DANIEL CHAPTER 9 Daniel, considering the time of the captivity, DANIEL 9:1,2, maketh confession of his people's sins, DANIEL 9:3, and prayeth for the restoration of Jerusalem, DANIEL 9:16. Gabriel informeth him of the seventy weeks, and of the time and death of the Messiah, and of the succeeding tro... [ Continue Reading ]
UNDERSTOOD BY BOOKS; by sacred books, both of Jeremiah the prophet, JEREMIAH 25:11,12 JEREMIAH 29:10; so also the Pentateuch, which he had, as is plain, DANIEL 9:10, &c.; by which we see this great prophet did not disdain to study the word of God, and the state of the church of God, though he had th... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe two things: 1. That deep revolting, and deep afflictions, call for deep and solemn humiliation. 2. God's decrees and promises do not excuse us from duty and prayer, but include it and require it. God will be inquired of for those things which he hath purposed and promised to give his peopl... [ Continue Reading ]
By this it appeared he prayed in faith, to the true God, and his God. 2. He made confession of sin when he prayed for deliverance, because hereby he justified God in the captivity of his people. 3. He knew if God vouchsafed pardon of sin, upon this confession, that would be a sure foundation of fu... [ Continue Reading ]
As if he had said, We are not only sinners, but our sin is wickedness aggravated to the height: thus much the gradation here intimates, by DOING WICKEDLY AND REBELLING. In our confessions of sin to God there must be no mincing nor cloaking of sin, but a full and naked discovery, with selfjudging and... [ Continue Reading ]
For God to send his prophets to his people was their high privilege, and the highest act of favour to them, and of his authority over them, for they were God's ambassadors, and came to them in the Lord's name; and therefore their sin and punishment was the greater. God's ambassadors have a large com... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the prophet, after he had arraigned himself and his people upon their guilt, passeth judgment; for in this case every true penitent sits in judgment, and proceeds judicially, that is, solemnly and impartially; for he judgeth for God, and proceeds according to God's law, and conscience is witnes... [ Continue Reading ]
How did God show himself merciful, when he punished them so severely? ANSW. 1. Because it was less than their sin deserved, for it was rebellion. 2. Because their punishment was God's chastisement, which to his people is an act of love and mercy, as you see, HEBREWS 12:6. 3. Because God preserved... [ Continue Reading ]
To be large in, 1. Confession of sin, especially in a day of humiliation, is no vain repetition, for we offend commonly in being slight and perfunctory in our confessions; and God will have all out, and make us own it. 2. It was God's mercy not only to give his people a law, which he did solemnly... [ Continue Reading ]
1. When sin is epidemical, it is sad and fatal to a nation, as in PSALMS 14:3 ROMANS 3:12: so a deluge of sin brought a deluge of judgment, GENESIS 6:13,17. 2. This makes the gap great, and leaves none to stand in it. Then the curse comes upon a people, i.e. the punishment of the breach of God's la... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HATH CONFIRMED HIS WORDS WHICH HE SPAKE AGAINST US: by this it appears that God's judgments threatened against sin are to be feared, because of the great and terrible God, DANIEL 9:4 DEUTERONOMY 7:9,10 NEHEMIAH 1:8. AGAINST OUR JUDGES THAT JUDGED US; whose place and duty it was to govern the peop... [ Continue Reading ]
AS IT IS WRITTEN IN THE LAW OF MOSES: see LEVITICUS 26:14. The sum of all is, As the Lord threatened and forewarned us long ago, so it is come to pass this day upon us, because we took no warning, we understood not, but sinned and returned not. The Lord is true and just in all that is come upon us;... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE HATH THE LORD WATCHED: this notes, 1. God's taking notice of all their ways, even while men sleep in carnal security, and dream of no danger. 2. God's watching here notes the fit ways that he always takes to punish sinners. 3. It notes his haste in executing judgment duly and seasonably... [ Continue Reading ]
Daniel mentions this deliverance now, that God would please to put forth the same power in this deliverance out of Babylon, according to his promise, PSALMS 80:8 JEREMIAH 16:14, JEREMIAH 23:7: this lie grounds his faith upon, JEREMIAH 32:13, read thence to the end. 1. How the Lord assured them they... [ Continue Reading ]
As if he had said, Lord, according to thy righteousness thou hast punished thy people, as they justly deserved; now also, according to thy mercies, which is the other part of thy righteousness, save thy people, though they deserve it not. See PSALMS 143:1,2. For God hath promised, and therefore he w... [ Continue Reading ]
1. Here the prophet is most concerned for the sanctuary, and place of worship, a type not only of the church, and the worship of God, but also of Christ; because in all these the Lord is greatly concerned in honour, especially considering, 2. His argument, for the Lord's sake; for Christ's sake, th... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. How he entitles God to the city for his name. It was the city of God, PSALMS 48:1,2,8 JER 25:29. It is a good argument in prayer to entitle ourselves to God; yea, to interest God to ourselves, and to our cause. Observe, 2. How careful and cautious the prophet is to flee to mercy,... [ Continue Reading ]
Here, 1. We have the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man prevailing: he never gave over till he got it. 2. The Lord allows and loves importunity in prayer. 3. He and the people of God were under a sore trial, for the seventy years captivity were expired. Therefore he saith, Defer not now,... [ Continue Reading ]
No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
1. By this we see Daniel used vocal prayer, pouring out his soul. 2. That the saints in prayer do parley with God; it is a humble, and holy, and fervent unbosoming our soul to God. 3. That holy men, in confessing the sins of the nation, confess their own sins too, and that impartially, begging par... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, to make thee know great and secret things concerning the city and sanctuary of Jerusalem, of the rebuilding of it, and of the Messiah, &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE COMMANDMENT CAME FORTH: this thing was decreed before in God's counsel; but not divulged, or ordered to be proclaimed, till Daniel petitioned. GREATLY BELOVED, Heb. _a man of desires_, i.e. dear to God, LUKE 1:28.... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBHeb; SEVENTY WEEKS: these weeks are weeks of days, and these days are so many years; though neither days, nor months, nor years are expressed, (which makes it somewhat the more obscure,) but weeks only. It is yet plain and obvious that the angel useth the number seventy to show the favour of God... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOW THEREFORE AND UNDERSTAND, i.e. by deep consideration, upon a due search of reason, and comparing of things, and minding what the angel saith. SEVEN WEEKS from the publication of the edict, whether of Cyrus or Darius, to restore and to build, we shall see anon. EVEN IN TROUBLOUS TIMES; noting th... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBHeb; AFTER THE THREESCORE AND TWO WEEKS. i.e. after the seven before, and after the sixty-two that followed them, which all make up sixty-nine, referring the angel's seventy weeks, which is nothing though no week more be described, because it makes up the number a round number, after the Jewish m... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBHeb; HE: this HE is not Titus making truce with the Jews, which he did not, though he endeavoured to persuade them that he might spare them. I say then with Graser, Mede, and others, that this _he_ is the Messiah, and the covenant he confirms is the new testament or covenant, called therefore th... [ Continue Reading ]