How does Daniel 9:20 demonstrate the importance of confession in prayer life? Setting the Scene in Daniel 9 Daniel 9 finds the prophet reading Jeremiah’s prophecy, realizing the 70-year exile is nearing its end. His immediate response is not action, but humble prayer—and at the heart of that prayer is confession. Confession Frames Daniel’s Prayer “While I was speaking, praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my plea before the LORD my God concerning His holy mountain—” (Daniel 9:20) Key observations: • “Confessing” is listed before “presenting my plea.” • Daniel acknowledges both personal sin (“my sin”) and corporate sin (“the sin of my people”). • God responds quickly—Gabriel arrives with an answer (vv. 21-23)—showing confession does not delay prayer; it prepares it. A Pattern for Our Prayers Today • Start with worship (v. 4), but move swiftly to confession, just as Daniel did. • Include personal and collective failings; intercession gains power when we identify with those we’re praying for. • Then present petitions, confident that the relationship is clear and open. Why Confession Matters • Restores fellowship—“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) • Removes hindrances—“If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” (Psalm 66:18) • Cultivates humility—“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6) • Releases blessing—Daniel’s confession precedes the revelation of the seventy weeks, one of Scripture’s greatest prophecies. Practical Steps for Cultivating Confession 1. Examine: Ask the Spirit to search your heart (Psalm 139:23-24). 2. Acknowledge: Name sin honestly, without excuses (Psalm 32:5). 3. Agree: Call it what God calls it—sin (Proverbs 28:13). 4. Accept: Embrace God’s promised forgiveness (Isaiah 1:18). 5. Advance: Move forward in renewed fellowship, continuing in prayer and obedience. Key Scriptures That Echo Daniel 9:20 • Nehemiah 1:6—Nehemiah confesses “the sins we Israelites have committed.” • Ezra 9:5-6—Ezra spreads out his hands, confessing national guilt. • Psalm 51—David’s model of personal confession and restoration. • Luke 18:13—The tax collector’s simple confession, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner,” receives immediate justification. Daniel 9:20 reveals that confession is not a peripheral add-on; it is the doorway through which effective, God-honoring prayer enters. |
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