Incline Your ear, O my God, and hear; open Your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears Your name. For we are not presenting our petitions before You because of our righteous acts, but because of Your great compassion. Incline Your ear, O my God, and hearThe phrase "Incline Your ear" is a plea for God to listen attentively. In Hebrew, the word for "incline" is "natah," which conveys the idea of stretching out or bending down. This imagery suggests a God who is willing to stoop down to hear the cries of His people, emphasizing His accessibility and willingness to engage with humanity. The phrase "O my God" personalizes the prayer, indicating a relationship between Daniel and God. It reflects a deep trust and reliance on God’s willingness to listen. The word "hear" in Hebrew is "shama," which not only means to hear but also to understand and respond. Daniel is not just asking God to listen but to act upon his request. open Your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears Your name
"Open Your eyes" is a metaphorical request for God to become aware of the situation. In Hebrew, "open" is "patah," which means to unseal or reveal. Daniel is asking God to take notice of the plight of Jerusalem. The "desolation of the city" refers to the destruction and ruin of Jerusalem, which was a result of the Babylonian conquest. Historically, this desolation was a significant event, marking the exile of the Jewish people and the destruction of the Temple. The phrase "that bears Your name" highlights the covenant relationship between God and Jerusalem. The city was not just any city; it was chosen by God and held a special place in His divine plan. This appeal is based on the honor of God's name, which is associated with Jerusalem. For we are not presenting our petitions before You because of our righteous acts
This phrase acknowledges human insufficiency and the inability to earn God’s favor through deeds. The Hebrew word for "righteous acts" is "tsedaqah," which refers to justice or righteousness. Daniel admits that the people have no merit of their own to claim before God. This humility is a central theme in the Bible, where human righteousness is often seen as insufficient compared to God's holiness. The word "petitions" in Hebrew is "tachanun," which implies supplications or earnest requests. Daniel is presenting these petitions not based on human merit but on something greater. but because of Your great compassion
The phrase "Your great compassion" is the foundation of Daniel's appeal. The Hebrew word for "compassion" is "rachamim," which is derived from "rechem," meaning womb, suggesting a deep, nurturing love. This word conveys the idea of a tender, merciful love that God has for His people. Daniel relies on God's character, His mercy, and His covenantal love rather than any human action. This reflects a key theological point in conservative Christianity: salvation and divine intervention are acts of grace, not earned by human deeds but given freely by a loving God. The emphasis on "great" underscores the vastness and depth of God's mercy, which is limitless and available to those who seek Him earnestly. Persons / Places / Events 1. DanielA prophet and a man of prayer, Daniel is interceding for his people, Israel, and the desolate city of Jerusalem. 2. GodThe sovereign Lord to whom Daniel directs his prayer, appealing to His compassion and mercy. 3. JerusalemThe city that bears God's name, currently in desolation due to the people's sin and subsequent exile. 4. ExileThe period during which the Israelites were taken captive to Babylon, a result of their disobedience to God. 5. BabylonThe empire where Daniel and the Israelites are exiled, representing a place of judgment and foreign domination. Teaching Points The Power of Intercessory PrayerDaniel's prayer demonstrates the importance of interceding for others, especially in times of national or communal crisis. Appealing to God's CharacterOur prayers should be grounded in the nature of God—His compassion, mercy, and faithfulness—rather than our own righteousness. Acknowledging Our UnworthinessRecognizing our own sinfulness and unworthiness is crucial in approaching God, as it shifts the focus from self to God's grace. The Importance of ConfessionConfession is a vital part of prayer, acknowledging our failures and seeking God's forgiveness and restoration. Hope in DesolationEven in times of desolation and despair, there is hope in God's compassion and the possibility of restoration. