“O Lord, listen!”
“Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, O Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. 18 Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. 19 O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”
(Daniel 9:17-19; NIV. Please read Daniel 7-12.)
His prayer is honest. He knows that the Sovereign Lord was righteous to bring the disaster on His holy city and people. Therefore, when he prays - he begs for God’s mercy.
His plea is not based on his own righteousness but on the great mercy of God.
He realizes that his nation deserved the punishment – but he knows that his people will not recover unless the Lord will “listen” … “forgive” … “hear and act“!
The city and the nation “bear His name” … undeserved and unworthy … so for His name’s sake, He will answer.
ON SECOND THOUGHT: Please pray this same prayer for me. I realize that I deserve all of the consequences that come due to my sin (and so much more); but I beg for His help – not because of my righteousness but His great mercy. I bear His name … undeserved and unworthy … so please ask Him – for His name’s sake to listen – forgive – hear and act.
June 29, 2008 at 6:13 pm
I pray daily that God will show you that He hears your prayers. I understand that there are consequences to sin, and I understand that there are lessons to be learned. I know that you are able to help so many because of your experiences. But I also know there are times when you just have to ask for mercy … knowing He is merciful. You just have to beg for forgiveness and grace … knowing that He hears. You just have to plea for His return … knowing that He acts. He is a merciful God that hears our cries and comes to our rescue. His promises can be trusted … He keeps His word.
I pray for God to at least provide clear direction on the way to go. When it seems that there is no solution in sight … I pray for Him to make it clear. When it seems that you will never get ahead … I pray that He shows you a way to make progress. When it feels like your purpose in life is different than what it once was … I pray for Him to show you the purpose that He has for you now. I pray most of all for a restful heart that allows you to see how He is working all things out for your good.
June 29, 2008 at 6:39 pm
I am really paying attention to the prayers of these righteous people we are reading. Hezekiah spread the letter out before the Lord and told on Sennacherib. Look what he said about you God!!
Nehemiah reminded God of all God had said. He also prayed “turn their insults back on their own heads”. And then something we just do not do, Nehemiah prayed that God would remember all the good the he had done for the Lord.
Daniel is told that his prayer was heard and answered because he was highly esteemed. What was it that made him highly esteemed in heaven? In 10: 32 it says “Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard.”
With humble heart …knowing I am unworthy of any of the good things God has given, and knowing I do not deserve anything that He might do for me in the future…I approach God with many requests. I “bug” God for so many things for you Rex…among those things are that God will hear your heart, that He will provide a way for you to have relief from the things that distress you. He hears your prayer, He has already forgiven and He is at work in your life. Those things I know, because He has said them. And it’s always right to agree with Him. Some wise person taught me that.