“Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake.”
My Notes
What Does Daniel 9:17 Mean?
Daniel is nearing the climax of his prayer — the one that began with confession and the acknowledgment of God's greatness — and now he makes his request. And the ground he stands on is not his own merit. It's God's name.
"Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant" — Daniel calls himself servant (ʿebed). Not prophet. Not statesman. Not the man who survived the lion's den. Servant. The highest title he claims is the lowest rank available. And from that position, he asks one thing: hear. Not act yet. Not answer yet. Hear. Let the prayer register. Let the words arrive.
"And his supplications" — plural. Not one request but many. The prayer has been building through verses of confession, historical recollection, and theological declaration. All of it is supplication. All of it is the pleading of a man who knows what's at stake and knows he has no leverage.
"And cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate" — the request is stunning in its imagery. The temple lies in ruins. It's been desolate for seventy years. The place where God's glory once dwelt is rubble. And Daniel asks God to shine His face on it — to turn toward the ruins, to look upon the devastation with favor, to let His presence illuminate what destruction has darkened.
The face of God shining is the priestly blessing from Numbers 6:25 — the benediction Aaron spoke over Israel. Daniel is asking for that same blessing to fall on a pile of rubble. He's asking God to bless what's broken.
"For the Lord's sake" — not for Israel's sake. Not for Daniel's sake. Not because the sanctuary deserves restoration. For the Lord's sake. Because God's name is attached to that sanctuary. Because the desolation of God's temple reflects on God's reputation. Daniel appeals to the one thing more reliable than human merit: God's investment in His own name.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What 'desolate sanctuary' in your life needs God's face to shine on it — what ruin needs His presence more than repair?
- 2.How does praying 'for the Lord's sake' rather than 'for my sake' change the basis of your requests?
- 3.What does it mean to ask God to shine His face on rubble — to bring His presence before the rebuilding starts?
- 4.Where is God's name attached to your life in a way that makes your restoration about His reputation, not just your comfort?
Devotional
Daniel asks God to shine His face on a ruin. That's one of the most audacious prayers in Scripture. The sanctuary is desolate — seventy years of rubble, weeds growing through the courtyard, the holy of holies open to the sky. And Daniel doesn't ask for a new building. He asks for God's face. Shine on what's destroyed. Look at the rubble with favor. Let Your presence return to the place Your presence left.
Your life might have a desolate sanctuary in it. A place that was once alive with God's presence — a relationship, a calling, a season of faith — that's now in ruins. The structure collapsed. The glory departed. What was once the holiest thing in your life is now the emptiest. And Daniel's prayer teaches you what to ask for: not a reconstruction project. A face. God's face. Shining on the ruins.
The appeal "for the Lord's sake" is the key that unlocks the prayer. Daniel doesn't argue that Israel deserves restoration. They don't. He doesn't claim his own righteousness qualifies him to ask. It doesn't. He says: Lord, Your name is on this sanctuary. Your reputation is tied to this place. Restore it for Your sake — because the desolation of what bears Your name is a statement about You that isn't true.
You can pray the same way. Not "restore me because I deserve it." But "restore me because Your name is on my life, and the desolation of what bears Your name doesn't reflect who You are." The appeal to God's name is the strongest appeal there is. He will always act to protect the reputation He has invested in what's His.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Now therefore, O our God,.... This being our miserable case, and the seventy years' captivity being at an end, and thou…
Now, therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant - In behalf of the people. He pleaded for his people and…
And cause thy face to shine - Give us proof that thou art reconciled to us.
We have here Daniel's prayer to God as his God, and the confession which he joined with that prayer: I prayed, and made…
The supplication becomes more urgent, especially in Dan 9:18-19.
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture