How many of you have seen the movie Fiddler On The Roof?  Remember Tevye?  Do remember the scene where Tevye - the poor milkman - father of five daughters rather than five sons - struggling through life - living in a traditional world that’s coming apart - Tevye is coming home - his horse is lame - and Tevye is talking with God - in that kind of personal one-on-one ongoing dialogue he has with God.  Tevye cries out to God and says, “The good book says, ‘Heal us O Lord and we shall be healed.’  In other words, send us the cure.  We’ve got the sickness already.”

Do you ever feel that way?  Do you ever feel tired?  Weary?  Spiritually?  Physically?  We’re living for Jesus.  Trying to do all the right things and hang in there.  But life really is a spiritual battle.  And sometimes it just gets to be too much.  When it seems like the opposition is winning.  Ever feel like that?  Where is God and His cure?

That’s the context of Daniel 9.  If you would, turn with me to Daniel 9:1.  We want to look at Daniel - who was extremely weary of all that was going on around him - and where Daniel found the courage to go on.

Daniel 9:1:  In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of Median descent, who was made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans - another word for Babylonians - in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, observed in the books the number of the years which was revealed as the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely seventy years.  So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes.

Let’s pause there and catch up to where Daniel is.

We saw Darius back in chapter 6.  When Cyrus - the Persian - conquered Babylon - he left Darius the Mede in charge.  Same Darius as here in chapter 9.  The first year of Darius’ reign would put us at 539 or early 538 BC. 

Remember that Nebuchadnezzar - remember him?  Nebuchadnezzar invaded Jerusalem and hauled Daniel off into exile in Babylon in 605 BC.    So Daniel - who’s probably in his early 80’s - has been living in the pagan society of Babylon for about 68 years. 

Notice also that Daniel is reading the prophet Jeremiah.  That was Daniel’s routine - right?  Pray three times a day.  Read Scripture.    That’s why he got tossed in the lion’s den.  Specifically Daniel is reading Jeremiah.

In the 23 years before Daniel was hauled off to Babylon - God had been speaking through Jeremiah - warning His people.  “You’re not listening to Me.  You’re not obeying Me.  Turn back to Me or I’m going to send judgment.”  Finally, in Jeremiah 25 - God specifically says, “I’ve had it.  I’m going to send Nebuchadnezzar to haul you off into exile.”

Then this - which was what Daniel refers to here.  Jeremiah 25:11:  “This whole land - meaning Palestine - this whole land will be desolation and a horror, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years.”

Point being:  Daniel - and his people have been in exile for about 68 plus years.  Daniel is taking God at His word.  Times almost up.  Its time to go home.

Verse 4:  I prayed - Hang on.  I’d like to read this whole prayer and then we’ll come back and make some observations.  Stay with me - I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed and said, “Alas, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, we have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly and rebelled, even turning aside from your commandments and ordinances.  Moreover, we have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, our princes, our fathers and all the people of the land” - Remember God’s warnings through Jeremiah?

Verse 7:  “Righteousness belongs to You, O Lord, but to us open shame, as it is this day - to the men of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, those who are nearby and those who are far away in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of their unfaithful deeds which they have committed against You.  Open shame belongs to us, O Lord, to our kings, our princes and our fathers, because we have sinned against You.  To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against Him; nor have we observed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in His teachings which He set before us through His servants the prophets.  Indeed all Israel has transgressed Your law and turned aside, not obeying Your voice; so the curse has been poured out on us, along with the oath which is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, for we have sinned against Him - God.

Verse 12:  Thus He has confirmed His words which He had spoken against us and against our rulers who ruled us, to bring on us great calamity; for under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what was done to Jerusalem.  As it is written in the law of Moses, all this calamity has come on us; yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our iniquity and giving attention to your truth. - We never repented.

