Daniel Chapter 9 Vs. 16

Daniel's Prayer for His People

Daniel 9:16 "O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people [are become] a reproach to all [that are] about us."




I beseech thee... let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, Ten requests of Daniel:

1. Let Your anger and fury be turned away from Jerusalem and Mt. Zion (Dan. 9:16).

2. Hear my prayer (Dan. 9:17, 9:18, 9:19).

3. Hear my supplications (Dan. 9:17).

4. Cause Your face to shine upon Your sanctuary (Dan. 9:17).

5. Incline Your ear to hear (Dan. 9:18).

6. Open Your eyes (Dan. 9:18).

7. See our desolations (Dan. 9:18).

8. Forgive our sins (Dan. 9:19).

9. Hearken and do (Dan. 9:19).

10. Defer not my answer (Dan. 9:19).

thy city Jerusalem... Jerusalem has been chosen by God to be the capital of His eternal kingdom on earth (Psm. 2:6; 48:2; 87:2; 102:16; 132:13; Isa. 2:2-4; Eze. 48:1-35; Zec. 14:1-21).

thy holy mountain... Mt. Zion (Psm. 2:6; 48:2; 87:2).

reproach to all that are about us... This is what men fear (Jer. 24:9; 29:18; 42:18; 44:8, 44:12; Eze. 5:14-51; 22:4).

Daniel is pleading for Jerusalem and all of God's people. Where they had been highly respected, because of their God before, now they are ridiculed. Daniel says that even Jerusalem is falling to some ridicule. Notice, Daniel asks forgiveness according to God's righteousness, not the people's righteousness. Daniel knows when God stops being angry with them, He will turn and bless them.

Daniel prayed for restoration in 3 aspects, In effect he asked God to bring back “(your city”, v.16 & 18), “Your desolate sanctuary, v.17, and “Your people”, v.19. God’s answer embraced all three, v.24.



In prayer that God, in keeping with His righteous acts (cf. Dan. 9:7, 9:14), would turn away His anger and… wrath from Jerusalem, Daniel was asking that God’s discipline might be lifted and the people freed from their present bondage. (Jerusalem is God’s city; cf. Dan. 9:24, and His holy hill; cf. Dan. 9:20; Joel 2:1; 3:17; Zeph. 3:11.)

Once again Daniel attributed the nation’s present status to her past sin, the sins and… iniquities of our fathers (cf. Dan. 9:6, 9:8).