Daniel 9
Commentary – Part One: Daniel’s Prayer
Daniel 9 takes place right after the collapse of Babylon in Daniel 5, when the Medo-Persian Empire rose to power exactly as God had foretold through Isaiah and Jeremiah (Isaiah 44:27–28; 45:1–2; 47:9–11; Jeremiah 50–51), spoken 150 years before it happened. Daniel is now an elderly man—about eighty-two years old—who has spent a lifetime walking faithfully with God in a foreign land. Even after decades of leadership and prophetic visions, Daniel is still a man who loves the Word of God. While reading Jeremiah’s prophecy, he realizes that the seventy years of exile are now complete. Instead of responding with pride, excitement, or passivity, Daniel is moved to humble repentance. The Word exposed the moment; prayer expressed his heart. He falls to his knees with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes—not blaming Babylon, not blaming his ancestors, but confessing, “We have sinned and rebelled.” Daniel appeals to God’s mercy, His covenant love, and His reputation among the nations. As soon as Daniel begins to pray, heaven moves. Gabriel is sent with a message revealing not only Israel’s immediate restoration but God’s long-term plan leading all the way to the Messiah. In this chapter we learn that when God reveals His plans in His Word, He invites His people to respond with humility, repentance, and faith—because those who know their God take His Word seriously, fall before Him honestly, and are strengthened to walk faithfully in the days ahead.
Commentary – Part Two: Gabriel’s Message
Gabriel’s arrival in Daniel 9 reveals that God not only hears prayer—He answers it with clarity, compassion, and revelation. The moment Daniel begins praying, Gabriel says, “A command was given, and I have come to tell you, for you are very precious to God.” God honors Daniel’s humility by giving him insight into something far greater than the end of the seventy-year exile. Gabriel reveals the prophecy of the seventy weeks, God’s timeline leading to the coming of the Messiah, the atonement for sin, the rebuilding of Jerusalem, and the unfolding of God’s plan for His people. Daniel had prayed about Israel’s immediate condition, and God responded by lifting Daniel’s eyes to His eternal purposes. This reminds us that when we pray according to Scripture, God often answers beyond what we can see, inviting us to trust His wisdom, timing, and sovereignty. Gabriel’s message teaches us that God is never late, never uncertain, and never disconnected from the affairs of His people. He rules history, fulfills prophecy, and carries His plans forward—even when circumstances seem overwhelming. And like Daniel, those who walk closely with God become vessels through whom He reveals His heart, His truth, and His future plans.
✨ Women Who Know Their God....
Commentary – Part One: Daniel’s Prayer
Daniel 9 takes place right after the collapse of Babylon in Daniel 5, when the Medo-Persian Empire rose to power exactly as God had foretold through Isaiah and Jeremiah (Isaiah 44:27–28; 45:1–2; 47:9–11; Jeremiah 50–51), spoken 150 years before it happened. Daniel is now an elderly man—about eighty-two years old—who has spent a lifetime walking faithfully with God in a foreign land. Even after decades of leadership and prophetic visions, Daniel is still a man who loves the Word of God. While reading Jeremiah’s prophecy, he realizes that the seventy years of exile are now complete. Instead of responding with pride, excitement, or passivity, Daniel is moved to humble repentance. The Word exposed the moment; prayer expressed his heart. He falls to his knees with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes—not blaming Babylon, not blaming his ancestors, but confessing, “We have sinned and rebelled.” Daniel appeals to God’s mercy, His covenant love, and His reputation among the nations. As soon as Daniel begins to pray, heaven moves. Gabriel is sent with a message revealing not only Israel’s immediate restoration but God’s long-term plan leading all the way to the Messiah. In this chapter we learn that when God reveals His plans in His Word, He invites His people to respond with humility, repentance, and faith—because those who know their God take His Word seriously, fall before Him honestly, and are strengthened to walk faithfully in the days ahead.
Commentary – Part Two: Gabriel’s Message
Gabriel’s arrival in Daniel 9 reveals that God not only hears prayer—He answers it with clarity, compassion, and revelation. The moment Daniel begins praying, Gabriel says, “A command was given, and I have come to tell you, for you are very precious to God.” God honors Daniel’s humility by giving him insight into something far greater than the end of the seventy-year exile. Gabriel reveals the prophecy of the seventy weeks, God’s timeline leading to the coming of the Messiah, the atonement for sin, the rebuilding of Jerusalem, and the unfolding of God’s plan for His people. Daniel had prayed about Israel’s immediate condition, and God responded by lifting Daniel’s eyes to His eternal purposes. This reminds us that when we pray according to Scripture, God often answers beyond what we can see, inviting us to trust His wisdom, timing, and sovereignty. Gabriel’s message teaches us that God is never late, never uncertain, and never disconnected from the affairs of His people. He rules history, fulfills prophecy, and carries His plans forward—even when circumstances seem overwhelming. And like Daniel, those who walk closely with God become vessels through whom He reveals His heart, His truth, and His future plans.
✨ Women Who Know Their God....
- Respond to Scripture with humility, letting the Word expose what needs to change.
- Run to God in repentance instead of hiding, excusing, or blaming.
- Pray according to God’s Word, treating prayer as partnership with God’s purposes, not a ritual.
- Stay anchored in truth, unmoved by culture, emotion, or fear.
- Trust God’s timing and sovereignty, knowing He rules history and keeps every promise.
- Walk faithfully in obedience, even when they don’t see the full picture.
- Influence their home, church, and community, because their lives reflect God’s steadiness and strength.
- Live with spiritual discernment, recognizing the enemy’s lies and refusing to be swayed by the world.
- Pursue holiness, desiring a heart that honors God in every season.
- Carry God’s presence into their world, drawing others toward Him through their example.
Application Questions to Journal
- When I read God’s Word, do I slow down enough to let the Holy Spirit reveal what He wants to change in me—just as Daniel did when he read Jeremiah?
- Are there any areas of my life where God is calling me to humble myself, confess sin, or turn back to Him instead of ignoring His conviction?
- Do I respond to God’s Word with immediate prayer, or do I rely on my own strength, emotions, or opinions before going to Him?
- What promises of God do I need to cling to right now, believing with confidence that He will fulfill them just as faithfully as He fulfilled His word to Israel?
- Where am I tempted to be influenced by the world around me—and how can Scripture anchor me so I influence the world for God instead?
- How can Daniel’s example of prayer, fasting, and repentance shape the way I pray for my family, my church, and the next generation?
- Which part of Gabriel’s message encourages me most—God’s sovereignty, His timing, His plan, or His promise of restoration? Why?
- What step of obedience is God asking me to take this week to become a woman who knows her God—steadfast, discerning, and faithful?