aniel considers the time of the captivity. (1-3) His
confession of sin, and prayer. (4-19) The revelation concerning
the coming of the Messiah. (20-27)
Verses 1-3: Daniel learned from the books of the prophets, especially
from Jeremiah, that the desolation of Jerusalem would continue
seventy years, which were drawing to a close. God's promises are
to encourage our prayers, not to make them needless; and when we
see the performance of them approaching, we should more
earnestly plead them with God.
Verses 4-19: In every prayer we must make confession, not only of the
sins we have been guilty of, but of our faith in God, and
dependence upon him, our sorrow for sin, and our resolutions
against it. It must be our confession, the language of our
convictions. Here is Daniel's humble, serious, devout address to
God; in which he gives glory to him as a God to be feared, and
as a God to be trusted. We should, in prayer, look both at God's
greatness and his goodness, his majesty and mercy. Here is a
penitent confession of sin, the cause of the troubles the people
for so many years groaned under. All who would find mercy must
thus confess their sins. Here is a self-abasing acknowledgment
of the righteousness of God; and it is evermore the way of true
penitents thus to justify God. Afflictions are sent to bring men
to turn from their sins, and to understand God's truth. Here is
a believing appeal to the mercy of God. It is a comfort that God
has been always ready to pardon sin. It is encouraging to
recollect that mercies belong to God, as it is convincing and
humbling to recollect that righteousness belongs to him. There
are abundant mercies in God, not only forgiveness, but
forgivenesses. Here are pleaded the reproach God's people was
under, and the ruins God's sanctuary was in. Sin is a reproach
to any people, especially to God's people. The desolations of
the sanctuary are grief to all the saints. Here is an earnest
request to God to restore the poor captive Jews to their former
enjoyments. O Lord, hearken and do. Not hearken and speak only,
but hearken and do; do that for us which none else can do; and
defer not. Here are several pleas and arguments to enforce the
petitions. Do it for the Lord Christ's sake; Christ is the Lord
of all. And for his sake God causes his face to shine upon
sinners when they repent, and turn to him. In all our prayers
this must be our plea, we must make mention of his
righteousness, even of his only. The humble, fervent, believing
earnestness of this prayer should ever be followed by us.
Verses 20-27: An answer was immediately sent to Daniel's prayer, and it
is a very memorable one. We cannot now expect that God should
send answers to our prayers by angels, but if we pray with
fervency for that which God has promised, we may by faith take
the promise as an immediate answer to the prayer; for He is
faithful that has promised. Daniel had a far greater and more
glorious redemption discovered to him, which God would work out
for his church in the latter days. Those who would be acquainted
with Christ and his grace, must be much in prayer. The evening
offering was a type of the great sacrifice Christ was to offer
in the evening of the world: in virtue of that sacrifice
Daniel's prayer was accepted; and for the sake of that, this
glorious discovery of redeeming love was made to him. We have,
in verses (24-27), one of the most remarkable prophecies of
Christ, of his coming and his salvation. It shows that the Jews
are guilty of most obstinate unbelief, in expecting another
Messiah, so long after the time expressly fixed for his coming.
The seventy weeks mean a day for a year, or 490 years. About the
end of this period a sacrifice would be offered, making full
atonement for sin, and bringing in everlasting righteousness for
the complete justification of every believer. Then the Jews, in
the crucifixion of Jesus, would commit that crime by which the
measure of their guilt would be filled up, and troubles would
come upon their nation. All blessings bestowed on sinful man
come through Christ's atoning sacrifice, who suffered once for
sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God.
Here is our way of access to the throne of grace, and of our
entrance to heaven. This seals the sum of prophecy, and confirms
the covenant with many; and while we rejoice in the blessings of
salvation, we should remember what they cost the Redeemer. How
can those escape who neglect so great salvation!
aniel considers the time of the captivity. (1-3) His
confession of sin, and prayer. (4-19) The revelation concerning
the coming of the Messiah. (20-27)