Seeking the Face of God: A Devotional on Daniel 9:3
"¶ And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:" - Daniel 9:3
In the book of Daniel chapter 9, we find a profound scene of sincere supplication and earnest prayer. Daniel, a prophet and captive in Babylon, reflects the heart of God’s people who long for restoration and forgiveness. As we delve into Daniel 9:3, we are invited into an intimate encounter with God—the kind that transforms nations, individuals, and hearts. The verse reads:
“And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes.”
This text illustrates not only Daniel's commitment but also the seriousness with which he approached God. The phrase "I set my face unto the Lord God" portrays an unwavering focus. Daniel determined, with palpable intention, to seek the Lord. In our culture of distraction, it beckons us to evaluate how we bring the entirety of our focus to our relationship with God.
Too often, we engage in hurried prayers, offering up our requests while our thoughts drift elsewhere. We can learn from Daniel that seeking God requires a deliberate act of intention—a resolve to place our full attention on Him. This focus is essential in a world filled with competing interests that vie for our commitment and attention.
Next, Daniel’s prayer is characterized by three key elements: supplication, fasting, and humility demonstrated by sackcloth and ashes. First, let’s consider supplication. Daniel did not simply pray for himself; he interceded on behalf of his people. His prayer was filled with deep penitence, acknowledging the sins of Israel and seeking divine mercy. This example compels us to consider our own prayer lives. Are we praying selfishly, seeking our desires, or are we interceding for those around us, bearing the burdens of our families, communities, and nations?
Fasting accompanies Daniel’s fervent prayer. Fasting is often misunderstood as merely going without food. While it can mean refraining from eating, the core purpose of fasting is to draw closer to God, to seek His presence, and to declare our dependence on Him. Fasting signifies a hunger for God that surpasses physical satisfaction. It is in this state of hunger—sacrificing our comforts—that we find clarity in our prayers.
In our spiritual journey, it can be easy to treat prayer as a casual conversation, but Daniel’s use of sackcloth and ashes expresses deep humility and contrition. Sackcloth, a coarse garment typically worn in mourning, and ashes, a symbol of repentance, frame an attitude that recognizes our human frailty and need for God. In an age that prizes self-sufficiency and strength, we are reminded that true power lies in humility. Both in our personal lives and as a collective community of faith, acknowledging our need for God's grace cultivates an environment for His work to flourish.
As we meditate on Daniel 9:3, we find that prayer is not merely a ritual or routine; it is an act of setting our sights on the divine, of acknowledging our need for God’s intervention in our lives and the lives of those we love. What might it look like for us today to follow Daniel's example of devotion? How can we set our faces towards the Lord with earnest prayer?
Let us be inspired by Daniel's earnestness, to not only pray for our needs but to dedicate ourselves to seeking God with sincerity. Let us pursue prayer with fasting and humility, longing for deeper alignment with the heart of God. As we do so, we can trust that He will hear us, respond to our cries, and lead us into great and mighty things we could not have imagined. Indeed, seeking the face of the Lord is the greatest pursuit we can undertake.
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Daniel 9:3 - "¶ And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:"
"¶ And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:" - Daniel 9:3
"So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: “Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land. Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame—the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you. We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, LORD, because we have sinned against you. The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; we have not obeyed the LORD our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets. All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you. “Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you. You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing on us great disaster. Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem. Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth. The LORD did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the LORD our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him. Now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us. Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, our 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. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name."" - Daniel 9:3-19
Daniel 9:3-19 - "So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: “Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land. Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame—the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you. We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, LORD, because we have sinned against you. The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; we have not obeyed the LORD our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets. All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you. “Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you. You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing on us great disaster. Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem. Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the LORD our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth. The LORD did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the LORD our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him. Now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us. Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, our 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. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.""
Daniel 3:9 - "They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever."
"They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever." - Daniel 3:9
Daniel 1:9 - "Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs."
Daniel 1:9
Daniel 12:9 - "And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end."
Daniel 7: 9-10
Daniel 7:9-10
Daniel 7:9-10
Daniel 3:1
Daniel 5:3
Daniel 7:9-10
Daniel 3:28
Daniel 3:25
Daniel 6:3-4 - "Daniel 6:3-4: Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. So the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him."
Daniel 9:22 - "And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding."
Daniel 9:9 - "To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;"
Daniel 4:1-3
Daniel 6:9 - "Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree."
Daniel 6:3 - "Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm."
Daniel 9:2 - "In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem."
"Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs." - Daniel 1:9
COSMIC COURTROOM OF FIRE DANIEL 7:9-10
Daniel 7:9-10 – "His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool."
Daniel 3:30 - "Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, in the province of Babylon."
Daniel 3:8 - "¶ Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews."
Daniel 11:9 - "So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land."