IN THIS LESSON

Summary and Key Events

Daniel fervently prays that God will restore Jerusalem and the temple. He is aware of prophesies of Moses, Solomon, and particularly Jeremiah, where God said that Israel’s exile would last for 70 years before God would restore them. The 70 years are almost up, and so Daniel asks God to fulfill his promise. However, an angel comes and informs Daniel that Israel’s sin and rebellion hasn’t been fully dealt with by the exile, and their times of oppression under the nations will last seven times longer than Jeremiah had envisioned.

Key Verses

9:18b We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.

Related Verses

Jeremiah 29:10-14 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”