Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:1-19 ADVENT Word with Latin roots, meaning “coming.” Christians of earlier generations spoke of “the advent of our Lord” and of “His second advent.” The first phrase refers to God’s becoming incarnate in Jesus of Nazareth. The latter phrase speaks of Jesus’ second coming. In a second sense “advent” designates a period before Christmas when Christians prepare for the celebration of Jesus’ birth. This practice may have begun in some churches as early as the late fourth century. Advent began as a time of fasting. Sermons focused on the wonder of the Incarnation. By the Middle Ages four Sundays had become the standard length of the Advent season. Since then, Advent has been considered to be the beginning of the church year. In many churches Advent refers to the four weeks prior to Christmas, a “season of preparation” for Jesus’ coming at Christmas. This was not celebrated in the New Testament period (nor was Christmas, for that matter). The early Christians paid little attention to Jesus’ nativity and the time before it because they were more concerned with Jesus’ coming again. Some churches today bring this into their Advent celebrations, reminding people that Advent is not just a remembering of the past (Jesus came to earth) but a look toward the future (Jesus’ triumphant return). The United States of America in it’s current condition is quite similar to the Nation of Israel in the years leading up to the Babylonian exile. The people were worshipping false gods; they were ignoring the voice of the prophets, they were each doing what ever makes themselves happy. In their darkness of heart they forgot the precepts of God and forsook the God that had made them a nation to begin with. They became the LAUGHING STOCK of the neighboring nations. We too have forgotten the God that made us a nation. We have ignored His precepts and forgotten His commandments – taking them out of the courts and schools “LEST ANY SHOULD READ THEM AND BE MORALLY INSTRUCTED”. In the past 6 years we have gone from the world superpower to the world laughing stock. Each and every year the situation worsens. There is no hope in government – it matters little who you vote for – vote anyway! The nation has just become rebellious against God! Refusing to hear His counsel. Rejecting even to the very natural forms that He created.

Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans; Daniel 9:1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans;

Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:2  In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. Daniel 9:2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: Daniel 9:3 And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:

Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:4a And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, Daniel 9:4a And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said,

Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:4b O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; Daniel 9:4b O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;

Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: Daniel 9:5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:

Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:6 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. Daniel 9:6 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.

Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:7a 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, Daniel 9:7a 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,

Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:7b 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. Daniel 9:7b 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.

Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:8 O Lord, to us  belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee. Daniel 9:8 O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.

Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him; Daniel 9:9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;

Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:10 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. Daniel 9:10 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.

Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:11a Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, Daniel 9:11a Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us,

Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:11b and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him. Daniel 9:11b and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.

Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:12 And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem. Daniel 9:12 And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.

Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth Daniel 9:13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth.

Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:14 Therefore  hath the Lord watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice. Daniel 9:14 Therefore hath the Lord watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the Lord our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice.

Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:15 And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly. Daniel 9:15 And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly.

Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:16a 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: Daniel 9:16a 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: 

Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:16b 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. Daniel 9:16b  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.

Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:17 Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake. Daniel 9:17 Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake.

Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:18a O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: Daniel 9:18a O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name:

Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:18b for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies. Daniel 9:18b for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.

Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name. Daniel 9:19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name. iii PRAYER FOR ANOINTING !!! While this may not seem like a particular message for the time of considering our dear Saviors birth and His immanent return I believe that Daniel was inspired to this prayer by his own consideration of the time of The Messiah. Verse 2 – “I understood by books, the NUMBER OF YEARS. He could see that God was just about to perform, and He knew that God is faithful to do His works because of His own righteousness – not our own. While I feel it was vital to read the entire prayer of Daniel here in Chapter 9, we will only be dealing this morning with a certain part of it. Though the whole is important, I’ll ask you to read and consider the whole in your private devotions. I might add, that there is no where found in scripture where Daniel sinned against God. This was a righteous man. He kept himself holy before God. Even his enemies could not find fault with him; and believe me they certainly tried. The only thing they could do was create a bogus law to entrap Daniel before the king. I say this to say that even though Daniel was a righteous man; he did have sin. Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of god.” Herein is my point this morning – without borrowing from our New Years Message, 4 Keys to Revival – Daniel REPENTED for himself and for his people.

Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:4a And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, Daniel 9:4a And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, MY CONFESSION it is important for us as the people of God to realize our own imperfections. Matthew 7:1 “Judge not that ye be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured back to you.” It is important for us to understand the reason for which we should not judge – we too are sinners, saved by grace, yet sinners.

Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:4b O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; Daniel 9:4b O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; Daniel recognized the awesomeness of God. This is a key factor that we should all consider in our prayers. Do we come with a gimme attitude or do we come to worship and praise His Holy Name?

Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: Daniel 9:5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: WE HAVE SINNED! Daniel was making supplication for his own as well as the national sins of Israel.

Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:11a Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, Daniel 9:11a Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us,

Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:11b and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him. Daniel 9:11b and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him. WE HAVE SINNED AGAINST GOD! How?

Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:12 And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem. Daniel 9:12 And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.

Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth Daniel 9:13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth. It is the job of the righteous to start repentance. No where in scripture do we find the wicked repenting before the righteous. First the “righteous” – a misnomer, because none is righteous – repent of our sins, then the wicked see the hand of God and repent. MADE WE NOT OUR PRAYER BEFORE THE LORD OUR GOD! – what a sad commentary on the state of the union for any nation. We have forgotten God. A French observer of the times immediately following the American Revolution said of the prosperity of this nation: “In the end, the state of the Union comes down to the character of the people. ... I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors, her ample rivers, and it was not there. I sought for it in the fertile fields, and boundless prairies, and it was not there. I sought it in her rich mines, and vast world commerce, and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power.” He continued to add that her prosperity would continue only so long as the pulpits remained aflame with righteousness. Sadly, that is no longer the situation in our country. Many religious organizations who name the name of Christ our now living in flagrant sin; not only accepting sin, not only condoning sin, but ORDAINING SIN!

Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:15 And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly. Daniel 9:15 And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly. It is HIGH TIME the church get down on our knees and repent before God Almighty of admit WE HAVE SINNED, WE HAVE DONE WICKEDLY! THEN we should begin to beg the mercies of Almighty God as Daniel did….

Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:16a 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: Daniel 9:16a 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: 

Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:16b 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. Daniel 9:16b  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. “let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from America. Let us return to the state of revival and of sending missionaries. Take away our reproach! REPROACH – means to be the laughing stock – to be shamed before others.

Preparing To Receive The Lord Daniel 9:17 Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake. Daniel 9:17 Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake. We need to pray that for HIS SAKE – America is yet known as a Christian nation among the nations of the earth, though sadly we are far from so being, but the nations are now saying (as they did of Israel) where is their god??? Let us today begin to live a lifestyle of repentance before God. Let us prepare for His Second Advent – His coming in clouds of glory – by repenting of our sins, both private and public, personal and national. Let us begin to pray for a revival that will spread throughout this land. Let us pray for salvation of souls. Let us pray for the many foreigners who live in America to be saved and to see as Alexis de Touqueville said, “her pulpits are aflame with righteousness.”