"Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime."
Daniel 6:10
Part 3
Yesterday: We Are Challenged to Stand for God Regardless of the Cost
“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed.”
Today: We Are Taught to Pray
“Daniel always prayed to God three times every day. Three times every day, he bowed down on his knees to pray and praise God. Even though Daniel heard about the new law, he still went to his house to pray. He went up to the upper room of his house and opened the windows that faced toward Jerusalem. Then Daniel bowed down on his knees and prayed just as he always had done” (Daniel 6:10, HSB [1]).
“To pray constantly only for ourselves is a mark of failure in prayer. It is in intercession for others that our faith and love and perseverance will be stirred up and that the power of the Spirit will be found to equip us for bringing salvation to people” [2] (Andrew Murray).
When this new test of Daniel’s faith came, what did he do? He did just what he always did. This was his daily habit.
“He went into his house.”
The first thing Daniel did was to go home.
“went into his house—withdrawing from the God-dishonoring court” [3] (JFB).
Daniel understood that there are times for public prayer. Most of the believers’ prayer is a private prayer between the believer and God alone. Daniel’s words were for no one but God.
Dear believing friend, remember what Jesus taught us about prayer –
“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly” (Matthew 6:6).
Jesus also taught us that our prayer is never for show.
“And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward” (Matthew 6:5).
“And his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem.”
The second thing Daniel did was go to his upper room and look out his window toward Jerusalem. He wasn’t being showy by going to his window to pray, but neither would he be a coward nor hide while he prayed when this was his daily habit.
“It was his custom to worship in an attic (upstairs room; [v.] 10) where the windows opened towards Jerusalem” [4] (NBC).
What was significant about Daniel facing Jerusalem when he prayed? Jerusalem was the city that Jehovah selected as a dwelling place for His name. His children are called to worship Him at His Temple there (2 Chronicles 6:6). The Old Testament Jews, no matter where they were in the world, faced Jerusalem when they prayed.
“Praying toward Jerusalem symbolized praying before Yahweh” [5] (FSB).
“Jewish people in exile always pray toward Jerusalem—even today—just as Solomon had instructed in his prayer of dedication for the temple (1 Kings 8:44–49)” [6] (CSB).
“Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee today: That thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there: that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make toward this place. And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest, forgive” (1 Kings 8:28-30).
“But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple” (Psalm 5:7).
As believers today, we do not face any particular direction when we pray. God’s Word teaches us that God is everywhere, present at once (omnipresent). We know that whatever direction we face, we are constantly facing our God. We need to be aware that when we are praying, we bow down before Him and speak directly to Him. We come “boldly before His throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16).
Please come back tomorrow as we continue looking at Daniel’s faithful habit of prayer.
Quote: “We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties.” [7] Oswald Chambers
[1] HSB is the Harvest Study Bible from Harvest Ministries in Guam.
[2] Murray’s quote is from his book The Ministry of Intercessory Prayer. Downloaded: November 27, 2021. From: https://www.wow4u.com/power-prayerquotes/.
[3] JFB, Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 1, pp. 631–632). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc. The emphasis is his.
[4] NBC, Ferguson, S. B. (1994). Daniel. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st-century edition (4th ed., p. 755). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press.
[5] FSB, Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Da 6:10). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[6] CSB, Rydelnik, M. (2017). Daniel. In E. A. Blum & T. Wax (Eds.), CSB Study Bible: Notes (p. 1336). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] Chambers’ quote was downloaded on May 25, 2021. From: https://biblereasons.com/prayer-quotes/.