Knowledge of the purposes of God

When the seventy years of the Babylonish Captivity were nearly over, Daniel, "understanding by books" (the books of the prophet Jeremiah) that they must be well-nigh ended, gave himself to earnest supplication for his people, and about the city and Sanctuary, which, after a life-time of honourable exile, were still dear to his heart.

As David, when God had revealed to him his purposes of grace respecting his seed, cried, "0 Lord God, the word that Thou hast spoken, establish it for ever, and do as Thou hast said!" so Daniel, when he understood God’s intention quickly to terminate the long captivity of the Jews, began to pray for the accomplishment of his purpose. What a lesson, that a knowledge of the purposes of God, so far from leading to a fatalistic carelessness about their accomplishment, should lead to earnest, believing, hopeful, supplication!

H. Grattan Guinness (from The Approaching End of the Age, 1879)