DANIEL LESSON 10


     We will begin this lesson in Daniel 9:1 "In the first year of
Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made
king over the realm of the Chaldeans;"

     Darius, the Mede, had been a friend of Daniel, and elevated him
to high office in his kingdom. He ruled over Babylon, after Babylon
fell to the Medes and Persians.

     Daniel 9:2 "In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by
books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to
Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the
desolations of Jerusalem."

     We remember from the study on Jeremiah, that God had revealed to
him the Hebrew children would be in captivity about 70 years. Jeremiah
had written this down, and it appears that Daniel had read of this.
You remember, Daniel was an educated man.

     Daniel 9:3  "And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by
prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:"

     Daniel was a very humble man, who knew his true wisdom came as a
gift from God. The fasting, sackcloth, and ashes, tell us of the
seriousness of Daniel's prayer. He was reaching out to God with an
humble spirit, knowing that all truth comes from God.

     Daniel 9:4 "And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my
confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the
covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his
commandments;"

     Daniel began his prayer by telling God he was aware of His
greatness. This is very similar to the way Jesus taught the disciples
to pray. "Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name". In
both instances, recognition of God and His power came first. He knows
God does not break covenant with man. Man breaks covenant with God.
Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments". Daniel has kept
God's commandments.

     Daniel 9:5 "We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have
done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts
and from thy judgments:"

     Daniel includes himself in the confession of his fellow Hebrews.
He admits guilt for their sins first. He knows that sins of omission
are sin, as well as sins of commission. Recognizing the fact that we
have sinned, comes even before repenting of that sin to God. This is
what Daniel is doing for all of the Hebrews.

     Daniel 9:6 "Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the
prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our
fathers, and to all the people of the land."

     God had sent prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah to warn them, but
they had not heeded the warning. They had actually chosen to believe
the false prophets over the prophets of God. They could have repented
before all of the problems arose, but they did not.

     Daniel 9:7 "O Lord, righteousness [belongeth] unto thee, but unto
us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, [that are] near, and
[that are] far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven
them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against
thee."

     Israel had committed spiritual adultery, by worshipping the false
gods of the heathen people around them. God is holy.  Israel was
driven out of their homeland, because they trespassed greatly against
their God. Their "confusion of face" meant they did not know what to
believe anymore.

     Daniel 9:8 "O Lord, to us [belongeth] confusion of face, to our
kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned
against thee."

     Their loyalty was to no god. They wanted to worship God, but all
at the same time they worshipped false gods. Their confusion was
obvious to everyone, but themselves. Romans 6:21 "What fruit had ye
then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those
things [is] death."

     Daniel 9:9 "To the Lord our God [belong] mercies and
forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;"

     God's people rebelled and rebelled, but God is merciful. He never
let them all be destroyed. He forgave them, and started them all over
again. Psalms 130:7 "Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD
[there is] mercy, and with him [is] plenteous redemption." Micah 7:18
"Who [is] a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth
by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not
his anger for ever, because he delighteth [in] mercy."

     Daniel 9:10 "Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our
God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the
prophets."

     One thing that set the Hebrews aside as being different, is they
had the law of God. God had promised to bless them mightily, if they
kept His law. If they did not keep His law, there would be curses. God
had sent prophet after prophet to warn them, they were not keeping His
law. Daniel is admitting to God, they had not kept the law.

     Daniel 9:11 "Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by
departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is
poured upon us, and the oath that [is] written in the law of Moses the
servant of God, because we have sinned against him."

     They transgressed the law and followed false gods. Daniel is
aware the captivity came to cause them to repent of their sins, and
turn back to God. God had given His Word. He had sworn by Himself that
He would bless them, if they kept the law, and curse them, if they did
not keep the law.

     Daniel 9:12 "And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake
against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us
a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath
been done upon Jerusalem."

