Prayer, Session 8: Prayer in the Life of Daniel

Read the passage: Daniel 2:17-19; Daniel 6:3-13; Daniel 9:1-19 (ESV, Bible Gateway)

Read Daniel 2:17-19: What does this episode tell us about Daniel?
Read Daniel 6:3-13: What does this tell us about Daniel’s character?
- Why do character and integrity matter?
- How can you take steps to grow in virtuous character?
What is Daniel’s response to the injunction?
Read Daniel 9:1-19
- Is there anything about v10 that’s noteworthy or surprising?
- If not discussed in a previous session, why does body posture matter?
- Why should we develop a habit of prayer before crises/emergencies hit?
- How many set times of prayer do you have a day? Could this increase?
In v1-2: What prompts Daniel’s prayer?
In v3-4: what practices does Daniel employ here?
- Which of these do you practice and why?
Considering v4-5, how does Daniel begin his prayer?
- How and why should praise and confession shape our own spiritual practices?
In v6, what is Daniel confessing specifically?
- How might something similar be true for us?
- When you read something challenging in God’s word, how do you typically respond?
In v7-8, what comparison does Daniel make between him/the people of Israel, on the one hand, and God on the other?
- When people feel shame, what are some typical ways of dealing with it?
- Why is the gospel a better way?
In v11-12, what is Daniel referring to when he talks of ‘the curse and oath’ written in the Law of Moses?
- How is this taken up in the New Testament? (How is Christ the final answer to this?) (See Gal 3:13-14)
  - What is the implication of Christ becoming a curse for us for our own relationship with God? (And how does that give us confidence in prayer?)
In v13: What does Daniel see as their failure in the face of God’s judgment?
- How should we respond when ‘bad things’ happen to us?
  - How can the truth of God’s word give us insight in difficult times in our own lives?
  - How do you/how can we integrate God’s word in our prayer life?
Looking at v16-17: What is Daniel’s prayer?
V18-19: What is Daniel putting his trust in?
- What’s surprising about v17? (In addition to the situation of the people/Israel/Jerusalem, what does he care about? Where else have we seen this?
- What does it mean for God’s face to shine upon someone/something? (Look also at Num 6:24-26; Ps 4:6-7; 67:1-2)
- When you pray, how does where you are putting your trust become evident when you pray (or don’t pray!)?

Recap & Reflect

Think of situations of drama in your own life (past or present). How did you respond? What does that say about where your hope & security lie? How might you apply what you learnt in this session to your own “crisis-response”?
Consider areas in your life where you tend to avoid God’s word or not take it seriously. What are these, and what might be the right path to take?
What did Daniel ultimately put his trust in, and why?

Leader’s notes

The notes are here to help you lead a group and answer tough questions. The idea isn’t to read the “right” answer out after each question, but rather to give you support or the helpful nudge in guiding your discussion in the right direction. Feel free to use them as best suits your group.

Read Daniel 2:17-19: What does this episode tell us about Daniel?
He has friends, friends he can pray with; he understands the sovereignty of God; he understands he needs mercy – not entitlement; he responds with thanksgiving
Read Daniel 6:3-13: What does this tell us about Daniel’s character?
They cannot lay anything on him. He is exemplary even in the eyes of unbelievers.
What is Daniel’s response to the injunction?
Read Daniel 9:1-19
- Is there anything about v10 that’s noteworthy or surprising?
  Three times a day – this is his habit; he kneels; he gives thanks
In v1-2: What prompts Daniel’s prayer?
His understanding of Jeremiah’s prophecy

Considering v4-5, how does Daniel begin his prayer?
Praise and confession
In v6, what is Daniel confessing specifically?
Failing to listen and take seriously the word of the Lord through the prophets
- How might something similar be true for us?
  This same failure to listen and take God’s word seriously may express itself in different ways in our lives and culture, be it for example through how we interpret the Bible or consider as truth, or the importance or lack thereof that we put on good & grounded teaching.
In v7-8, what comparison does Daniel make between him/the people of Israel on the one hand, and God on the other?
To them belongs shame and sin, but to God belongs righteousness.
- When people feel shame, what are some typical ways of dealing with it?
  People may bury it; well-meaning friends may say there is nothing to be ashamed of; people may try and numb it – though over-eating, drinking etc; or they may even flaunt it and try and make shame something to be proud of- as in Pride parades.
In v11-12, what is Daniel referring to when he talks of ‘the curse and oath’ written in the Law of Moses?
Written into the Law were curses: this is what will happen if you fail to obey the law. They culminated in exile and the expulsion of the people from the land, see Deut 28:15ff.
- How is this taken up in the NT? (How is Christ the final answer to this?) (See Gal 3:13-14)
  Christ became a curse for us – he is exiled/forsaken/cast out by the Father in our place.
In v13: What does Daniel see as their failure in the face of God’s judgment?
They have not repented or turned to God in prayer – they have not learnt from the judgment.
- How should we respond when ‘bad things’ happen to us?
  ‘Bad things’ are not God’s judgement on us – Christ has taken that; but they may be loving discipline, or they may be pruning us, or teaching us. In such times we should be open to what God is trying to teach us and examine ourselves, rather than simply resent them.
  - How can the truth of God’s word give us insight in difficult times in our own lives?
    This is not just about the situation itself but rather about our wrong desires/idols in our heart or wrong motivations or pride – and God’s word can identify these.
  - How do you/how can we integrate God’s word in our prayer life?
    Meditating on God’s word and allowing the Spirit to speak to us from it, and then responding in prayer/using what he is showing us in prayer; taking a specific scripture and praying it back to God.
Looking at v16-17: What is Daniel’s prayer?
- What’s surprising about v17? (In addition to the situation of the people/Israel/Jerusalem, what does he care about? Where else have we seen this?
  God’s name; Moses showed a similar concern
- What does it mean for God’s face to shine upon someone/something? (Look also at Num 6:24-26; Ps 4:6-7; 67:1-2)
  To receive the “smile” of God’s grace, i.e that His goodness, grace and benevolence is turned towards someone and shone upon them. It is a sign of his approval and therefore of the person’s acceptance.

Download the complete study: Bible study on Prayer (PDF)