What does Daniel 9:3 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Jeremiah had revealed that God would restore His people to their land when they prayed to Him wholeheartedly ( Jeremiah 29:12-14). This revelation prompted Daniel to pray the prayer that follows ( Daniel 9:3-19). Daniel"s prayer fulfills what Solomon anticipated in his prayer at the dedication of the temple (cf. 1 Kings 8:33-36). Daniel did not regard prayer as unnecessary in view of the certainty of the fulfillment of Jeremiah"s prophecy. He viewed prayer properly as one means that God uses to accomplish His will in human history (cf. Daniel 6:10). Through prayer we become partners with God in bringing His will to fruition in the world. Daniel"s behavior, as well as his words, expressed the genuineness of his contrition. [source][source]

[source]

"These verses show Daniel as a diligent student of Scripture who built his prayer life on the Word of God." ^[1] [source]

"This verse teaches that biblical prophecy should bring us to our knees, as it did Daniel." ^[2] [source]

"While God honors the briefest of prayers, as the experience of Nehemiah 2:4 indicates, effective prayer requires faith in the Word of God, proper attitude of mind and heart, privacy, and unhurried confession and petition. Daniel"s humility, reverence, and earnestness are the hallmarks of effective prayer." ^[3] [source]

Context Summary

What a prayer is this! In many respects it is a model for us all. It was based on the divine Word. The fact that God had promised to restore the desolations of Jerusalem after seventy years, did not restrain, but prompted and inspired Daniel's prayers. God's promises are not independent of our faith, but await our appropriation. The blank checks are drawn and signed in our favor, but they must be presented at the bank for payment. It was very humble. Fasting, sackcloth, and ashes, were the outward habiliments, but notice the tone. We have sinned"¦ and have rebelled"¦; unto us ^[1] confusion of face. He confessed his sin and the sin of his people. There is such a thing as vicarious confession, in which some holy soul takes to himself the task of bearing the sins of his people, and pouring out the story before God, as though the sins were his own. But we hardly need go to our country or people for sins to confess, for we have plenty of our own, and the nearer we come to God's infinite light and holiness, the more we abhor ourselves and repent in dust and ashes. [source]

Chapter Summary: Daniel 9

¹  Daniel, considering the time of the captivity,
³  makes confession of sins,
¹⁶  and prays for the restoration of Jerusalem
²⁰  Gabriel informs him of the seventy weeks