Daniel 9:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.

NIV: So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.

NASB: So I gave my attention to the Lord God, to seek Him by prayer and pleading, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.

CSB: So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek him by prayer and petitions, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.

NLT: So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and fasting. I also wore rough burlap and sprinkled myself with ashes.

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

NKJV: Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.

After reading prophecies concerning Jerusalem's suffering, Daniel sought the Lord's will. That he "turned his face" to God means he put aside every concern and interest except seeking the Lord in prayer. Daniel pleads with the Lord for mercy on behalf of Israel. He demonstrates humility and sincerity by fasting and by putting on rough clothing and covering himself with ashes. These signs were meant to lower a person, as external signs of a humble spirit. He set aside meals to devote himself to prayer.

Following the Lord's promise to restore the exiled Jews to their homeland (Jeremiah 29:10–11), He added the promise of answered prayer in response to fervent requests. He declared, "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:12–13). Daniel connects the end of Babylon with the restoration of his people to Jerusalem, and so he prays with intensity that this would be the case.

Daniel 9:1–19 records a prayer of confession on behalf of God's rebellious people; Daniel includes himself by using terms such as "us" and "we." After the fall of Babylon, Daniel sees evidence in the writings of Jeremiah that Israel's exile may be nearing an end. He prays for forgiveness and restoration, referring to God as righteous, merciful, and forgiving. This prayer leads to an appearance from the angel Gabriel. Gabriel will deliver a prophetic message about Israel's future.

Darius became king when Babylon fell to Medo-Persia. Daniel compared this to writings from Jeremiah, and realized the exile of Israel was almost over. As he prayed for God's intervention, the angel Gabriel arrived to provide further explanation. Gabriel's prophecy ties the arrival of an "anointed one," or "Messiah," or "Christ," to a moment in history followed by a set interval of time. This prediction includes dire moments for Israel and Jerusalem.

This chapter forms part of the prophetic section of Daniel's writing. After confessing the sins of both Israel and his own life, Daniel received a visit from the angel Gabriel. Gabriel revealed a message about Israel's then-future. This includes reference to the arrival of Christ and information about the still-future end times. Chapter 10 begins the last of Daniel's prophetic messages.

The book of Daniel contains famous Old Testament stories and prophecies. Daniel was taken from the Israelite people and made an advisor for a conquering empire. He demonstrates faithfulness and wisdom during many years serving in this role. Though Daniel does not deliver a public message, Jesus refers to him as a "prophet" (Matthew 24:15). The first portion of the book mostly describes Daniel's interpretations of dreams and other events. The second portion looks ahead to the end times. Daniel is classified in English Bibles as a "major" prophet, meaning the book is relatively long and the content has broad implications. The book of Revelation echoes and expands on many of the same themes.

Accessed 11/24/2024 5:54:13 AM