Daniel 9:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.

NIV: we have not obeyed the LORD our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets.

NASB: and we have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in His teachings which He set before us through His servants the prophets.

CSB: and have not obeyed the Lord our God by following his instructions that he set before us through his servants the prophets.

NLT: We have not obeyed the Lord our God, for we have not followed the instructions he gave us through his servants the prophets.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: We have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in His laws, which He set before us by His servants the prophets.

Daniel describes Israel as disobedient to the Lord God. When Israel first came into the Promised Land, they were offered blessings for obedience (Deuteronomy 28:1–6; 30:15–18). They were also warned of drastic consequences for rebellion (Deuteronomy 28:48–50, 63–64; 29:25). Among those dangers was capture and scattering by other nations. This is exactly what happened to the Jewish people, first under Assyria and then by Babylon (2 Kings 17:1–8; Jeremiah 25:7–11; Daniel 1:1–7). In this passage, Daniel prays that this exile will soon end (Daniel 9:1–9).

Here, the "laws" are more than just legal requirements. This refers to any of the instructions given to the people by God. Those commands would have been given by His chosen spokesmen: the prophets. An early example of this was Moses. In Deuteronomy 28:1–6, the Lord gave Israel instructions through Moses. He told the people what they should do to invoke His blessings. He also told them what would bring His curses on them (Deuteronomy 28:48–50; 29:25).

Near the end of his life, Joshua, who faithfully followed the Lord, challenged the people of Israel to choose to honor their God. First, he warned them that the Lord's anger would be kindled against them and they would be uprooted from the Promised Land if they disobeyed the Lord's covenant (Joshua 23:16). Then he challenged them to "choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" (Joshua 24:15).

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.