Daniel 9:4

“And I prayed unto the Lord my God, etc.] Not to idols, nor to angels or saints departed; but to the Lord God of heaven and earth, who is omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, etc.: a God hearing and answering prayer; and to whom he directed his prayer, not only as the God of nature and providence, but as his own covenant God and Father; thereby encouraging his faith in him, and using his interest with him: and made my confession; of his own sins, and of the sins of his people; of the favours bestowed on him and them; of his justice in afflicting them, and his mercy in appointing a time for their deliverance; of his own faith in him, love to him, and submission to his will: and said, O Lord,…”

“my confession--according to God's promises in Lev 26:39-42, that if Israel in exile for sin should repent and confess, God would remember for them His covenant with Abraham (compare Deu 30:1-5; Jer 29:12-14; Jam 4:10). God's promise was absolute, but prayer also was ordained as about to precede its fulfilment, this too being the work of God in His people, as much as the external restoration which was to follow. So it shall be at Israel's final restoration (Psa 102:13-17). Daniel takes his countrymen's place of confession of sin, identifying himself with them, and, as their representative and intercessory priest, "accepts the punishment of their iniquity." Thus he typifies Messiah, the…”

“And I prayed unto the Lord my God - Evidently a set and formal prayer. It would seem probable that; he offered this prayer, and then re corded the substance of it afterward. We have no reason to suppose that we have the whole of it, but we have doubtless its principal topics. And made my confession - Not as an individual, or not of his own sins only, but a confession in behalf of the people, and in their name. There is no reason to suppose that what he here says did “not” express their feelings. They had been long in captivity - far away from their desolate city and temple. They could not but be sensible that these calamities had come upon them on account of their sins; and they could not…”

“9:4-11 God’s faithfulness contrasted sharply with his people’s unfaithfulness and rebellion. When Daniel confessed the sins of his people, he included himself among them (9:5), though he had lived a laudatory life (see “Community Identity” Theme Note). Daniel prayed the equivalent of a high priestly prayer on behalf of his people, using many quotations from and allusions to the Torah, prophets, and psalms. 9:4 the Lord (Hebrew Yahweh): The covenant name of God (Exod 6:2-3; 20:2) is found in Daniel only in this chapter. • God is faithful to his covenant with his people who love . . . and obey him (cp. Exod 34:6-7; Deut 7:9; Rom 8:28). God’s unfailing love (Hebrew khesed, elsewhere translated…”

“made: Dan 9:5-12; Lev 26:40-42; Kg1 8:47-49; Ch2 7:14; Neh 9:2, Neh 9:3; Psa 32:5; Jer 3:13; Jo1 1:8-10 the great: Exo 20:6, Exo 34:6, Exo 34:7; Num 14:18, Num 14:19; Deu 5:10, Deu 7:9; Kg1 8:23; Neh 1:5, Neh 9:32; Jer 32:17-19; Mic 7:18-20; Nah 1:2-7; Luk 1:72; Rom 8:28; Jam 1:12; Jam 2:5; Jo1 5:2, Jo1 5:3 Daniel 9:5”