Verse 14:  Therefore the Lord has kept the calamity in store and brought it on us; for the Lord our God is righteous with respect to all His deeds which He has done, but we have not obeyed His voice.  And now, O lord our God, who have brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and have made a name for Yourself, as it is this day - we have sinned, we have been wicked.  O Lord, in accordance with all Your righteous acts, let now Your anger and Your wrath turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; for because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people have become a reproach to all those around us. - Now would be a good time for Your mercy and grace.

Verse 17:  So now, our God, listen to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplications, and for Your sake, O Lord, let Your face shine on Your desolate sanctuary.  O my God, incline Your ear and hear!  Open Your eyes and see our desolations and the city which is called by Your name; for we are not presenting our supplications before You on account of any merits of our own, but on account of Your great compassion.  O Lord, hear!  O Lord, forgive!  O Lord, listen and take action!  For Your own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”

Let’s stop there.  There are two observations that we need to make.

First:  Notice that the focus of Daniel’s prayer is God.

In verse 4 Daniel begins with adoration.  God is the “great and awesome God.”  The God who made mountains rise and spread the flowing seas.  Made the sun to rule the day and commands the moon to shine.  All the stars obey.  We sang that earlier.

He is the God who “keeps His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him.”  Slow to chide and swift to bless.  Also words we sang.  God provides for us - cares for us - nurtures us - is patient and gracious towards us.

Verse 7:  “Righteousness belongs to You, O Lord.”  He is holy - without sin - separate from His creation.  Verse 9:  “To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness.”  He is the God who chooses to save us - for His own sake.  Not ours.  Verse 14:  What God does is in accord with His righteousness.  Salvation - judgment - He is always acting without sin.  Always just.  Always holy.

Adoration is all about God.  Who God is.  His character.  Exalting Him.  The King exalted on high.  We will praise Him.

On your sermon notes I’ve listed the attributes of God.  Take time this week to read through them.  Some of them are easier to understand than others.  Look them up in a dictionary or systematic theology.  The point is to take time to follow Daniel’s example.  To think about God.  Mediate on who He is.  To speak words of praise and exaltation to the only One who is worthy of that adoration.

Daniel’s request is according to God’s will.  This prayer is all about God.

Verse 16:  “O Lord, in accordance with all Your righteous acts, let now Your anger and Your wrath turn away from Your city Jerusalem…”  Verse 17:  “For Your sake, O Lord, let Your face shine on Your desolate sanctuary.”  Verse 18:  Answer my prayer, not because of our merits, “but on account of Your great compassion.”  Verse 19:  “For Your sake… do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”

This is about what God wills.  Praying in conformity to the will of God.  Daniel knows the prophecy.  Knows that God keeps His word.  Knows of the character of God.  So Daniel’s prayer is asking for God to act according to His character and to accomplish His will.  “Hallowed be Your name.  Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9,10)

Way too often we come to prayer and our prayers are all about us.  We skip through the adoration part giving token acknowledgement to who God is.  Rushing to our shopping list of requests and concerns.  What does God want us to pray about?  What’s on His heart?

Second Observation:  Notice Daniel’s honesty before God.

We deserved this.  God wrote down His expectations - declared them to us even in the days of Moses.  We didn’t obey.  God sent prophet after prophet to warn us - to call us to repentance.  We didn’t listen.  He told us judgment had to come.  Still we rejected Him.  God did exactly what He said He would do and we deserve to be here in exile.

Isn’t that different from most of what we hear today?

Long ago in a church far, far away - I visited a mother who’s son was in prison.  I forget the crime.  He wasn’t a mass murderer.  But, he deserved to be prison.  The mother said to me, “Pastor, my son is a good boy.  If you write a letter from the church, maybe they’ll let him go.”

“Oh the injustice!  How our people have been wronged.  We’re owed something.  We don’t deserve this.  Its my spouses fault.  Its my parent’s fault.  How could a loving God allow this to happen?”

Notice the “we.”  Over and over Daniel lists the sins of his people.  He could have been detached - judgmental.  “They did this and I’m living in exile.”  But, he includes himself.  “We deserve this.”  Anyone here never sin?  We all deserve God’s punishment for sin.

