When studying the book of Daniel, there are some important characteristics concerning prayer that we can learn from his life. In spite of the many miraculous and spiritual experiences that Daniel had, the topic of prayer as it is mentioned in its one form or another is only mentioned five times in chapter six and six times in chapter nine. Why point this out? If we want to learn about prayer from Daniel’s life and how it can apply to our relationship with God, these are the two chapters we need to study.
In our relationship with God, how committed are we to prayer prior to when a difficult situation unexpectedly arises? Do we pray more when confronting difficult situations that we did before the incident arose? Do others recognize the importance of daily prayer that we have in our lives? The following are just three points about Daniel’s prayer life that are clearly seen as written in Daniel 6:1-28 that relate to the questions.
Daniel 6:4-9, 4 Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy. 5 So they concluded, “Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the rules of his religion.” 6 So the administrators and high officers went to the king and said, “Long live King Darius! 7 We are all in agreement—we administrators, officials, high officers, advisers, and governors—that the king should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions. 8 And now, Your Majesty, issue and sign this law so it cannot be changed, an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.” 9 So King Darius signed the law.
Daniel did not change his where or when he prayed once he found out that a decree was specifically written by his co-workers against him praying and put into law by the king.
Daniel was always faithful in prayer before the difficult situation ever arose. The life threating situation did not cause Daniel to pray more than what he had always done before.
Daniel 6:10, But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.
Daniel continued faithfully with his prayer even though he knew what the consequences were for praying.
Daniel 6:11-13, 11 Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help. 12 So they went straight to the king and reminded him about his law. “Did you not sign a law that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions?” “Yes,” the king replied, “that decision stands; it is an official law of the Medes and Persians that cannot be revoked.”13 Then they told the king, “That man Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, is ignoring you and your law. He still prays to his God three times a day.”
Daniel chapter nine gives us an excellent example of intercessory prayer. We might have heard the term intercessory prayer used before but do we really know what it means? The Fire Bible gives us this clear definition. “In Biblical terms, intercession involves someone faithfully and continually pleading–particularly to God–for the needs of another person (or group of people). The prayer is for the Lord to take action in their situation. Daniel’s prayer in chapter 9 is an intercessory prayer, in which he identifies with his fellow Jews. He confesses their sin and pleads with God to forgive and restore Jerusalem and the entire nation.”
When reading this intercessory prayer in this chapter we need to be careful that we do not believe that every aspect of Daniel’s prayer is how intercessory prayer should be. When interceding in prayer for a particular person or group of people, almost all the time the aspects of each situation will differ. And how the Holy Spirit leads us to pray many times will be unique to that particular situation we are praying about.
Daniel’s intercessory prayer in this chapter has many points which gives us various aspects of intercessory prayer that were unique to topic of Daniel’s situation. In principle our prayers of intercession can and or will include some of the same points.
Daniel 9:4-19.
• Intercessory prayer can be in response to what is written in God’s word
verse 2, “…I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet…”
• Intercessory prayer can be characterized by a commitment of self-denial,
verse 3, “So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.”
• Intercessory prayer acknowledges who God is with worship, and what He does with praise,
verse 4, “I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands…”. 7 “Lord, you are righteous”. 9 “The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving”
• Sometimes with intercessory prayer it is necessary to humbly identify our sin with the sins of others and acknowledge the sins of the past and present.
Verse 5, “…we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. 6 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.” 7 “but this day we are covered with shame…”, “…our unfaithfulness to you.” 8 “O Lord, we and our kings, our princes and our fathers are covered with shame because we have sinned against you.” 9 “we have rebelled against him” 10 “we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets. 11 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you.” 15 we have sinned, we have done wrong.
• Intercessory prayer many times decerns from God’s perspective (His Word) the reason for the existing situation.
11 “Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you. 12 You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing upon us great disaster. Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem. 13 Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come upon us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth. 14 The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster upon us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him.
• Intercessory prayer recognizes the acts of what God has done in the past.
15 “Now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day…”
• Intercessory prayer recognizes God’s sovereignty and testimony as it pertains to the present situation.
16 O Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our fathers have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us.
•Intercessory prayer with its petitions, purpose and desired results always keeps the glory of God in perspective.
17 “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, O Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. 18 Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. 19 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.”
The many situations we might intercede for with prayer will always differ, however the many diverse spiritual principles of intercessory prayer that we see in Daniel and other places in the Bible will be applicable to our particular situation as the Holy Spirit leads us when we pray.
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer
1 Peter 3:12
Pastor John
