Daniel's Supplication

Dan. 9:2b - I, Daniel, understood by means of the Scriptures the number of the years, which came as the word of Jehovah to Jeremiah the prophet, for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, that is, seventy years.

Dan. 9:3 - So I set my face toward the Lord God to seek Him in a prayer and supplications with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. 

Dan. 9:17 - And now hear, O our God, the prayer of Your servant and his supplications, and cause Your face to shine upon Your sanctuary that has been desolated, for the Lord’s sake.

Dan. 9:18 - O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city that is called by Your name; for we are not presenting our supplications before You based upon any righteous doings that we have done, but based upon Your great compassion.

Dan. 9:19 - O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! Do not delay, for Your own sake, O my God; for Your city and Your people are called by Your own name. 

As I pursued the life-study of Daniel I was so enlightened by the way Daniel made his supplication to God and how God answered him instantly. I learned a very precious lesson of supplication. 

First, the supplication was based upon the word of God; meaning Daniel was a man of the word, he read and understood the word, as indicated by the phrase, "understood by means of the Scriptures". Thereby, he supplicated according to the revelation he received from the word of God. Genuine prayer issues from the revelation in the word. But for such, one must read the word. Not merely read, but understand and pray over the word.

Second, through the understanding from the word of God, Daniel made his supplication, seeking God seriously in prayer with fasting, "seek Him in a prayer and supplications with fasting". A prayer life is the issue of the burden emanating from the Lord's speaking. Without a genuine burden from the Lord, prayer would be monotonous, habitual, religious and even superstitious. With genuine burden, fasting is a spontaneous reaction, not a religious law to abide by. I personally believe, a genuine man of prayer will have a regular and normal living of fasting and prayer according to the burden the Lord imparted. 

Third, when such man of prayer prays, his full focus and burden is not  on himself or his personal and petty burdens, but on the Lord Himself. He prays for the Lord's interest and according to His economy. Daniel prayed, "cause Your face to shine upon Your sanctuary." This is definitely a prayer according to God, praying for the house of God, the Body of Christ, and for the fulfillment of God's eternal purpose.

Fourth, a man of prayer never prayed based on himself, never claiming righteousness of himself, even if there is any. He fully is aware of his own unrighteousness and supplicated base on the righteousness and compassion of God as proven by the phrase, "base on Your great compassion."

And finally, in such prayer, there is always a confession of one's sinfulness and asking for the forgiveness, not merely of his own, but of the people he represents and prays for.

Ministry excerpt from the Life-study of Daniel, message fourteen:

III. THE WAY TO OBTAIN THE VISIONIn Daniel 9:3-23 we see the way to obtain this vision—Daniel's desperate seeking of the Lord God in prayer and supplications with fasting.
A. Confessing His Sins and the Sins of the PeopleIn his prayer Daniel confessed his own sins and the sins of the kings, the chief men, and the fathers of Israel, and of all the people of Israel (vv. 3-15, 20a).
B. Supplicating for God's Interests on EarthIn his prayer Daniel also supplicated for the holy city of Jerusalem, the holy mountain of God, and the holy people of God (vv. 16-17, 19b, 20b). This means that he supplicated for all the interests of God on the earth, not for his own interest.
C. Asking the Lord to Forgive ThemFurthermore, Daniel asked the Lord to forgive them, not based upon their righteousness but based upon God's great compassion (vv. 18-19a).
D. God's Answer to Daniel's Prayer and SupplicationIn verses 21 through 23 we have God's answer to Daniel's prayer and supplication. God's answer was Gabriel's relating of the seventy weeks commanded by God. 

In his desperate prayer, Daniel requested that God recover the holy land, send His people back, and rebuild the holy city (vv. 15-19). But God answered him by giving him the report through the angel Gabriel of the seventy weeks (vv. 20-27). This answer exceeded what Daniel requested. 

My understanding concerning prayer has been uplifted. Thank God, I can follow this pattern and pray accordingly for the burden the Lord imparted to me through His word. With this understanding and burden, prayer is a joy and a treasure to grasp for. And I pray for more grace that I too can be such a man of prayer, praying according to the word of God, seeking God and His face, and praying for His holy sanctuary, even with fasting. And also enjoy the joy of answered prayer.

A precious lesson on prayer learned from Daniel's supplication. What a grace! May my life be such, my prayer life, as I learn and follow Daniel's pattern of prayer.

Lord, make me a genuine man of prayer.