Today’s Reading:
Daniel 9:4-11
“And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee. O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee. To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against him; Neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore, the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.” (Daniel 9:4-11, KJV)
Daniel and his friends were born into the noble Judean families and were "children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science" (Daniel 1:4). Daniel was deported to Babylon at the age of sixteen and was given a new name that honoured one of the Babylonian deities ( Belteshazzar) which means ("Bel" to protect his life. Jeremiah 51:44). He is one of the very few well known Bible characters about whom nothing negative was ever written and characterized the life of faith, prayer, courage, consistency, lack of compromise and greatly beloved (Daniel 10:11, 19). Again, he is about the only person that angel Gabriel thought it necessary to come and explain to him what delayed his intercessory prayer ( Daniel 9:20-23). He was so used to prayer that his enemies could not find any fault against him except that he communicates with God three (3) times daily (Daniel 6:4-5).
“And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.” (Ezekiel 22:30 KJV). As much as God is always in search of a man to stand in the gap for his people, Daniel studied and received wisdom of how to remind God of His words and that the appointed year of slavery has passed. Just as Moses led the children of Israel out of the land of slavery, Daniel prayed for God's remembrance and relocation back to their land of the nativity. Just as in his prayer, Nehemiah did not separate himself from the sins of their forefathers, Daniel too did not exonerate himself from the sins which the patriarch committed which brought God's anger to the land.
Interestingly, intercessory prayer is one that is seriously lacking in the Christians prayers today. Abraham interceded for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:23-33), Moses interceded for the people of Israel ( Exodus 33:11-17), Jesus interceded for Peter (Luke 22:31-32). Our God is faithful, according to Ezekiel 22:30 up till now our Lord Jesus Christ still intercedes between man and God making peace. If there are people who can pray, we have and serve a God who can answer. As it was, in the beginning, is still now, do not be self-centred but remember others in need of your prayers.
OLUWOLE OTEMADE
Prayer:
Thank you, Father, for the words of encouragement sent to me today, in Jesus name.
Father forgive me for all my selfish prayer; give me a new heart and strengthen me in the place of prayer,
Father, according to your word, I will be that man you are searching for to stand in the gap for my immediate family, extended family, fellowship members, neighbours, Lagos state, Nigeria as a country and the world at large, in Jesus name.
Lord gives me the courage and boldness like Abraham, grant me humility and wisdom like Nehemiah and Daniel, and help me to be selfless like Moses in the place of prayer, in Jesus name.
Father, rekindle my prayer life, in Jesus mighty name.
Light of God, shine on our nation, in Jesus precious name.
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