     To whom much is given, much is required. Zechariah 7:12 "Yea,
they made their hearts [as] an adamant stone, lest they should hear
the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit
by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of
hosts." God does exactly what He says He will do. He gave them ample
time and warning to repent, and they did not. They sinned in full
knowledge of the law, and God greatly punished them for it.

     Daniel 9:13 "As [it is] written in the law of Moses, all this
evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our
God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy
truth."

     They brought all the trouble upon themselves. The law was plainly
written down, that they might know God's will. They disregarded God's
law, and did what was pleasing in their own sight. Daniel is speaking
of Israel as a whole, and not individually of himself. He knew, had
they repented in sackcloth and ashes and returned to God, He would
have forgiven them.

     Daniel 9:14 "Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and
brought it upon us: for the LORD our God [is] righteous in all his
works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice."

     God is loving, kind, forgiving, and merciful; but He is also the
Righteous Judge. He cannot, and will not, overlook their
unfaithfulness to Him. They were not obedient to God, and their
punishment is justified.

     Daniel 9:15 "And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy
people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast
gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done
wickedly."

     We must remember from the lessons in some of the other prophetic
books, that even the heathen, who were fighting them, knew their
problems were a judgement of God upon them. When God delivered almost
3 million of them from Pharaoh of Egypt, all the countries around knew
it was God. They were God's chosen people. Their sins have gotten them
in this situation they are now in.

     Daniel 9:16  "O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I
beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy
city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the
iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people [are become] a
reproach to all [that are] about us."

     Daniel is pleading for Jerusalem and all of God's people. Where
they had been highly respected, because of their God before, now they
are ridiculed. Daniel says, that even Jerusalem is falling to some
ridicule. Notice, Daniel asks forgiveness according to God's
righteousness, not the people's righteousness. Daniel knows when God
stops being angry with them, He will turn and bless them.

     Daniel 9:17 "Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy
servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy
sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake."

     The sanctuary in Jerusalem had been a place where all the
believers in the world had looked to. Daniel, himself, opened his
window toward Jerusalem, when he prayed. Notice, Daniel calls himself,
servant of God. The beautiful part of this prayer is the reason; for
the Lord's sake.

     Daniel 9:18 "O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine
eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy
name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our
righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies."

     No one, then or now, want to be judged by his own righteousness.
We do not want justice, we want mercy. Daniel appeals to the mercy of
God toward His people and His city. Daniel cries out, "O my God".
Whatever the answer, God is still Daniel's God.

     Daniel 9:19 "O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and
do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy
people are called by thy name."

     Daniel intercedes in prayer to God with all the strength he has.
Look at the progression of the prayer. Hear, forgive, hearken and do,
don't put it off, is his request. He knows God still loves them, so
Daniel says, for thine own sake. All the people of the world associate
the Hebrews and Jerusalem with God.

     Daniel 9:20  "And whiles I [was] speaking, and praying, and
confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my
supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God;"
Daniel 9:21 "Yea, whiles I [was] speaking in prayer, even the man
Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused
to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation."

     What a wonderful way to know that God has heard your prayer. We
do not know how long Daniel prayed, but we do know this prayer was
accompanied by fasting and wearing of sackcloth. God heard his prayer,
while it was still coming from his mouth. Gabriel is an archangel, who
seems to be associated with Father God. He is like the Father's top
General. The Father sends messages to the earth by Gabriel.

     Daniel 9:22 "And he informed [me], and talked with me, and said,
O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding."

     This will be a gift of understanding. His understanding will be
far above the natural man's. God will equip Daniel to do the job He
has sent him to do.

     Daniel 9:23 "At the beginning of thy supplications the
commandment came forth, and I am come to shew [thee]; for thou [art]
greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the
vision."

     God heard his prayer immediately, and sent Gabriel to him. The
commandment that came forth, was God commanding Gabriel to bring the
message to Daniel. One of the most wonderful things any of us could
hear, is that we are greatly beloved of God. I am sure this was the
greatest thing Daniel could ever hope to hear. Daniel is to carefully
consider the vision, and then understand.