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Daniel's approach to prayer in Daniel 9:18 reflect his understanding of God's character? 2. In what ways can we incorporate intercessory prayer into our daily lives, especially for our communities and nations? 3. How does acknowledging our unworthiness before God change the way we pray and live? 4. What are some practical steps we can take to ensure our prayers are grounded in God's compassion rather than our own perceived righteousness? 5. How can the hope found in God's compassion and mercy encourage us during times of personal or communal desolation? Connections to Other Scriptures 2 Chronicles 7:14This verse emphasizes the importance of humility, prayer, and seeking God's face, similar to Daniel's approach in his prayer. Psalm 51:1David's plea for mercy based on God's unfailing love and compassion parallels Daniel's appeal to God's great compassion. Lamentations 3:22-23The steadfast love and mercies of God are highlighted, reinforcing the basis of Daniel's appeal. Nehemiah 1:6Nehemiah's prayer for the people of Israel echoes Daniel's intercessory prayer, focusing on confession and seeking God's favor. Luke 18:13The tax collector's prayer for mercy, acknowledging his unworthiness, reflects the humility in Daniel's prayer. People Ahasuerus, Daniel, Darius, Gabriel, Jeremiah, NahumPlaces Egypt, Greece, JerusalemTopics Account, Acts, Bears, Behold, Causing, Compassion, Compassions, Desolation, Desolations, Ear, Fall, Ground, Hearing, Incline, Manifold, Mercies, Mercy, Merits, Named, O, Offering, Open, Petitions, Prayers, Present, Presenting, Requests, Righteous, Righteousness, Righteousnesses, Sake, Supplications, Town, Turn, WasteDictionary of Bible Themes Daniel 9:18 5036 mind, of God
5148 ear
6687 mercy, God's
8157 righteousness, as faith
8491 watchfulness, divine
8636 asking Daniel 9:1-19 8611 prayer, for others Daniel 9:1-23 4926 delay, human Daniel 9:4-19 1065 God, holiness of
6655 forgiveness, application Daniel 9:15-19 1035 God, faithfulness Daniel 9:16-19 6712 propitiation Daniel 9:17-18 1055 God, grace and mercy Daniel 9:17-19 6667 grace, in OT Daniel 9:17-23 7217 exile, in Babylon Daniel 9:18-19 5043 names, significance Library Daniel: a Pattern for Pleaders
"O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God; for thy city and thy people are called by thy name."--Daniel 9:19. DANIEL was a man in very high position in life. It is true he was not living in his own native land, but, in the providence of God, he had been raised to great eminence under the dominion of the country in which he dwelt. He might, therefore, naturally have forgotten his poor kinsmen; many have done so. Alas! we have known some that have …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 61: 1915The Man and the Book.
In this and the following lectures I attempt an account and estimate of the Prophet Jeremiah, of his life and teaching, and of the Book which contains them--but especially of the man himself, his personality and his tempers (there were more than one), his religious experience and its achievements, with the various high styles of their expression; as well as his influence on the subsequent religion of his people. It has often been asserted that in Jeremiah's ministry more than in any other of the …
George Adam Smith—Jeremiah Whether the Time of the Future Judgment is Unknown?
Objection 1: It would seem that the time of the future judgment is not unknown. For just as the holy Fathers looked forward to the first coming, so do we look forward to the second. But the holy Fathers knew the time of the first coming, as proved by the number of weeks mentioned in Daniel 9: wherefore the Jews are reproached for not knowing the time of Christ's coming (Lk. 12:56): "You hypocrites, you know how to discern the face of the heaven and of the earth, but how is it that you do not discern …
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica That Whereas the City of Jerusalem had Been Five Times Taken Formerly, this was the Second Time of Its Desolation. A Brief Account of Its History.
