4/12/25

Daniel 9:20-23 NASB95 Now while I was speaking and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God in behalf of the holy mountain of my God, while I was still speaking in prayer, then the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision previously, came to me in my extreme weariness about the time of the evening offering. He gave me instruction and talked with me and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you insight with understanding. “At the beginning of your supplications the command was issued, and I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed; so give heed to the message and gain understanding of the vision.

Confession and repentance go a long way with God. Daniel as soon as he started to pray, confessing his sin and the sin of his people, found that God gave an immediate response. Our text says, "At the beginning of your supplications the command was issued, and I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed." He didn't receive this immediately, but immediately God responded. Our text says, "Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision previously, came to me in my extreme weariness about the time of the evening offering." From this, we see that immediately upon our prayer of confession and repentance for ourselves and on behalf of others, God responds. However, we must be patient in our prayers. For the correct time of deliverance might not come until we are exhausted from pouring ourselves out to the Lord!

Do not cease in your prayer of repentance and seeking God. While He answers immediately, He also answers at the perfect time.

Notice also that God's will for us probably will not end in our obedience in prayer but will require us to listen, understand, and respond in obedience to God's desire. Our text says, "He gave me instruction and talked with me and said, 'O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you insight with understanding. '"

We often fail at these things. First, we do not want to admit our sins in confession to God. Second, we are only concerned about ourselves and seldom put ourselves in the sacrificial position of praying on other's behalf. Third we are not consistent or persistent in our prayer. Fourth, we are not patient in waiting for His response. Then, fifth, we desire Him to fix everything, thinking once we pray, our part is finished.

Thankfully Daniel was not all these things. Therefore, we have an amazing prophecy of the timeline for the coming of the Messiah, the profession of His Lordship, His death, and the tribulation to come.

Do not underestimate what God might do with a person who plays and obeys like Daniel.

That can be us!

Love Bro. Scott