Daniel (Greek) 9:1-6: a reflection

1In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the offspring of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans, 2in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years about which the LORD’s word came to Jeremiah the prophet, for the accomplishing of the desolations of Jerusalem, even seventy years. 3I set my face to the Lord God, to seek by prayer and petitions, with fasting in sackcloth and ashes. 4I prayed to the LORD my God, and made confession, and said, “Oh, Lord, the great and dreadful God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5we have sinned, and have dealt perversely, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even turning aside from your precepts and from your ordinances. 6We haven’t 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.

When Daniel understands from the Scriptures what God had said, he does not merely note it as information; he turns to God in earnest prayer, fasting, and humble confession. I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years, Daniel says, and I set my face to the Lord God, to seek by prayer and petitions, with fasting in sackcloth and ashes. And he confesses: we have sinned, and dealt perversely, and rebelled. Reading the Scriptures, Daniel understood what God had spoken through Jeremiah about the seventy years. This understanding did not remain mere knowledge; it moved him to earnest prayer, to seek God with fasting and petition, and to humble confession of his people's sin, identifying himself with them. Understanding God's word led Daniel to pray. This shows understanding of God's word moving us to earnest prayer and confession. Let understanding of God's word move you to earnest prayer, not remain mere knowledge. Daniel turned reading into praying, seeking God humbly. Confess sin humbly before God, identifying with your people. Let what you learn from Scripture stir you to seek God.

Notice what Daniel did with his understanding of Scripture. He had read and understood what God had spoken through Jeremiah. He might have simply noted this as a matter of interest, a piece of understanding gained, and left it there. But Daniel did not stop at understanding; his understanding moved him to action of the deepest kind: he set his face to God to seek him by prayer and petition, with fasting in sackcloth and ashes, and he poured out humble confession, we have sinned, we have done wickedly, we have rebelled, identifying himself with his people's sin rather than standing apart. Understanding God's word led Daniel to earnest prayer and humble confession. This holds a lesson about how we are to receive God's word. It is possible to read and understand Scripture, to gain knowledge and insight, and yet to leave it there as mere information, never letting it move us to prayer, to seeking God, to humble confession and response. But God's word is not given merely to inform us; it is given to move us, to drive us to God in prayer and to change us. Daniel shows the right response: letting his understanding of God's word move him to earnest prayer, to seeking God with humility and fasting, and to honest confession of sin. We do well to let our understanding of God's word move us as it moved Daniel: to earnest prayer, to seeking God, to humble confession, rather than leaving it as mere knowledge. Let understanding of God's word move you to earnest prayer and seeking God. Do not leave Scripture as mere knowledge; let it drive you to God. Respond to God's word with humble confession and prayer. Turn your reading of Scripture into seeking God.

That is worth taking to heart, for understanding of God's word should move us to earnest prayer and confession, as Daniel turned his reading into seeking God. We can leave Scripture as mere information; but Daniel, understanding God's word, set his face to God in prayer, fasting, and confession. Let it move you. Do not leave what you learn from Scripture as mere knowledge; let it move you to earnest prayer, to seeking God, and to humble confession, as it moved Daniel. Let your understanding of God's word move you to earnest prayer, seeking God, and humble confession rather than leaving it as mere knowledge, as when Daniel understood from the Scriptures what God had said he did not merely note it as information but turned to God in earnest prayer, fasting, and confession, setting his face to the Lord God to seek him by prayer and petition with fasting in sackcloth and ashes and confessing that they had sinned and rebelled; for reading the Scriptures Daniel understood what God had spoken through Jeremiah about the seventy years, and this understanding did not remain mere knowledge but moved him to earnest prayer, to seek God with fasting and petition, and to humble confession of his people's sin, identifying himself with them, so that understanding God's word led Daniel to pray, which holds a lesson about how we are to receive God's word, since it is possible to read and understand Scripture and gain knowledge and yet leave it there as mere information, never letting it move us to prayer or seeking God or humble confession, but God's word is not given merely to inform us but to move us and drive us to God in prayer and change us, so that Daniel shows the right response, letting his understanding of God's word move him to earnest prayer, seeking God with humility and fasting, and honest confession of sin, and we do well to let our understanding of God's word move us as it moved Daniel.

Lord, when Daniel understands from the Scriptures what you had said, he does not merely note it as information; he turns to you in earnest prayer, fasting, and humble confession. I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years, Daniel says, and I set my face to the Lord God, to seek by prayer and petitions, with fasting in sackcloth and ashes. And he confesses: we have sinned, and dealt perversely, and rebelled. Reading the Scriptures, Daniel understood what you had spoken through Jeremiah about the seventy years. This understanding did not remain mere knowledge; it moved him to earnest prayer, to seek you with fasting and petition, and to humble confession of his people's sin, identifying himself with them. Understanding your word led Daniel to pray. Show me what Daniel did with his understanding of Scripture. He had read and understood what you had spoken. He might have simply noted this as a matter of interest and left it there. But he did not stop at understanding; his understanding moved him to seek you by prayer and petition, with fasting, and to pour out humble confession, we have sinned, we have done wickedly, we have rebelled, identifying himself with his people's sin rather than standing apart. Understanding your word led Daniel to earnest prayer and humble confession. This holds a lesson about how I am to receive your word. It is possible to read and understand Scripture, to gain knowledge and insight, and yet to leave it there as mere information, never letting it move me to prayer, to seeking you, to humble confession and response. But your word is not given merely to inform me; it is given to move me, to drive me to you in prayer and to change me. Daniel shows the right response: letting his understanding of your word move him to earnest prayer, to seeking you with humility and fasting, and to honest confession of sin. Take that to my heart. Keep me from leaving what I learn from Scripture as mere knowledge; help me let it move me, Lord, to earnest prayer, to seeking you, and to humble confession, as it moved Daniel, turning my reading of your word into seeking you.