Daniel - A Man Of Prayer

(Daniel 9: 1-18) 

Having had an emphasis on Daniel last week with a week of prayer, perhaps we should think about the man himself. First, a few personal reflections. Firstly, I know I can pray at anytime and anywhere, but certain places and times are better than others. Secondly, I find I pray with less distraction when I am in the presence of God’s creation – hence the picture. Thirdly, I know I can do nothing of value for His Kingdom without His direction through prayer. Fourthly, when I honestly lay my life before Him, with all its faults and concerns, He never turns me away but gently guides me to a better place.

Now for Daniel… what can we learn from Him about prayer?

God can use every situation, however bleak
Daniel had no choice about being in exile. He was taken from all that was familiar to everything that was not. In Chapter 1, he is described as a young, handsome, and intelligent man. He had a great future, but that future was now in Babylon! Read the story in the first chapters of Daniel and see how he reacted. Behind the story, we see a man who maintained and fed his faith through regular prayer. He did not let his adverse circumstances dictate his attitude to God. Therefore, God was able to use him in a remarkable way.

Prayer was the bedrock and power source of his life – is it ours?

Pray before you go - always
In chapter 2, Daniel and his friends are at risk of execution as Nebuchadnezzar rages about a dream that has troubled him that and no-one can understand. Daniel keeps his cool and encourages his friends to ‘plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery.’ Yes, it was a matter of their very survival, but it was to prayer that Daniel turned first. When there was nothing else, prayer remains, and God is faithful and sees and hears our hearts.

When God gives us a prompt to act for Him, let’s make sure we cover the move with prayer first. Let us not go in our own strength. Like Daniel, let us always thank Him for answered prayers and give Him the glory He deserves.

Tune in and you’ll hear from God
By chapter 4, Nebuchadnezzar is troubled by another dream, but this time Daniel is perplexed and troubled. But it wasn’t for not knowing what the message was. It was because he did know what it was! This is an interpretation that will not be welcomed by the king! Nevertheless, Daniel is faithful to what God has shown him and spoken to him about. What an amazing gift Daniel was given, but what an awesome responsibility too!

If we are regularly tuning into God through prayer, we are likely to hear from Him, possibly in an unexpected way! Prayer is a two-way conversation, not a monologue (or moan-a-logue!). So why do we often pray but forget to give space to listen too?

Make prayer a regular habit and don’t compromise
In chapter 6, Daniel is framed by those who envied him. This story gives us a glimpse of Daniel’s regular habit of prayer – see verse 10. Daniel could have made a different choice but prayed ‘giving thanks to God just as he had done before.’ He was not prepared to compromise even if it cost him his life. That is how important his relationship to God was.

Do we see our prayer life as that important, that we are prepared to move or miss out on other things in order to come before God, however that is done?

Pray big and from His Word
In chapter 9, we read of Daniel, now much older and having lived in exile for many years, understanding from God’s Word that ‘the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years.’ It prompted him to pray, and his prayer is recorded for us. It’s a big prayer in that it is a prayer that prays for the whole people of God. Daniel knew how long they had been in Babylon and knew the time of deliverance could not be much delayed, so he calls on God in prayer in the light of the promise he has read and understood.

In verses 4 to 6 of chapter 9, Daniel acknowledges who God is and his faithfulness, then prays a prayer of confession on behalf of all of God’s people. Now Daniel may well have been a faithful man of God, but he says ‘we’, identifying with the people of God as a whole who had been judged and punished by God and sent into exile.

In verses 7 to 11, Daniel contrasts God’s righteousness, mercy and forgiveness with the shame of his people from top to bottom. He recognised that they deserved their judgement and exile of the last years. Yet in acknowledging God’s mercy and forgiveness, Daniel is in effect reminding God of his promise that the time of exile will end, not because they deserve it, but for the sake of God’s Name and glory, and he is always faithful, merciful and forgiving.

That theme continues in verses 11 to 14. A brief history lesson is retold in Daniel’s prayer. He lays it all out before God, knowing that the people of God have sinned and acknowledging that before God, the righteous God who always does what is right.

In verses 15 to 19, finally, Daniel appeals to God on the basis of his unchanging character and promises, to turn away from his wrath and anger, and to deliver his people once more as he has promised in his Word. Hear what Daniel actually says in verses 17 and 18: ‘Now, O God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, O Lord, look with favour on your desolate sanctuary… We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.’ Verse 19 rounds off Daniel’s prayer: ‘O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.’

Can we pray like Daniel? Are we prepared to ‘stand in the gap’ in prayer, interceding for our nation? If we truly believe in the power of prayer, we should. So let us come boldly before our God and pray big!

Daniel’s example inspires hope. What God has promised he will fulfil. Prayer is what we are called to – praise and worship, confession, intercession … so let us pray like Daniel!