"Understood by Books..."

October 9, 2010

“Understood by Books…”

Blessings Folk!

Daniel 9 gives us detailed insights into how we are to pray.

We will spend some time here.

Daniel 9

 1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans;

 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.

Note what Daniel was doing.

He was reading the book that had the Word of the Lord given through the prophet Jeremiah.

Jeremiah and Daniel were contemporaries, Jeremiah being some half-generation older.

Daniel was likely reading the following…

Jeremiah 25:10-12 (King James Version)

 10 Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle.
 
11 And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.
 
12 And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations.

The Lord had warned the people.
The Lord told them what was to occur.
Jeremiah proclaimed it through voice and pen.

Now, Daniel was reading it.
Understanding was coming to him through the Word.

Watch what the Lord says here.
God tells them how to live during the time of displacement.
God tells them what He will do afterwards.
God even gives them a time-frame.

Jeremiah 29

4 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon;
 
5 Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;
 
6 Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished.
 
7 And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.
 
8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.

 9 For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD.
 
10 For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.

God tells them to make a home in the place of captivity.
Build houses.
Plant gardens.
Raise families.
Live life.
Increase there.
Don’t be looking for something greener in a day yet to come.

They were to seek the peace of the city where the Lord was carrying them.
They were to pray unto he Lord for those who held them captive...the path of peace.
Hummm….

The Lord told them to beware the prophets and diviners in their midst who would say otherwise...believe not their dreams. We have so many who speak/lead falsely today. They are usually the ones who are counted as “successful”.

Then, the great Promise.

After seventy years the Lord would visit and perform His good Word.
He would cause them to return home.

This is what Daniel read.
This is what brought understanding that led to his going before the Lord.

One last thing.

We are very familiar with the next verses in Jeremiah 29, but now we know a little more context.

Read and rejoice…

Jeremiah 29

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
 
12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.

 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
 
14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

Immerse yourself in the Word of the Lord.
Gain understanding.
If you are a true believer, your captivity has been turned away.
Live in the liberty and freedom of the Lord.