Free group study handout
Daniel 9: Group Study Handout
How to use: read Daniel 9 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.
Overview
Daniel was in the first year of Darius's reign over the Chaldeans. He understood from the books that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years (vv. 1-2).
Key verse
“To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgiveness; for we have rebelled against him.”
Daniel 9:9 (WEB)
Outline
- Daniel 9:1–2 Daniel's Context and Understanding
- Daniel 9:3–6 Daniel's Prayer of Confession
- Daniel 9:7–11 Acknowledging Sin and Confusion
- Daniel 9:12–14 Recognition of God's Justice
- Daniel 9:15–19 Plea for Mercy and Restoration
- Daniel 9:20–23 Angel Gabriel's Arrival
- Daniel 9:24–27 Seventy Weeks Prophecy
Discussion questions
- In v3, what actions does Daniel take as he seeks the Lord God?
- What specific sins does Daniel confess in vv. 5-6?
- Gabriel's message in v23 states Daniel is 'greatly beloved'; what does this imply about Daniel's relationship with God?
- The promise of 'seventy weeks' in v24: how do these weeks relate to Israel's timeline and redemption?
- When have you sought God's mercy in a situation like Daniel's prayer in v19?
Go deeper
Passages that echo Daniel 9: Nehemiah 1, Matthew 24, Nehemiah 9.
Before next time: read Daniel 10.