Daniel 9

Daniel 9:24-26

That these verses relate to the manifestation of Jesus Christ to fulfil all righteousness, and make full atonement for the sins of his people, to fulfil all the ancient types and prophecies, and to receive the Holy Ghost above measure himself, and miraculously pour him out upon his followers, for the restraining of iniquity, and the introduction of remarkable holiness into the world, among both Jews and Gentiles, is generally agreed. That each of the weeks mentioned denotes seven years, a day for a year, Ezek. iv. 6; and that the whole of the numbers is intended to point out the time of our Saviour’s appearance, is also agreed. In applying the weeks there has been great difference among calculators: but it is enough that they must all fix the conclusion of the weeks near the time of our Saviour’s death. From Ezra’s commission, by Artaxerxes Longimanus, in the 7th year of his reign, to restore the affairs of the Jewish church and state, to the death of Christ, is precisely 70 weeks, or 490 years. From Nehemiah’s commission to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, in the 20th year of Artaxerxes, to the death of Christ, Isaiah 490 lunar years and a little more; or perhaps precisely 490 to the rejection of the Jews and calling of the Gentiles. From Ezra’s commission to Nehemiah’s finishing his reformation might be precisely seven weeks, or 49 years; thence to John Baptist’s manifestation (by his ministry) of Christ as come, 62 weeks, or 434 years; thence to Christ’s death another week, or seven years;—490 in all. Perhaps too, from Julius Cesar’s edict, for the Jews to repair and fortify their cities, to Christ’s birth, might be precisely 49 years; and as much from Herod’s building of the inner temple to Christ’s baptism; and as much from his finishing the outer temple to Christ’s death. 3 In the last week, ver. 27, the covenant was confirmed with many, and the daily sacrifice abolished, either by Christ’s ministrations, and the conversion of multitudes to him by the covenant of grace, and by his rendering useless all the typical sacrifices by his death; or near forty years afterward, when Titus made leagues of peace with sundry of the Asian nations, that he might have the more leisure to make war against the Jews; by which their temple was destroyed, their civil and ecclesiastical constitution overthrown, and themselves generally murdered or driven from the country; under the dreadful effects of which they have remained for above 1700 years past. [See Introduction, chap. iv. sect. xviii.]

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. IX.—The near fulfilment of God’s promises animates the believing mind to earnest prayer for it. But, alas, how shameful and criminal is the conduct that exposes God’s people to his righteous judgments, which so exactly correspond with his threatenings! The desolations of God’s sanctuary are a great grief to gracious souls. But it is an animating encouragement to prayer to consider his readiness to forgive sins, his ability to supply our wants, and that he has done so much for his people in former times, and can glorify his name, his Christ, his justice and mercy, and his relation to us, in our deliverance! Yea, God sometimes makes immediate and sensible returns to the prayers of his people, and gives them more than they ask. And with great humility and serious consideration ought such favours to be received! Necessary, great, and glorious, and fixed in every circumstance, is Jesus’ incarnation, his unction with the Holy Ghost, his labours and death for sinners: and terrible the vengeance incurred by his obstinate despisers. But great is the mercy that, when some circumstances in scripture are left in great obscurity, the principal things are expressed so plainly that he that runs may read and understand them