Sermon Summary: Daniel's Intercessory Prayer: Standing in the Gap for Others (Daniel 9:1-19)

In today’s passage, we find Daniel engaged in deep, heartfelt prayer. This is not just any prayer—it’s a prayer of intercession. Daniel is standing in the gap for his people, pleading with God for their forgiveness, grace, and mercy.

What does it mean to intercede for someone? Simply put, intercession is standing before God on another’s behalf, bringing their needs, struggles, sins, and brokenness to the Lord. As followers of Jesus, this is a calling we cannot ignore. The Apostle Paul underscores this in 1 Timothy 2:1: “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people.” Interceding for others is central to our identity as Christ-followers.

Standing for Christ Means Standing in the Gap

This is the central idea of today’s message: Standing for Christ means standing in the gap. It means coming before God not only for ourselves but for others—especially those in desperate need of God’s grace. Daniel’s prayer in Daniel 9 offers us a powerful example of intercession. By following his example, we can learn how to pray for the lost and hurting in our lives.

Let’s begin by exploring why Daniel felt compelled to stand in the gap and how he went about it.

Why Daniel Stood in the Gap

Daniel’s story unfolds during a time of great trial for Israel. Exiled from their homeland, the people of Israel were suffering the consequences of their rebellion against God. Daniel understood the gravity of their situation and had read the words of the prophet Jeremiah: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place” (Jeremiah 29:10). The end of the exile was near, but Daniel knew something crucial: the people had not repented. Their relationship with God remained broken, and they were still in desperate need of His mercy.

Moved by this reality, Daniel poured out his heart to the Lord. His prayer was not routine or detached—it was raw, earnest, and deeply personal. He understood that Israel’s greatest need was not simply a change in circumstances but a change of heart. They needed to be reconciled to God, and only He could accomplish this transformation (Ezekiel 36:26-27).

This raises a vital question for us: Why should we stand in the gap for others? Like Daniel, we see the brokenness and rebellion in the world around us—and in the lives of those we love. We know that only God can bring true healing and restoration. We intercede because we love the lost and because we love the Lord, whose heart is full of grace and mercy (2 Peter 3:9). Just as Daniel’s love for his people moved him to pray, so should our love compel us to intercede for those far from God.

How Daniel Stood in the Gap

Daniel’s intercessory prayer offers us a model to follow. It is marked by four key elements: adoration, confession, thankfulness, and supplication.

Prayers of Adoration: Remembering Who God Is

Daniel begins his prayer with adoration, proclaiming, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments” (Daniel 9:4). He starts by focusing on God’s greatness, faithfulness, and covenant love. This mirrors the way Jesus taught us to pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name” (Matthew 6:9).

When we intercede for others, we must first remember who God is. He is holy, righteous, and abounding in steadfast love (Psalm 86:15). Fixing our eyes on His character gives us confidence in our prayers, knowing that we approach a God who is both willing and able to save.

Prayers of Confession: Remembering Who We Are Before Him

Daniel moves from adoration to confession, acknowledging the sins of his people: “We have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules” (Daniel 9:5). He is brutally honest about their rebellion, making no excuses.

When we intercede, we too must come with hearts of confession. We acknowledge sin for what it is—a barrier that separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2). This confession is not about self-righteous judgment but humble recognition that we all need God’s mercy (1 John 1:9). As Jesus taught, we must first remove the log from our own eye before addressing the speck in another’s (Matthew 7:5).

Confession is essential because it aligns our hearts with God’s truth, humbling us and preparing us to pray with integrity.

Prayers of Thankfulness: Praising God for His Faithfulness

Even in confession, Daniel’s prayer is filled with thankfulness. He recalls God’s past deliverance, saying, “You brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and you made a name for yourself” (Daniel 9:15). God’s faithfulness in history gives Daniel hope for the future.

As we pray for the lost, we too should be filled with gratitude. We remember how God has worked in our own lives—how He has delivered us from sin and poured out His grace. Gratitude fuels our prayers, reminding us that the God who has acted in the past will continue to act in the present and future (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Prayers with Supplication: Asking for God’s Mercy and Grace

Finally, Daniel concludes his prayer with supplication, pleading, “We do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy” (Daniel 9:18). He asks God to act not for Israel’s sake but for His own glory.

When we intercede, we ask God to show mercy, bring salvation, and glorify His name. We plead with Him to do what only He can—open blind eyes, soften hardened hearts, and draw people to Himself (2 Corinthians 4:4-6).

Standing in the Gap for Others Today

How can we stand in the gap for others today? We follow Daniel’s example:

• We come with adoration, focusing on God’s greatness and love.
• We come with confession, acknowledging our sins and those of others.
• We come with thankfulness, remembering God’s faithfulness.
• We come with supplication, asking for His mercy and grace.

And here’s the beautiful truth: we do not stand in the gap alone. Jesus Christ, the ultimate Intercessor, stands with us. Romans 8:34 tells us that He is at the right hand of God, interceding for us. Through Him, we have confidence to approach the throne of grace and pray for the lost, knowing that God hears us and is mighty to save.

Conclusion

Standing for Christ means standing in the gap. It means praying for those far from God, pleading for their salvation, and trusting in His power to redeem. Let’s commit to this calling, remembering that our prayers are not in vain. As we stand in the gap, we join Christ in His work of intercession, confident in the faithfulness of our merciful God.

Amen.