Deeper Reflection
In his prayer, Daniel moved from brokenness – in the way he confessed the sins of Israel (Dan 9:5-14) – to earnestness: “O Lord hear! O Lord forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! O my God, do not delay!” (v.19). It was an earnestness with brokenness. Daniel’s prayer was anchored in the glory of God and the grace of God – the basis for God to answer his prayer.Glory of God: Daniel appealed to God to hear and answer his prayer “for Your own sake” (vv.17, 19) – for His own glory. He also appealed to God by the fact of “Your city and Your people are called by Your name” (vv.18, 19). The name of God is the glory of God. When Moses asked God to show him His glory, God proclaimed His name (Exo 33:18-19). God redeemed Israel from the Egyptian bondage to make “a name for Yourself ” (v.15). But Israel’s unfaithfulness that resulted in God’s judgment had dishonoured God’s name. And Daniel asked God to vindicate His own name by forgiving and restoring His people.Grace of God: Daniel recognised the utter spiritual bankruptcy of Israel: “we are not presenting our supplications before You on account of any merits of our own” (v.18). What Daniel was saying is, “Lord, we have nothing and we can do nothing to have You hear and answer our prayer.” Israel’s hope was found only in the “great compassion” (v.18) of the God of “compassion and forgiveness” (Dan 9:9). Biblical discipleship is marked by “to the praise of the glory of His grace” (Eph 1:6).