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Daniel 9:16-19

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

16. 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: 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. 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. 18. O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies. 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 9:16-19 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Daniel 9:16

Theological / Devotional

Righteousness. In Hebrew the noun is in the plural, suggesting, doubtless, the many deeds of righteousness that God had done on behalf of His people. Daniel does not present his plea on the ground of any goodness of his people; he cites the Lord’s gracious dealings with Israel in times past as a basis for his petition.

Thy holy mountain. Israel should have been a light to all the world (see on 2 Sam. 22:44, 50; 1 Kings 8:43; 2 Kings 23:27), but because of stubborn rebellion, Jerusalem and Israel were now a byword and a reproach among the nation of earth.

By SdaBc