Day 217 – Daniel Prays for Jerusalem

• Today’s readings are hard to understand, and speak of difficult “end of days” concepts. Don’t worry about understanding everything. Let my notes help you focus in on a few areas of study.
• Daniel 9 starts with Daniel considering the words that were written by Jeremiah in our second passage. What have we already thought about regarding the “70 years”? It’s a very long time, isn’t it? 70 years ago, your grandparents might have been children. What amazing changes have happened since then?
• Daniel 9:4-19 show Daniel’s humble prayer to God. Read it carefully. Look for instances of Daniel’s humility, worship, confession and requests to God. Have you ever prayed like that? Do you need to? I know I do. Does Daniel limit his prayers to only his own sins? What is the hope in Daniel’s prayer?
• What does Daniel say is the reason for the troubles the nation is having? Do you think this is the case nowadays?
• What do Daniel 9:18-19 tell us about God’s nature? Why does God forgive us?
• Who appears to Daniel whilst he is praying? Does it bring good or bad news?
• The “seventy weeks” section of Daniel 9 is hard to understand. Your study bible may help you mull it over. What’s very interesting to note is how the number of years listed match up with future events (return to Jerusalem, rebuilding of city, Jesus’ coming, his death and the next destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD). Whether this is the actual meaning of the dates is uncertain though.
• Daniel 9:24 describes some purposes of Jesus. Some believe that they were all achieved when Jesus first came, and some believe they reference what he will do when He comes again.
• Matthew 24 and 25 describes Jesus teachings about his second coming. They are very interesting, but not always easy! In the passage we read, we see how Jesus describes the state of the nations and people on earth before He’ll come again. What are some of the things that Jesus says will be happening? What are some of the dangers to be looking out for? Do you recognise any of Jesus’ words in the world we live in in today? Are you “ready” for Jesus?

The last verse of the Daniel passage is a tough one to understand. My study bible even admits it is a very tough verse to translate! In The Message, which is a version of the Bible written by one man in a “modern day” tone, it’s translated as the following:

“Then for one seven, he will forge many and strong alliances, but halfway through the seven he will banish worship and prayers. At the place of worship, a desecrating obscenity will be set up and remain until finally the desecrator himself is decisively destroyed.”

This still doesn’t fully explain everything about the verse, but it helps a little. The “desecrating obscenity” is a creature of evil, and is referred to as the “Abomination of Desolation” in today’s title. This creature is referred to by Jesus specifically in Matthew 24:15, and we’re told that we will see the effects of it more and more as the time of the Second Coming draws closer, whenever that might be. Jesus describes the awfulness of the destruction it will cause. It might seem a bit scary, and for some in the world, it might feel like a genuine reality, given the day-to-day suffering that lots of people around the world have to deal with.

The passage shouldn’t leave us scared though, however blunt the message. The greater message is one of real (and firm!) hope in Christ and the victory he has already won over such evil. When Christ returns, this rebellion against God’s creation will be smashed, once and for all.

You may be challenged by today’s passages when considering Daniel’s prayer and the way we are living, in a hope and expectation of one day seeing Jesus. But please don’t be worried! Hold firm to the wonderful truths of the gospel and Christ will be your ultimate redeemer and protector. What better bodyguard could you ever wish for!