Commentary on Daniel, Chapter 9 · Moral observations
6. Morall obseruations.
1. Observ. Of diligent and carefull preparation to prayer.
v. 2. I Daniel vnderstood by bookes, &c. Daniel commeth not rashly or of a sudden to prayer, but he before meditated vponupon the word of God, and carefully considered, what he was to pray for: he also set himselfe to seeke the Lord by fasting, and so humbled himselfe. All this teacheth vsus, that we take heede that we come not presumptuously, or vnprepared into Gods presence, as the Preacher aduiseth, Eccles. 5. 1. Be not rash with thy mouth, &c. God is in heauen, and thou art in earth. In this kind of rash praier the Pharisie offended, Luk. 18. who not hauing first truly humbled himselfe, presseth vaingloriously into Gods presence, whereas the Publican stood a farre off, knocking vponupon his breast, & calling for merciemercy.
2. Observ. That the promises of God should not make vsus more slacke to pray.
v. 2. I Daniel vnderstood by bookes the number of the yeares, &c. Though Daniel was assured by the prophecie of Ieremie, that the captiuitie should be dissolued after 70. yeares, yet he is not therefore secure, and carelesse, but he is thereby more stirred vp to prayer: So the children of God, which doe ground themselues vponupon Gods promises, are thereby encouraged the more earnestly to pray: imagis stimulantur ad precādum, they are more pricked forward, and animated to prayer, Calvin. So Iaacob praieth, Gen. 32. 9. O God of my father Abraham, &c. which saidest vntounto me, Returne vntounto thy countrey, &c. and I will doe thee good: he is not negligent and secure, because he had Gods promise; but he is so much the more diligent in prayer.
3. Observ. The Scriptures are diligently to be read.
If Daniel so great a Prophet did exercise himselfe in the reading of the bookes of the Prophets, how much more ought we to be conuersant in the Scriptures, Bulling. So the Prophet Dauid saith, Psal. 119. 24. Thy testimonies are my delight, and they are my counsellers. If these holy men endued with such excellent gifts, and hauing so great a measure of Gods spirit, that they were vsed thenselues as penmen of Scripture, did yet frequent the reading of Scripture; it teacheth vsus not to neglect so great a meanes of our saluation.
4. Observ. Of the efficacie of prayer.
v. 21. While I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, &c. came. In this that the Angel came instantly to Daniel, as he praied; we see that the prayers of the righteous are auaileable with God: as the Prophet Isai saith, c. 30. 19. He will certenly hauehave merciemercy vponupon thee at the voice of thy crie: when he heareth thee, he will answer thee. So the Lord heard Nehemiah, c. 1. and 2. and Ionas, c. 2. 1. I cried in my trouble to the Lord, and he heard me. This therefore should encourage the children of God to pray, seeing the Lord heareth them; What subiect, knowing the readie inclination of his Prince to heare him, would not with boldnes offer his suit and supplication vntounto him?
5. Observ. To be mindfull of the Church of God in our praiers.
v. 20. For the holy mountaine of my God. Daniel though he were in prosperous state himselfe, yet remembreth the affliction of Gods people, and the desolation of Gods house: teaching vsus, that in our welfare we should thinke of the miserie of other Churches. Moses liuing in Pharaohs court, would not so content himselfe, but he goeth forth to visit his brethren: the Prophet Dauid hauing praied for himselfe, thus concludeth his praier, Deliuer Israel, O God, out of all his troubles, Psal. 25. 22.
6. Observ. That we must alwaies in heart communicate with the publike seruice and worship of God.
v. 21. About the time of the euening oblation. Though the seruice of God were now intermitted, and there was neither morning nor euening sacrifice, the Temple lying desolate, yet Daniel still beareth it in minde, though in the land of captiuitie: teaching vsus, when we are otherwise letted by sicknes, imprisonment, absence, we should in heart and desire be present with those that serue the Lord: as the Prophet Dauid saith, Psal. 42. 4. When I remembred these things, I powred out my heart, because I had gone with the multitude, &c.
7. Observ. God afflicteth and chastiseth whome he loueth.
v. 23. Thou art greatly beloued. Daniel was a man highly in Gods fauour, yet he was lead into captiuitie, and there continued 70. yeares: let not men therefore be dismaied, though they continue long in affliction: yea, the Lord consecrated the Prince of our saluation through affliction, Hebr. 2. 10. yea, his whole life was nothing els but a tragicall storie of crosses and tribulations: the members must not thinke much to take part with the head, neither is the disciple better then the master.