probably prior to Daniel's appointment to his leadership role in the new kingdom as noted in chapter six. Since it is implied that in due course, King Darius sought out potential candidates and made his appointments over a space of time. It is not likely that Darius made these appointments in the same night that he took control of his throne after the fall of Babylon and King Belshazzar. So we assume that this chapter took place historically prior to the lions den incident. Going into the lions den wouldn't hurt to have a lot of prior exercise in faith and of course God would know this, as Daniel would not.

This places the time frame of this prayer and prophetic communication by Gabriel to Daniel. This also places the relative events of those who would be plotting behind Daniel's back to get him thrown into the lions den. As they were plotting their own advancement in the ranks of the empire, Daniel was studying his scripture. Though he was a captive he still had access to scriptures, even those written by Jeremiah in Jerusalem and from some decades prior in the midst of the deportation events of the Jews as Nebuchadnezzar was destroying Jerusalem and taking captives by the thousands from Judah, to Babylon. The scriptures and articles of the Temple remained in tact and were also hauled to Babylon. God preserves that which belongs to Him.

So in the middle of the fall of one empire, Babylon, and the rise of another, Mede-Persia, Daniel was studying his scripture. He noticed that the seventy year prophecy of the return of the exiles to Jerusalem was very near. Therefore, Daniel gave his attentions to God and study, and more important, prayer. Rather than getting caught up in the events of the city and the empires.

The events of the nations (the seas) from our earlier study in Daniel, now gives way to the kingdom of God. For a period of time the peoples of God were away from their assigned home, Jerusalem, but would one day return there. And While away, God preserved them regardless of their unfaithfulness to Him. He was faithful to them.

The nations will storm around in the seas of the jungle, but are ultimately driven by the winds of heaven. Jesus Christ controls history. The kingdoms of earth will come and go. Their strength is no stronger than their resources - the dust of the earth. But the Kingdom of God will come and remain eternally. Gods Kingdom has unlimited resources and an eternal life.

All worship, which is study, application to life, attitude, prayer, etc. begins with an attitude of humility. The fasting, sackcloth and ashes represent Daniel's total submission to the authority of God. Many a person goes through the motions of being Christian. They attend church, maybe even listen as others read them Bible verses or studies, or they act like they are listening, but there minds are elsewhere, and their misery in life will soon be all over them too. We saw what happens to those who ignore God in their life. Sooner or later their life falls apart and they will have no one else to blame but themselves, if they even come to a point where they acknowledge their failures in life.

God tests for many things in ones soul and these tests are for Gods knowledge only. People cannot see them. not easily anyway. These tests of soul begin with attitude and motivation, then sincerity and commitment, then follow through. Spoken words are easy, listen to any politician, but actions come with greater commitment, and all negative people lack these follow up actions in their spiritual lives.

Daniel knows that the decree though it has been issued in heaven, will still need to be issued by some king on earth. He knows that when God makes a promise it is kept, but he also knows that no blessings are issued unless there is first prayer received by God, and prayer offered which is in compliance with His divine decrees. Thus one of Daniel's greatest prayers of intercession is about to be offered, and it will be met with something that he never expected - the assignment of an exact date of the birth of the Savior, His life, His sacrifice, and the closing of the sacrificial ritual ceremonies, not by man, but by order of God as a result of the fulfillment of the sacrifices on the Cross. Once the Cross has occurred, salvation will have been historically fulfilled, therefore there is no further need for the ritual sacrifices which were a shadow pointing forward to the Cross.

Now is the time to post a prayer.

End Of Lesson

Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth.

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