Men’s Study

Week of October 8, 2020

Daniel 9:2-4 (NKJV) — 2 in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the LORD through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. 3 Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. 4 And I prayed to the LORD my God, and made confession, and said, “O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments,

As part of Daniel’s devotional life, we see Daniel studies God’s Word. While reading the prophecies of God written by the prophet Jeremiah, Daniel expected them to be fulfilled because he believed in the divine inspiration of the Scripture. We should read our Bible with the same expectation! Daniel interpreted the time of the prophecy was near and prayed with earnest emotion in anticipation of what was to come.

What are your strengths and what challenges do you face regarding your devoted study of God’s Word and regular response through prayer? 

In your time of need, to what degree do you turn to the LORD and to what degree do you turn to other sources of comfort? 


Daniel 9:8-10
(NKJV) — 8 “O Lord, to us belongs shame of face, to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You. 9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him. 10 We have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in His laws, which He set before us by His servants the prophets. 

Pastor Weston pointed out on Sunday that the Israelites followed a pattern of sinning against God, ignoring God’s call to repentance, and being judged by God. Daniel was taking the burden of confession and supplication to the Lord upon himself by representing a nation that had sinned. Daniel wasn’t taking all the sins of the people on himself, but felt an honest responsibility to cry out to the Lord on behalf of his people. Just like in God’s response to Daniel, you are greatly beloved by God and He seeks to respond to your prayers and confessions with love and grace. 

Who are you responsible to call out to the LORD for and whose burdens can you take upon yourself? 

What specific needs do you see around you today that you can take prayerful responsibility for?

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