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 {H5414} my face {H6440} unto the Lord {H136} God {H430}, to seek {H1245} by prayer {H8605} and supplications {H8469}, with fasting {H6685}, and sackcloth {H8242}, and ashes {H665}:

I turned to Adonai, God, to seek an answer, pleading with him in prayer, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes.

So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petition, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.

And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.

Commentary

Daniel 9:3 captures the profound spiritual posture of the prophet Daniel as he prepares to intercede for his people, Israel. This verse marks the beginning of one of the Bible's most significant prayers, driven by Daniel's understanding of God's prophetic timetable.

Context of Daniel's Prayer

This verse immediately follows Daniel's realization in Daniel 9:2 that the 70-year Babylonian captivity, prophesied by Jeremiah, was nearing its end. Instead of merely waiting, Daniel responds with intense spiritual discipline. His prayer is not a demand but a humble and earnest appeal to God, acknowledging Israel's sin and seeking divine mercy and restoration based on God's covenant promises. This period of exile was a consequence of Israel's disobedience, and Daniel's prayer reflects a deep understanding of their corporate sin, prompting him to seek God based on the prophecy of Jeremiah 29:10.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Earnest Seeking of God: Daniel's declaration, "I set my face unto the Lord God," signifies a deliberate, resolute, and unwavering focus on God. It speaks of a deep longing and commitment to engage with the Almighty. This isn't a casual approach but one born of urgency and spiritual conviction.
  • The Power of Prayer and Supplication: Daniel employs "prayer and supplications," highlighting both general communication with God and specific, earnest petitions. This combination underscores the multifaceted nature of biblical prayer—a blend of adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and fervent requests.
  • Humility and Repentance: The accompanying actions of "fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes" are ancient, powerful symbols of deep humility, mourning, and profound repentance. Fasting demonstrates a willingness to deny physical comforts to focus on spiritual matters. Sackcloth (coarse material) and ashes (sprinkled on the head or sat in) publicly declared sorrow for sin, grief, and a complete surrender to God's will. This posture acknowledges unworthiness and desperate reliance on divine grace.
  • Intercessory Heart: While this verse details Daniel's personal preparation, the subsequent prayer in Daniel 9:5-19 reveals it as a powerful act of intercession for his nation, confessing their corporate sins and appealing to God's mercy.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "I set my face" (Hebrew: nathan panim) conveys a strong sense of determination and resolute purpose. It's not a half-hearted attempt but a full turning towards God with intent and focus, similar to how Jesus later "steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem". The combination of "prayer" (tephillah, general worship) and "supplications" (tachanunim, earnest pleas for grace and mercy) emphasizes the comprehensive nature of Daniel's appeal.

Practical Application

Daniel 9:3 serves as a timeless model for how believers should approach God, especially in times of crisis or when seeking His will. It teaches the importance of:

  • Intentionality in Prayer: Approaching God with focus and determination, not as an afterthought.
  • Humility: Recognizing our dependence on God and confessing personal and corporate sins. As James 4:10 instructs, "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."
  • Spiritual Discipline: Incorporating practices like fasting when seeking God earnestly for specific needs or guidance.
  • Intercession: Developing a heart for others and for the broader community, standing in the gap on their behalf before God.

This verse underscores that true spiritual breakthrough often begins with a deep, humble, and earnest turning of the heart towards God.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 33:3

    Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

  • Jeremiah 29:10

    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.

  • Jeremiah 29:13

    And ye shall seek me, and find [me], when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

  • James 5:16

    Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

  • James 5:18

    And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

  • Nehemiah 1:4

    And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned [certain] days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,

  • Nehemiah 1:11

    O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.
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