Its so easy for us as Christians to see ourselves as the solution and not part of the problem.  Others deserve what they get.  But, we’re just experiencing collateral damage - fallout from their sin.   

But, we struggle with the same temptations and problems and issues as those around us.  Maybe in different ways and to different degrees. But we’re all humanity.  The difference - those without Jesus struggle and have no answers.  We struggle and know where to turn for the answer.  But, we all struggle.

Daniel’s kind of honesty before God is seeing ourselves as participating in the sins of the society in which we live.  Bottom line - we’re all sinners - living before a holy and just - great and awesome God.  All of us deserve punishment - exile from Him.

Let’s go on.  Verse 20:  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 God, while I was still speaking in prayer, then the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision previously - remember last Sunday?  God sends the  Gabriel to explain Daniel’s vision - then Gabriel - 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.”

Let’s pause there.

Notice when God answers Daniel.

While Daniel is praying to God he’s extremely weary of all that was going on around him.  60 plus years of an uphill battle living for God in a pagan society.  Where is God and His cure.  We can relate to how Daniel is feeling.  Yes?

God answers Daniel while Daniel is still speaking and praying and confessing and supplicating.  Daniel’s going on and on in prayer and the command has already been given.  The plan is in place.  Events are already in motion.  God is in action.  The cure is already at work.

Second, notice how God regards Daniel.

Gabriel is sent to Daniel to tell Daniel that he is - what? “highly esteemed.” 

If you were getting pounded by this world would that help - just a tad - to hear the great and awesome God tell you that He sees what you’re going through - hears your prayers - is already working - and that He highly esteems you.  There is a huge stamp of approval on Daniel and his character - his attitude in prayer.  “Daniel, you’re on the right track.  Keep going.  I’m with you.”

Verses 24 to 27 are God’s answer to Daniel’s prayer.  We’ll read these and then come back and talk about what all this means - verse 24:  “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place.  So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress.  Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.  And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.  And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.”

There’s a lot here we don’t understand.  How’s that for an understatement?  God always answers prayer.  Sometimes His answer is “Yes.”  Sometimes its “No.”  Sometimes its “Wait.”  Sometimes God just blows our minds.

On the back of your sermon notes is a chart that may help you to visualize this better.  There are a five observations that we need to make in order to get a grasp on this answer to prayer. 

First:  The meaning of the weeks.

At the core of Jeremiah’s prophecy - what Daniel is reading back up in verse two - the seventy years of exile for God’s people - at the core of that prophecy - the reason for the 70 year judgment was Israel’s failure to obey God.  Remember this? 

Daniel says this in verses 11 and 13, “All this calamity - this exile - this judgment - God poured out on us because we didn’t obey what God instructed us through Moses.” 

Moses instructed the Jews to plant crops for six years.  In the sixth year God would give them a bumper crop that they were to save - so that they could let the land rest during the seventh year.  Six years of growing.  One year of rest.

But, instead, they’d gotten greedy - disobeyed God - didn’t trust Him for His provision - kept the bumper crop - and planted in the seventh year anyway.  They did that for seventy cycles of seven years - for a total of 490 years.

So, God sends His people into exile for 70 years - one year for every 7 year cycle that they disobeyed Him.  In verse 24, He labels those 70 years as 70 weeks.

Remember Star Trek II - The Wrath of Khan? Spock says to Kirk, “If we go by the book like Lieutenant Saavik, hours would seem like days.”  Spock goes on, the ship can’t be repaired for days.  What he really means - because he’s talking in code - is that the ship can’t be repaired for hours.

Same here.  Weeks are like years.  490 years breaks down to 70 times seven periods of seven years.  Put more easily - one week equals seven years.

Second:  There’s a definite starting point to all this.  Verse 25 - the decree to “restore and rebuild Jerusalem.”