1. And thus was Jerusalem taken, in the second year of the reign of Vespasian, on the eighth day of the month Gorpeius [Elul]. It had been taken five [34] times before, though this was the second time of its desolation; for Shishak, the king of Egypt, and after him Antiochus, and after him Pompey, and after them Sosius and Herod, took the city, but still preserved it; but before all these, the king of Babylon conquered it, and made it desolate, one thousand four hundred and sixty-eight years and …
Flavius Josephus—The Wars of the Jews or History of the Destruction of Jerusalem From the Supplement to the Summa --Question Lxxii of the Prayers of the Saints who are in Heaven
I. Are the Saints cognizant of our Prayers? II. Ought we to appeal to the Saints to intercede for us? III. Are the Saints' Prayers to God for us always heard? I Are the Saints cognizant of our Prayers? On those words of Job,[267] Whether his children come to honour or dishonour, he shall not understand, S. Gregory says: "This is not to be understood of the souls of the Saints, for they see from within the glory of Almighty God, it is in nowise credible that there should be anything without of …
St. Thomas Aquinas—On Prayer and The Contemplative Life The Blessing of God.
NUMB. VI. 22-27. We have already seen the grace of GOD making provision that His people, who had lost the privilege of priestly service, might draw near to Him by Nazarite separation and consecration. And not as the offence was the free gift: those who had forfeited the privilege of priestly service were the males only, but women and even children might be Nazarites; whosoever desired was free to come, and thus draw near to GOD. We now come to the concluding verses of Numb. vi, and see in them one …
James Hudson Taylor—Separation and Service Three Things Briefly to be Regarded in Christ --viz. His Offices of Prophet, King, and Priest.
1. Among heretics and false Christians, Christ is found in name only; but by those who are truly and effectually called of God, he is acknowledged as a Prophet, King, and Priest. In regard to the Prophetical Office, the Redeemer of the Church is the same from whom believers under the Law hoped for the full light of understanding. 2. The unction of Christ, though it has respect chiefly to the Kingly Office, refers also to the Prophetical and Priestly Offices. The dignity, necessity, and use of this …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion General Account of Jesus' Teaching.
^A Matt. IV. 17; ^B Mark I. 14, 15; ^C Luke IV. 14, 15. ^a 17 From that time Jesus began to preach [The time here indicated is that of John the Baptist's imprisonment and Jesus' return to Galilee. This time marked a new period in the public ministry of Jesus. Hitherto he had taught, but he now began to preach. When the voice of his messenger, John, was silenced, the King became his own herald. Paul quoted the Greeks as saying that preaching was "foolishness," but following the example here set by …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Fifthly, as this Revelation, to the Judgment of Right and Sober Reason,
appears of itself highly credible and probable, and abundantly recommends itself in its native simplicity, merely by its own intrinsic goodness and excellency, to the practice of the most rational and considering men, who are desirous in all their actions to have satisfaction and comfort and good hope within themselves, from the conscience of what they do: So it is moreover positively and directly proved to be actually and immediately sent to us from God, by the many infallible signs and miracles …
Samuel Clarke—A Discourse Concerning the Being and Attributes of God Appendix v. Rabbinic Theology and Literature
1. The Traditional Law. - The brief account given in vol. i. p. 100, of the character and authority claimed for the traditional law may here be supplemented by a chronological arrangement of the Halakhoth in the order of their supposed introduction or promulgation. In the first class, or Halakhoth of Moses from Sinai,' tradition enumerates fifty-five, [6370] which may be thus designated: religio-agrarian, four; [6371] ritual, including questions about clean and unclean,' twenty-three; [6372] concerning …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah The Fulfilled Prophecies of the Bible Bespeak the Omniscience of Its Author
In Isaiah 41:21-23 we have what is probably the most remarkable challenge to be found in the Bible. "Produce your cause, saith the Lord; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob. Let them bring them forth, and show us what shall happen; let them show the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. Show the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods." This Scripture has both a negative …
Arthur W. Pink—The Divine Inspiration of the Bible "And There is None that Calleth Upon Thy Name, that Stirreth up Himself to Take Hold on Thee,"
Isaiah lxiv. 7.--"And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold on thee," &c. They go on in the confession of their sins. Many a man hath soon done with that a general notion of sin is the highest advancement in repentance that many attain to. You may see here sin and judgment mixed in thorough other(315) in their complaint. They do not so fix their eyes upon their desolate estate of captivity, as to forget their provocations. Many a man would spend more affection, …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning The Sin-Bearer.
