4/14/12

"THE BOOK OF DANIEL" Chapter Nine by Mark Copeland

                         "THE BOOK OF DANIEL"

                             Chapter Nine

In the first year of Darius (539 B.C.), understanding that Jeremiah's
prophecy of 70 years of captivity has been fulfilled (Jer 25:11), Daniel
confesses his nation's sins and prays that God will restore them (1-19). 
In response, Gabriel is sent to give Daniel understanding of key events
that will take place in a time period of 70 "weeks" (lit., "sevens"), one
of the most challenging prophecies in the Bible (20-27).

POINTS TO PONDER

   *  Daniel's  prayer, confessing the sins of his people Israel

   *  The difficulty in interpreting the vision of seventy weeks

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - Daniel's prayer for his people - Dan 9:1-19
   - The vision of seventy weeks - Dan 9:20-27

2) What prompted Daniel to pray with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes?
   (2-3)
   - Jeremiah's prophecy concerning the 70 years of captivity which had
     been fulfilled

3) List some of the sins mentioned by Daniel that Israel had committed
   (4-10)
   - Rebellion, failure to heed the prophets, unfaithfulness, failure to
     walk in God's laws

4) What had come upon Israel for their sin? (11-14)
   - The curse and oath written in the Law, involving great disaster (cf.
     Lev 26:27-45)

5) For what does Daniel pray God regarding Jerusalem and the sanctuary?
   (16-19)
   - To turn away his anger, cause His face to shine; to hear, forgive,
     and not delay

6) Who was caused to fly swiftly to Daniel because of his
   supplications? (22-23)
   - Gabriel, whom he had seen earlier (cf. Dan 8:16)

7) List six things that were to happen within the period of seventy
   "weeks" (24)
   - To finish the transgression    
   - To make an end of sins         
   - To make reconciliation for iniquity  
   - To bring in everlasting righteousness
   - To seal up vision and prophecy
   - To anoint the Most Holy

8) What events would occur in the course of this prophecy's
   fulfillment? (25-27)
   - A command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, followed by 69 weeks
   - The coming of the Messiah who would in turn be cut off, but not for
     Himself
   - The destruction of the city and the sanctuary with war and
     desolations
   - The confirmation of a covenant with many for one week
   - The end to sacrifice and offering in the middle of the week 
   - The coming of one who with abomination brings desolation upon the
     desolate