“In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans 2in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the Lord through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. 3Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. 4And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, “O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, 5we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments. 6Neither have we heeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings and our princes, to our fathers and all the people of the land..” Daniel 9:1-6
“16O Lord, according to all Your righteousness, I pray, let Your anger and Your fury be turned away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people are a reproach to all those around us. 17Now therefore, our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord’s sake cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate.” Daniel 9:16-17
Father God, Lord Almighty,
Daniel read about Jeremiah’s prophesy of 70 years and he believed it (Jeremiah 29:10). He read holy scriptures before the Bible was put together! He believed, he prayed, it happened. Not quite as easily or as quickly as that but it happened because You Lord promised it and enabled it. You Gog stirred the heart of the King of Babylon, Cyrus of Persia. Sadly Jeremiah had probably died of old age by the time the 70 years had passed. Now I can understand why Simeon was so overwhelmed when he held the Baby Jesus in the Temple. He held, he saw prophesy alive in his hands. He saw Jesus, You God in the flesh. No wonder he was so moved. (Luke 2:25-37). These are nor stories they are events.
And the Israelites were allowed to return to their beloved Temple. They must have been overjoyed and yet in trepidation of what needed be done and what it would cost. Today, we became a Temple when we asked Jesus into our life (1 Corinthians 3:16). We too are overjoyed by the presence of Your Spirit within us. But also in wonder at how You can rebuild our lives and change us to be Your holy Temple. That You want to because You love us – its too amazing to comprehend.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Thursday 18th September 2025
This I believe is a Salvation Army Song.
You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart. What a humble, generous, faithful God. How intimate is that.
I serve a risen Saviour
He’s in the world today.
I know that He is living,
Whatever men may say.
I see His hand of mercy;
I hear His voice of cheer;
And just the time I need Him
He’s always near.
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.
In all the world around me
I see His loving care,
And though my heart grows weary,
I never will despair;
I know that He is leading,
Through all the stormy blast;
The day of His appearing
Will come at last.
Chorus
Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian,
Lift up your voice and sing
Eternal hallelujahs
To Jesus Christ the King!
The Hope of all who seek Him,
The Help of all who find,
None other is so loving,
So good and kind.
Lyrics: Alfred Henry Ackley