According to Nehemiah 2, the decree to “restore and rebuild Jerusalem” was issued in the 20th year of the reign of Artaxerxes.  Which doesn’t mean a whole lot - except that we know when that date was.  God has preserved it for us.

Herodotus - who is a well respected historian and contemporary of Artaxerxes and another famous historian of those days - Thucydides - have kept an historical record of Artaxerxes - that includes dates.  So we know - from sources even outside the Bible - that the decree to restore Jerusalem was issued in the year 445 BC.

What was that date?  445 BC.  Hang onto that.

Third:  God gives us a way to check our answers.  To know if we really are understanding what God is saying to us here.  God wants us to get this.

In verse 25 God divides the 70 weeks in to three groups of weeks:  Seven weeks and 62 weeks and a 70th week that we’ll come to in verse 27.  Gabriel says that from the decree - what decree?  The decree to rebuild Jerusalem -  445 BC - to the coming Messiah - Jesus - would be 7 weeks and 62 weeks - or 483 years until the Messiah is cut off.

If we were to take the time to do the math - take into account the Jewish year being 360 days instead of 365 - correct the 4 year error in dating the birth of Jesus at 1 AD rather than 4 BC - do all the calculations as some of have done - 483 years comes out to April 32 AD - or the very day we believe Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey - Palm Sunday.  Or, more importantly - the very week Jesus - the Messiah - was crucified - “cut off.”

Point being - because we can see the fulfillment of what Daniel was being told, we know that our understanding of the weeks is accurate.

Fourth observation:  The 70th week hasn’t happened yet.

Things like making an end of sin - making an atonement for iniquity - bringing in everlasting righteousness.  We’re still waiting for that.  That’s why on your sermon notes you’ll see a squiggly line between the cross and the one last week.

Prophecy is often like looking over mountain ranges - seeing the tops of the mountains without seeing the valleys in between.  Daniel is standing in a valley looking up the slope of history to the first summit.  Beyond that he’s given a glimpse of a mountain peak further on.  What he doesn’t see - because its not important for him to understand - what he doesn’t see is the valley in between the mountains.  That valley is the squiggly line - the church age - today - whatever falls into the valley of time between the cross and the 490th week.

Point being - the prophetic clock has stopped.  We’re in a period of waiting.  But, as sure as the clock ticked through the crucifixion - it will tick again.  Count on it. 

Fifth observation:  The point of the answer is found in the last week.

The prince who is to come - same person we identified last Sunday - this coming abominable anti-Christ king - who’s going to destroy the city and the sanctuary of God - make a covenant with many for that one last week - and then half way through break it - put an end to sacrifice and grain offerings - warring against God’s people - verse 27 - all that wearies us goes on “until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.”

The whole code thing and the timing helps us to understand that the last week is seven years.  It is real time period - with a beginning and an end - and God has set the boundaries of what will happen.  The abomination gets his.

One thought of application. 

The point of the prophecy isn’t the prophecy.  Say that with me, “The point of the prophecy isn’t the prophecy.”

The prophecy is the answer to Daniel’s prayer.  God answers Daniel’s question about God’s timing and restoration of His people with a glimpse behind the curtain of history - past and future.

History - what often seems to us to ebb and flow without rhyme or reason - history - which kind of moves along and not much can be done about it - especially those currents that flow against God and His people - the events of history - and our lives - that weary us and seek to break us - history - as God uses history - is well thought out - designed - decreed - according to God’s sovereign will.

The point isn’t whether we’re being treated unjustly or if God is doing what we think He should be doing - the point is for us to be in alignment with God’s will.  That’s what God goes out of His way to “esteem” Daniel for.

Hear this:  In times when you’re weary - learn to exalt God - to focus on who He is - not on what wearies you.  Seek His will to be done.  Get in alignment with God’s movement in history.  What is He doing.  Courage comes - even in times of weariness - courage comes as we see God’s movement in history and learn to see ourselves as a part of that movement.