Seeking God: Daniel's Model for Intercessory Prayer

Daniel 9 offers a profound window into the heart of a man who, even in his old age, sought God’s purposes above all else. Living through the collapse of empires and the shifting of world powers, Daniel’s first instinct was not to consult the latest news or political analysis, but to turn to the Scriptures. He discovered in Jeremiah’s writings that the exile of Israel was to last seventy years—a period nearly complete in his own lifetime. Yet, Daniel realized that God’s promises are not automatic; they are invitations to seek Him in prayer. The return from exile would come not simply by the passage of time, but by the people’s earnest seeking of God’s face.

Daniel’s response was not to blame others for the nation’s predicament, but to identify himself wholly with his people’s sin. He confessed with deep honesty, using the strongest language to describe the nation’s rebellion, and refused to distance himself from the guilt, even though he had lived righteously. This is a model for intercession: true prayer for a nation begins with “we,” not “they.” Daniel’s prayer was marked by worship, confession, and a bold plea for mercy—not on the basis of Israel’s merit, but for the sake of God’s own name and reputation among the nations.

God’s answer, delivered through Gabriel, was both immediate and yet stretched across centuries. Daniel asked for restoration, and God promised not only a return to the land, but a future in which sin would be dealt with, righteousness established, and the holy place anointed. The prophecy of the seventy weeks (490 years) is a remarkable example of God’s sovereignty over history, foretelling the coming of the Messiah, the destruction of Jerusalem, and a final period of tribulation before ultimate redemption. The passage challenges us to take God’s word seriously, to pray with humility and boldness, and to see our own times in the light of God’s unfolding plan.

As Daniel studied the Scriptures to discern what God would do next, so must we. The call is to move beyond superficial prayers for comfort, and instead to seek God’s glory and purposes in our nation and world. The Lord’s Prayer—hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done—remains the pattern for our response to God’s promises and prophecies.

Key Takeaways

• 1. True intercession begins with identification, not accusation. Daniel did not distance himself from the sins of his people, but confessed “we have sinned,” modeling a humility that refuses to blame others or stand apart from the nation’s guilt. This kind of prayer is rare and powerful, for it aligns us with God’s heart and opens the way for genuine repentance and restoration. [26:09]
• 2. God’s promises are invitations, not inevitabilities. Daniel discovered that the prophesied return from exile was conditional upon seeking God with all one’s heart. The fulfillment of God’s word often waits upon the prayers of His people; history can turn on the prayers of one who takes God’s promises seriously and pleads them back to Him. [14:36]
• 3. The grounds for bold prayer are God’s character, His promises, and His glory—not our merit. Daniel pleaded for restoration not because Israel deserved it, but because God is merciful, because He had promised it, and because His own reputation was at stake among the nations. Prayers that seek God’s glory above our comfort are the ones that move heaven. [32:12]
• 4. God’s answers often transcend our timelines and expectations. Daniel received an immediate answer, but it unfolded over centuries, culminating in the coming of the Messiah and events still future. God’s perspective on time is vastly different from ours; He weaves together history with perfect wisdom, and calls us to trust His timing even when it stretches beyond our understanding. [38:45]
• 5. Taking Scripture seriously means reading it with a plain, expectant faith. Daniel believed the seventy years meant seventy years, and God honored that faith. We are called to approach the Bible not as a puzzle to be solved with cleverness, but as God’s clear communication, to be received, believed, and acted upon. This posture opens us to the transforming power of God’s word in our own lives and times. [40:31]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:59] - Daniel’s Discovery in Jeremiah
• [02:00] - Confession and the Mercy of God
• [03:28] - Pleading for Jerusalem’s Restoration
• [05:13] - Gabriel’s Arrival and God’s Immediate Response
• [06:31] - The Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks
• [08:34] - The Bible vs. Newspapers: Understanding Our Times
• [12:21] - Daniel’s Question: What’s Next for God’s People?
• [13:24] - The Importance of Seeking God’s Word First
• [14:36] - The Conditional Promise and the Call to Prayer
• [23:47] - The Depth of National Sin and Honest Confession
• [26:09] - Identifying with the Sins of the Nation
• [29:33] - The Church’s Responsibility and National Consequences
• [31:29] - Pleading God’s Glory in Prayer
• [38:45] - God’s Timetable: 490 Years of Redemption
• [40:31] - Taking Prophecy Literally and Trusting God’s Plan
• [49:58] - The Final Seven Years and Israel’s Future

Bible Reading

Daniel 9:1-27 (ESV) —
> In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans— in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years. Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. ...” (Read the full chapter for context.)

Jeremiah 29:10-14 (ESV) —
> “For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 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. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.”

Observation Questions

1. What did Daniel discover as he read the book of Jeremiah, and how did it affect his actions? ([00:59])
2. How does Daniel approach God in prayer regarding the sins of Israel? What language does he use to describe the nation’s condition? ([24:57])
3. What was the immediate response from God to Daniel’s prayer, and who delivered it? ([05:13])
4. According to the prophecy given to Daniel, what events were foretold to happen over the “seventy weeks”? ([39:24])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Daniel include himself in the confession of national sin, even though he personally lived righteously? What does this reveal about his understanding of intercession? ([26:09])
2. The sermon says God’s promises are “invitations, not inevitabilities.” What does this mean in the context of Daniel’s discovery in Jeremiah and his response? ([14:36])
3. Daniel’s prayer is based on God’s character, promises, and glory rather than Israel’s merit. Why is this significant for how we approach God in prayer? ([32:12])
4. God’s answer to Daniel’s prayer unfolds over centuries, not just in Daniel’s lifetime. What does this teach about God’s perspective on time and our expectations in prayer? ([38:45])

Application Questions

1. When you see problems in your nation or community, is your first instinct to blame others or to identify with the need for repentance, as Daniel did? What would it look like for you to pray “we have sinned” instead of “they have sinned”? ([26:09])
2. Are there promises of God in Scripture that you tend to treat as automatic, rather than as invitations to seek Him in prayer? How might your prayer life change if you took God’s promises as invitations to intercede? ([14:36])
3. Daniel’s prayer was marked by worship, confession, and a plea for God’s glory. When you pray for your family, church, or nation, do you focus more on comfort or on God’s reputation and purposes? How could you shift your prayers to seek God’s glory above your own comfort? ([32:12])
4. Daniel took the Scriptures seriously and read them with expectant faith. How do you approach the Bible—more as a puzzle to solve, or as God’s clear communication to be received and acted upon? What might change if you read with simple, expectant faith? ([40:31])
5. God’s answer to Daniel’s prayer was both immediate and long-term. Have you ever prayed for something and received an answer that didn’t fit your timeline or expectations? How did you respond, and what did you learn about trusting God’s timing? ([38:45])
6. The sermon challenges us to move beyond superficial prayers for comfort and to seek God’s purposes in our world. What is one area in your life or community where you could begin praying more intentionally for God’s will to be done, rather than just for things to get easier? ([32:12])
7. The Lord’s Prayer is given as a model: “Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done.” How could you incorporate this pattern into your prayers this week, especially as you pray for your nation or community? ([40:31])