Daniel: Far From HomeНамуна

These verses are the foundation of the prayer that will follow from verse 4. First we are told the date of the prayer – ‘the first year of Darius son of Xerxes’. It is very probable that Darius is another name for Cyrus, mentioned back in chapter 1 (see 1:21). This will help us see (e.g. Ezra 1:1) that the prayer of Daniel is answered. Darius being ‘made ruler’ over the Babylonian empire is something God has done. Again we see He is in control, even of pagan kings.

In verse 2 we see that Daniel is aware of the prophecies of Jeremiah. There are two phrases Daniel uses to describe what Jeremiah has spoken. Firstly, they are Scripture, and secondly they are the ‘word of the Lord’. These are terms Jesus uses to describe the Old Testament. It means that Daniel, within decades of Jeremiah speaking, accepts that the prophet’s words carry the authority of any other part of the Old Testament.

Daniel knew that Jeremiah had prophesied that the ‘desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years’ (v. 2). He had prophesied that the exile would happen but the ‘whole country will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years’ (Jer. 25:11). Further, he had written a letter to the elders in exile saying, ‘“…you will call upon me and… find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,”’ declares the Lord, ‘and will bring you back from captivity’ (Jer. 29:12–14).

Daniel’s prayer is, therefore, founded on Scripture. Verse 3 follows verse 2 with a ‘so’. It indicates that Daniel is responding to the word of God. He is now ‘calling upon the Lord’ as Jeremiah said should happen. Daniel, therefore, believes the word of God, expecting Him to do what He had said. Praying according to the promises of God is a sound basis for our praying, too. In order to do this we have to know the ‘word of the Lord’.

We notice, too, the serious nature of the praying. In verse 3 we are told that Daniel ‘pleaded’ with the Lord. He also fasts, something often associated in the Old Testament with prayer. And he wears sackcloth and ashes, which are Old Testament expressions of mourning. Daniel is not just going to ask God to honour His promises, but is going to confess the sins that have led to the exile judgement of God.

Reflection

How well do we know what God has promised for us? Are we in the habit of using the promises of God as the foundation for our praying? Is there the same seriousness in our praying as we see here in Daniel?