If we don’t believe that prayer really matters or that God uses prayers as a means to bring about His purposes, then it’s unlikely we’ll pray. Daniel was a great prophet of God who depended upon prayer. But Jesus, the greater and final prophet, also depended upon prayer throughout His life and ministry.

When you think about prayer what comes to mind? Has prayer been a struggle for you or are you eager to pray each day? Do you wonder if your prayers really matter or do you believe that God uses your prayers to accomplish His plans and purposes? Are you eager to grow in your prayer life or are you content to remain where you are? Prayer is a gift from God. Therefore, believers should delight in talking to God the Father through the Son by the power of the Spirit. It’s good, then, that the Bible teaches us how to pray. Some chapters in the Bible record for us the prayers of God’s people. Daniel 9 is one of them. Through Daniel’s prayer we especially learn that God is merciful to those who confess their sins and seek Him.

While Daniel was living in exile in Babylon he discerned from Jeremiah’s prophecy that Israel would be in exile for seventy years (see Jer. 25:11-12). Therefore, he would have recognized that the seventy years were approaching their end. To put his prayer in context, remember that in 539BC Babylon fell to Persia. It was during this year that Daniel humbly prayed to God to be merciful to His people.

Daniel began his prayer by confessing who God is, “the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments” (Dan. 9:4). It is because of God’s faithfulness to His covenant that He is present with His people, even through exile, preserving them until the day of restoration (see Deut. 30:1-10).

The second matter Daniel addressed was their sin. He confessed, “we have…rebelled, turning aside from your commandments” (Dan. 9:5). Significantly, even though Daniel had been  faithful, he recognized he too was a sinner that had fallen short of God’s glory.

Third, Daniel confessed, “we have not listened to your servants the prophets” (Dan. 9:6). God’s people had refused to listen to God’s word and remained in rebellion. Therefore, God sent them into exile.

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