are on the very eve of their accomplishment. But it is not by study alone that we shall be able to attain the true interpretation of the prophetic writings. We must pray to God to reflect the true light upon them, and to enable us by his good Spirit rightly to appre- hend them. This was the way which Daniel took, when he saw, by the writings of Jeremiah, that the seventy years of captivity were drawing to a close a: he could not tell the precise time from which they should be numbered; and consequently could not ascertain the period for their termination : but he was anxious to know when the happy time was to commence. He set himself therefore to study the prophecies of Jeremiah, and to seek instructions from God in a way of humiliation, and fasting, and prayer b. The success which he met with deserves particular attention, inasmuch as it affords an encouragement to all to follow his example. Let us consider,
I. The record here given —
In this are two things to be noticed ;
1. The prayer of Daniel —
[To enter into this aright, the whole chapter should be attentively perused. The first thing that strikes us in this prayer is, his just view of the Deity ; of his majesty, as a " great and dreadful" God; his unchanging faithfulness, in " keeping covenant and mercy to his loving and obedient people0;" his justice, in all the judgments that he inflicts on the disobedient d ;" his mercy, in pardoning those who have rebelled against hime; and his truth, in executing every word that he has ever spokenf. From this comprehensive view of the Divine perfections arose that just mixture of -humility and confidence which is visible throughout the whole of his address.
The next thing to be observed in Daniel's prayer is, his deep humiliation before God. On the subject of his own and his people's sins, he so accumulates expressions as to shew that he thought he could never sufficiently abase himself before his
Godg In a word, nothing but shame and " confusion
of face" seemed to him to be suited to his condition as a sinner; though of all the saints in the Old Testament he seems to have
a Jer. xxix. 10. b ver. 2, 3. c ver. 4. d ver. 7.
e ver. 9. f ver. 11, 12. s ver. 5, 6.
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been the most perfect ; not one thing during the course of a long, and public, and laborious life being laid to his charge, either by God or man.
His earnest pleadings with God are yet further deserving of especial regard. He seems as if he would take no denial, yea, as if his spirit could brook no delay h. Every thing that might be supposed to influence the Deity is brought forward as a plea, to incline him to have mercy on his afflicted people : the consideration of God's former mercies to them in Egypt1 ; a regard for his own honour, since they still bare the same relation to him as everk; and a love to the promised Messiah, whose glory would ultimately be promoted by it1. All these pleas shew how earnest and importunate he was, even like Jacob when wrestling with the Angel, " I will not let thee go, except thou bless me."]
2. The answer given him —
[How marvellous was the condescension of God, in sending the angel Gabriel to give unto his servant an answer of peace ! But here it will be peculiarly profitable to compare the answer with the prayer: — " O Lord, hear! O Lord, defer not!" — ' Go Gabriel ; fly with all possible expedition : do not so much as look back to behold my glory : mind nothing but your errand : tell him, in answer to what he is saying, " To me belongeth shame and confusion of face," " O Daniel, thou art greatly beloved." In answer to his request, that " I would not defer," tell him that at the very beginning of his supplications the commandment was given thee to go and answer them from me : and, whereas he has only prayed for information respecting the redemption of my people from Babylon, which Jeremiah predicted to be wrought in the space of seventy years from the time of his prophecy ; tell him of that infinitely greater redemption which that typifies, and which is now to be accom- plished in seventy weeks of years ; explain to him every thing relating to the vicarious sufferings of the Messiah, and the righteousness which He will bring in thereby for the deliver- ance and salvation of a ruined worldm. And let this answer be to all the future generations of mankind a memorial of my grace, and a pledge of my condescension to all my praying people.']