但以理怎样祷告?
但以理书九章15至19节
15主─我们的神啊,你曾用大能的手领你的子民出埃及地,使自己得了名,正如今日一样。我们犯了罪,作了恶。
16主啊,求你按你的大仁大义,使你的怒气和忿怒转离你的城耶路撒冷,就是你的圣山。耶路撒冷和你的子民,因我们的罪恶和我们列祖的罪孽被四围的人羞辱。
17我们的神啊,现在求你垂听仆人的祈祷恳求,为自己使脸光照你荒凉的圣所。
18我的神啊,求你侧耳而听,睁眼而看,眷顾我们荒凉之地和称为你名下的城。我们在你面前恳求,原不是因自己的义,乃因你的大怜悯。
19求主垂听,求主赦免,求主应允而行,为你自己不要迟延。我的神啊,因这城和这民都是称为你名下的。
信息分享
对于同胞将要重回故国这件大事,但以理感到非常兴奋。纵使他未必能够等到这个日子,与同胞一同回归,但他却深深感觉到必须为他的同胞代祷。这种迫切的心,推动他感同身受,把自己看作是他们当中的一份子,把他们的罪看成为自己的罪,恳切地向神认罪,求取祂的宽恕。
留意他的祷告是何等谦卑和迫切。请再读第3节。这时的但以理,已是朝廷宰相,仅在大利乌王一人之下。而且,他的一生可谓无可指摘,连他的敌人也找不出他有任何瑕疵。然而,他却与他的同胞认同,承认他们是一同得罪了神。
神听了他的祷告(21节),接着便向他启示了一个新的异象。并且,在两年之后,神便按照祂的应许,虽然不是由但以理率领,却让以斯拉和所罗巴伯带领祂的子民回到以色列。
我们总是期望神工作,渴望更多见到神的赐福。然而,我们有没有反省,神为甚么没有按照我们所求的祝福我们?神为甚么不即时回应?
也许是因为我们没有作好准备。我们可能需要省察、认罪、悔改,又或是神的时间未到。然而,只要我们热切期待神的工作,只要我们愿意让神在我们心里工作和借着我们工作,神总会倾福施恩予我们的。
信仰的复兴,总是先在神的百姓心中重燃爱心,带来认罪的醒觉和悔改。我们是否需要这样的复兴呢?
HOW DID DANIEL PRAY?
Daniel 9:15-19
15 And now, O Lord our God, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and made Yourself a name, as it is this day—we have sinned, we have done wickedly!
16 “O Lord, according to all Your righteousness, I pray, let Your anger and Your fury be turned away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people are a reproach to all those around us.
17 Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord’s sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate.
18 O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies.
19 O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”
Message
Daniel was thrilled at what was going to happen. He might not be able to share in the return but the burden of prayer weighed heavily on him. It resulted in this remarkable confession in which he identified himself with Israel and its shortcomings.
Notice the humility and intensity of his prayer. Read v.3 again. This man was Number One in the government next to King Darius. His life was blameless. Even his enemies could find no fault in him. Yet he included himself as he confessed the sins of the people.
God heard his prayer (v.21) and a whole new revelation was given to him. Two years later God did exactly what He had promised and took the people back to the land of Israel. However, it was not under the leadership of Daniel but of Ezra and Zerubbabel.
We are always wanting God to work. We often long to see more blessings. Why doesn't God do what we ask Him and why doesn't He do it now?
It could be that we are not ready. There may be things that need to be put right. There may be things that need to be confessed. It may not quite be God's time. But if we are in earnest, if we are willing to face up to what God wants to do in us and through us, there could be no end to the blessing He is waiting to pour out.
Revival has been defined as "the renewing of the first love among God's people, resulting in the awakening and conversions of sinners." Isn't that what we need?