     Daniel 9:24 "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and
upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of
sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in
everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and
to anoint the most Holy."

     This seventy weeks is actually four hundred and ninety years.
Each week is actually seven years. Seventy is seven times ten. Seven
means spiritually complete, and ten has to do with world government.
This seventy could be saying, that worldliness would be removed, and
they would be spiritually complete again. The perfect High Priest who
will come is the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus reconciles the Father to
fallen man. Jesus fulfills the law, and brings in grace. God not only
forgives the sinner, but makes provision for his forgiveness to be
lawful. Jesus became the substitute for all of mankind. He reconciles
us to the Father with His precious shed blood.

     Daniel 9:25 "Know therefore and understand, [that] from the going
forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the
Messiah the Prince [shall be] seven weeks, and threescore and two
weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in
troublous times."

     The temple was 49 years in the building {7 weeks}. From Nehemiah
building the temple till the coming of Messiah is 434 years {62
weeks}. These were very troublesome times. Nehemiah and Ezra, both,
were involved in the reconstruction of the temple.

     Daniel 9:26 "And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be
cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall
come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof
[shall be] with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are
determined."

     This does not mean that Jesus was cut off immediately after the
434 years. It just means, that after that time He was cut off. Notice,
He was cut off not for Himself. He did it for all who would believe
and receive the gift of salvation. The prince that comes and destroys
the sanctuary is the destruction in 70 A.D. He was, possibly, Titus.
This flood is, possibly, speaking of numerous wars, which are still
going on today.

     Daniel 9:27 "And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one
week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and
the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he
shall make [it] desolate, even until the consummation, and that
determined shall be poured upon the desolate."

     The antichrist stops all worship of the one true God at the
middle of the 7 years of tribulation {one week}. He will appear to
bring peace, but he will cause true Christianity to stop. He will set
himself up in the temple in Jerusalem to be worshipped the last 3 1/2
years of the tribulation period. The wrath of God will come upon the
earth during this period.
































                          Daniel 10 Questions


1.  Where did Darius reign?
2.  What kind of relationship did he have with Daniel?
3.  What other prophet is mentioned in verse 2?
4.  What had Daniel read, that made him know of the 70 years of
    Babylonian captivity?
5.  Daniel was an ___________ man?
6.  Where did Daniel's wisdom come from?
7.  What do the fasting, sackcloth, and ashes tell us of Daniel's
    prayer?
8.  What is the first thing to do in prayer?
9.  Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my _____________".
10. Who was Daniel confessing for?
11. What two types of sin does he specifically mention in 5?
12. Who had the people chosen to believe, instead of the prophets of
    God?
13. What sin had Israel committed?
14. Quote Romans chapter 6 verse 21.
15. Quote Psalms chapter 130 verse 7?
16. Why does God not retain His anger forever?
17. What made the Hebrews different from the countries around them?
18. Why was God's curse poured out on them?
19. Quote Zechariah chapter 7 verse 12.
20. God is loving, kind, forgiving, and merciful; but He is the
    ____________ ___________.
21. When God delivered them from Egypt, who noticed?
22. Daniel asks forgiveness according to what?
23. No one, then or now, want to be judged by his own ___________.
24. We do not want ___________, we want ________.
25. Explain the progression of Daniel's prayer.
26. What happened, while Daniel was speaking his prayer?
27. How long had Daniel prayed?
28. When had God heard the prayer?
29. What association does Gabriel appear to have with God?
30. What is different about Daniel's understanding?
31. What wonderful thing did Gabriel tell Daniel?
32. How many years do the 70 weeks symbolize?
33. Who is the perfect High Priest?
34. God not only forgives the sinner, but makes provision for that
    forgiveness to be ____________.
35. How did Jesus reconcile us to the Father?
36. How many years did it take to build the temple?
37. From the building of the temple to Messiah, there were _____
    years.
38. Who was Messiah cut off for?
39. Who destroyed the temple?
40. What is meant by the sacrifice and oblation stopping in the middle
    of the week?