A COMMUNION MEDITATION AT MENTONE. "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."--1 Peter ii. 24, 25. THE SIN-BEARER. THIS wonderful passage is a part of Peter's address to servants; and in his day nearly all servants were slaves. Peter begins at the eighteenth verse: "Servants, be subject …
Charles Hadden Spurgeon—Till He Come Jesus Heals on the Sabbath Day and Defends his Act.
(at Feast-Time at Jerusalem, Probably the Passover.) ^D John V. 1-47. ^d 1 After these things there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. [Though every feast in the Jewish calendar has found some one to advocate its claim to be this unnamed feast, yet the vast majority of commentators choose either the feast of Purim, which came in March, or the Passover, which came in April. Older commentators pretty unanimously regarded it as the Passover, while the later school favor the feast …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel The Being of God
Q-III: WHAT DO THE SCRIPTURES PRINCIPALLY TEACH? A: The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man. Q-IV: WHAT IS GOD? A: God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. Here is, 1: Something implied. That there is a God. 2: Expressed. That he is a Spirit. 3: What kind of Spirit? I. Implied. That there is a God. The question, What is God? takes for granted that there …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity The Manifestation of the Messiah
(JOHN I. 31.) "Before me, as in darkening glass, Some glorious outlines pass, Of love, and truth, and holiness, and power-- I own them thine, O Christ, And bless Thee in this hour." F. R. HAVERGAL. The Herald's Proclamation--The Meeting of John and Jesus--Christ's Baptism--"It Becometh Us."--"My Beloved Son." John's life, at this period, was an extraordinary one. By day he preached to the teeming crowds, or baptized them; by night he would sleep in some slight booth, or darksome cave. But the …
F. B. Meyer—John the Baptist The Intercession of Christ
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us! T he Redemption of the soul is precious. Fools make mock of sin (Proverbs 14:9) . But they will not think lightly of it, who duly consider the majesty, authority, and goodness of Him, against whom it is committed; and who are taught, by what God actually has done, what sin rendered necessary to be done, before a sinner could have a well-grounded …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2 Destruction of Jerusalem Foretold.
^A Matt. XXIV. 1-28; ^B Mark XIII. 1-23; ^C Luke XXI. 5-24. ^a 1 And Jesus went out from the temple [leaving it to return no more], and was going on his way; and his disciples came to him ^b as he went forth ^a to show him the buildings of the temple. ^b one of his disciples saith unto him, Teacher, behold, what manner of stones and what manner of buildings! ^c 5 And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and offerings, he said [The strength and wealth of the temple roused …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Christ's Priestly Office
Q-35: HOW DOES CHRIST EXECUTE THE OFFICE OF A PRIEST? A: In his once offering up of himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God, and in making continual intercession for us. 'Now once in the end of the world has he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.' Heb 9:96. What are the parts of Christ's priestly office? Christ's priestly office has two parts - his satisfaction and intercession. I. His Satisfaction; and this consists of two branches. [1] His active …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity The Scriptures
Q-II: WHAT RULE HAS GOD GIVEN TO DIRECT US HOW WE MAY GLORIFY AND ENJOY HIM? A: The Word of God, which is contained in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him. 2 Tim 3:16. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,' By Scripture is understood the sacred Book of God. It is given by divine inspiration; that is, the Scripture is not the contrivance of man's brain, but is divine in its origin. The image of Diana was had in veneration …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity Links Daniel 9:18 NIVDaniel 9:18 NLTDaniel 9:18 ESVDaniel 9:18 NASBDaniel 9:18 KJV
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