A Man Set Apart: Daniel 9 (Daily Devo)
Ever hear about those Christians who claim that they have cracked the biblical code and have discovered the exact date that Christ is coming back? Those guys are never right, since we’re all still here, but I did think about that in the context of Daniel chapter 9.
What we see is that Daniel discovers that what Jeremiah had written about was coming true and would be coming to a conclusion by God judging Israel for their disobedience. So, he did literally, "crack the code" there, but what I think is most important, is Daniel’s response; namely prayer.
Daniel is distraught and upset and clearly sees what God is doing. He knows that his people are being judged because of their unfaithfulness to God. So he prays. He prays and confesses his own sins and the sins of the people. He asks God to turn away his wrath and anger. Most of the chapter is the written record of his prayer.
Prayer cannot be understated. With our kids right now, I often tell them that prayer is talking with God, asking him for things and thanking him for things. Prayer is such a crucial part of our Christian life that without it, our relationship with God is NOT much of a relationship. It would be like trying to prove you are married but never talking to your spouse. That would be a rough marriage to say the least.
So dig into the topic of prayer this week with your family. Ask them, no matter what age they are, what they think about prayer. Ask them the struggles that they have. And most of all, model prayer for them by praying for them every day.
I’ve found that at the end of every day, if I go talk to each one of my kids and ask them if I can pray for them, then I know they are seeing that prayer is important to me, and I really believe God hears me when I talk to him.
Josh Walker (@joshdwalker) is the co-founder and owner of One Fifty Media House, a Houston, TX based Audio and Video Design Team. He is the writer and author of music products such as Family Devo, Grammar Time and Hymns For Selena. He is married to Angela and has two beautiful children: Nathan and Charity Joy.
Day 1: Daniel 9:1-6
Weekly Catechism: (newcitycatechism.com)
- Q36: What do we believe about the Holy Spirit?
- A: That he is God, coeternal with the Father and the Son, and that God grants him irrevocably to all who believe. (bolded words are for younger children)
READ:
[1] In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans — [2] 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.
[3] Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. [4] 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, [5] we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. [6] We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. - Daniel 9:1-6 (ESV)
Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?
- Suggested Question: What is Daniel’s response to understanding Jeremiah’s prophecy? What do you notice about his prayer?
PRAY:
Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.
- Suggested Prayer: Father you are great and awesome. Thank you for your steadfast love for me and my family. Help to repent from our sin and trust more everyday.
SING:
Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.
Day 2: Daniel 9:9-15
Weekly Catechism: (newcitycatechism.com)
- Q36: What do we believe about the Holy Spirit?
- A: That he is God, coeternal with the Father and the Son, and that God grants him irrevocably to all who believe. (bolded words are for younger children)
READ:
[7] To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you. [8] To us, O Lord, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. [9] To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him [10] 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. [11] All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. And the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against him. [12] He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us, by bringing upon us a great calamity. For under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what has been done against Jerusalem. [13] As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us; yet we have not entreated the favor of the Lord our God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by your truth. [14] Therefore the Lord has kept ready the calamity and has brought it upon us, for the Lord our God is righteous in all the works that he has done, and we have not obeyed his voice. [15] And now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly. - Daniel 9:7-15
Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?
- Suggested Question: What are some specific things that Daniel says God’s people have done?
PRAY:
Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.
Suggested Prayer: Lord, forgive me for turning from your voice and turning to my own preferences. Teach me your word and help me to understand the love you have for me.
SING:
Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.
DAY 3: Daniel 9:16-19
Weekly Catechism: (newcitycatechism.com)
- Q36: What do we believe about the Holy Spirit?
- A: That he is God, coeternal with the Father and the Son, and that God grants him irrevocably to all who believe. (bolded words are for younger children)
READ:
[16]“O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us. [17] Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. [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 do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. [19] O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.” - Daniel 9: 16-19 (ESV)
Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?
- Suggested Question: Why should God forgive a people like this?
PRAY:
Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.
- Suggested Prayer: Father, you do not deal with us according to our sin (Psalms 103). Thank you for taking our just penalty for our sin upon your Son Jesus.
SING:
Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.
Day 4: Daniel 9:20-23
Weekly Catechism: (newcitycatechism.com)
- Q36: What do we believe about the Holy Spirit?
- A: That he is God, coeternal with the Father and the Son, and that God grants him irrevocably to all who believe. (bolded words are for younger children)
READ:
[20] While I was speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my plea before the Lord my God for the holy hill of my God, [21] while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice. [22] He made me understand, speaking with me and saying, “O Daniel, I have now come out to give you insight and understanding. [23] At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved. Therefore consider the word and understand the vision. - Daniel 9:20-23 (ESV)
Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?
- Suggested Question: What is Gabriel’s first message to Daniel?
PRAY:
Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.
- Suggested Prayer: Father, your love for us in incredible. Help us to, through prayer, rest in your love for us.
SING:
Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.
Day 5: Daniel 9:24-27
Weekly Catechism: (newcitycatechism.com)
- Q36: What do we believe about the Holy Spirit?
- A: That he is God, coeternal with the Father and the Son, and that God grants him irrevocably to all who believe. (bolded words are for younger children)
READ:
[24] “Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. [25] Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. [26] And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. [27] And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.” - Daniel 9:24-27 (ESV)
Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?
- Suggested Question: What events is the angel describing? Does God answer Daniel’s prayer?
PRAY:
Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.
- Suggested Prayer: Father, you have plans that are so far above us we could never understand them all. Give us the ability to trust you through really difficult days. We know you love us and care for us deeply. That impact everything we do.
SING:
Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.
