Daniel 9:1-3 – We must pray.

Despite the warnings, God’s covenant people resisted His plan for them. They even oppressed the prophets He had sent to warn them. The Prophet Jeremiah explicitly told them God would discipline them.  In Jeremiah 25:11, the Prophet told them, “This whole land (Judah and Jerusalem) will be a desolation and a horror, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years.” It was no secret that the people of Israel would be in captivity for seventy years, and the tenure was almost up. 

As established earlier, Darius the Medes and King Cyrus of Persia refer to the same person. Daniel 9 shows that what happens in this chapter was triggered by Daniel's reading of Jeremiah's writings. 

This took place in the first year of Darius’ reign. In other words, Babylon had already fallen into Medo-Persia’s hands, and Darius was on the throne. The end of Israel's Babylonian captivity was almost up and within sight.  But as yet, the people of Judah's release had not occurred.  

When Daniel read Jeremiah’s writing concerning the duration of their time in captivity, it precipitated his intense prayer for his beloved nation. Verse 3 indicates that Daniel intensifies his prayer, not only supplicating and praying for the country but also fasting and taking time to repent on the nation's behalf, highlighting the significance of these spiritual practices in maintaining faith and purpose in challenging times. 

The lesson we take away is certainly Daniel's attitude. He had not lost sight of God's plan and purpose for His people.  So, he prayed for God’s people. Prayer is a powerful tool we cannot afford to neglect. In prayer, we connect with God, the higher power. And in Him, we will find guidance, comfort, and strength to accept and achieve His will. Prayer also has numerous benefits for us. It will help us to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, promoting positive emotions and improving our overall well-being. We do well to incorporate prayer into our daily routines. We need to be in an attitude of prayer in our uncertain times. Remember to pray without ceasing.