A Prayer of Intercession - Daniel 9:3-19

By David Woods

In our quarterly, the lesson for today is titled, "A Prayer of Confession." However, I am re-titling it, "A Prayer of Intercession."

Why? Our text is the prayer of Daniel confessing the sins of Israel and pleading for God to return them to their homeland. Daniel speaks in this prayer as if he personally was part of the problem.

However, we know that Daniel lived a very righteous life. In fact, the jealous government officials in that one experience of his life could find no dirt on Daniel, therefore, they had to make up a law that Daniel would feel obligated to break (in order to not deny God).

If we address this prayer as a prayer of confession, what conclusions must we make? Daniel had not sinned. However, he prayed as if he was part of those who had sinned. How do we apply this to our lives today?

If we address this prayer as a prayer of confession, we then might look at the sins our nation has committed. Then, to follow Daniel's example we might confess those sins as if we had committed them.

What might such sins include? Possibly the oppression of American Indians by settlers, the enslaving of and racism toward African-Americans, the murders of millions of unborn babies, etc.

I am not denying that these were sins. However, what does God's Word say about the sins of past generations? The Bible says that each person is guilty for his or her own sins. We are not guilty for the sins of our fathers, nor will our children be guilty for sins we have committed.

Why then should we take on ourselves guilt for sins we have not committed? Furthermore, when must our self-inflicted flogging end? Will every generation of American Caucasians need to feel guilty for the slavery of African-Americans? Such an idea just doesn't make sense, logically or Biblically.

I think the writer of the "Doctrinal Discussion" described best what was going on in our text. He says:

With this idea of intercession, I believe Daniel's prayer becomes more understandable. He was not confessing sins he had committed so much as he was confessing the sins of the nation.

Of course, Daniel identified with his people and he did so especially in the spirit of intercession. Therefore, instead of saying, "Israel has sinned" he said, "We have sinned." With this understanding of this prayer, I would now like us to consider what it means to intercede for others.

Read Daniel 9:3-10

Discussion: What is the purpose of fasting?

Discussion: What does it mean to fast? Is fasting limited to not eating food?

Discussion: Why do you think people would wear sackcloth?

Read Matthew 6:5-6, 16-18

Discussion: Is it Biblical to make public one's sorrow for sin? Why or why not?

List: What are some important elements of intercession found in verses 3-10?
(He shows a great respect for God's holiness and power, he reminds himself and God of God's mercy and faithfulness, he admits the sins of Israel)

Read Daniel 9:11-15

Discussion: Daniel says that the result of Israel's transgression was, "the curse is poured out on us." What should this tell us about sin?

Discussion: How is God "righteous in all his works which he doeth" in "bringing upon us a great evil"?

Discussion: Why and/or how can the sinner confidently ask God for mercy?

Read Daniel 9:16-19

I realize Daniel's prayer to God is specific in what he was asking God to do for Israel. However, I believe we can find principles of what God does when the sinner repents.

List: When we confess our sins, what does God do?

Discussion: What does it mean for God's face to "shine" upon us?

Discussion: What lessons might we learn from Daniel's example of an intercessor?

Discussion: Do you intercede on other's behalf?

Discussion: What attitude(s) are necessary to become serious about intercession?