Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Daniel Prayed Toward Jerusalem

When they sin against you (for there is no one who doesn’t sin) and you become angry with them and hand them over to an enemy who takes them away as prisoners to enemy territory, whether distant or nearby, if they change their heart in whatever land they are held captive, changing their lives and begging for your mercy, saying, "We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly!" and if they return to you with all their heart and all their being in the enemy territory where they've been taken captive, and pray to you, toward their land, which you gave their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen, and toward the temple I have built for your name, then listen to their prayer and request from your heavenly dwelling place. Do what is right for them, and forgive your people who have sinned against you. Forgive all their wrong that they have done against you. See to it that those who captured them show them mercy. (1 Kings 8:46-50 CEB)

When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. (Daniel 6:10 ESV)

During the dedication of the temple, Solomon prayed that when the Israelites sinned and were taken captive, and when they prayed to God toward their land, the city Jerusalem and the house that Solomon had built for His name, God would listened to their prayers and forgive them. Thus when Daniel prayed toward Jerusalem, he was doing what King Solomon had written.

No comments: