Daniel 9:17 Meaning: Why We Pray for God's Glory, Not Our Merit
“Now therefore, our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his petitions, and cause your face to shine on your sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake.
Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake.
Now therefore, O our God, hearken unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake.
and now, hearken, O our God, unto the prayer of Thy servant, and unto his supplication, and cause Thy face to shine on Thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake.
And now, our God, hearken to the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake.
Meaning in one sentence
Daniel appeals to God not based on Israel's merit but for the Lord's own sake. Learn why this shapes the foundation of all true prayer.
Context
Daniel has been studying the prophet Jeremiah and realised the seventy years of Jerusalem's desolation are nearly over. He responds with a staggering prayer of confession, identifying fully with his people's sin. By verse 17, he has laid the guilt bare. Now he asks God to hear him and to let His face shine on the temple, which lies in ruins. Daniel makes no claim that Israel deserves help. Instead, he grounds his plea in something far steadier: the Lord's own name and reputation. The sanctuary is desolate not only for Israel's shame but because God's glory is wrapped up with that place. So Daniel prays in a way that points away from the people and towards the character of God.
Key Words
Two Hebrew phrases carry the weight of this verse. First, cause your face to shine uses the verb or (to give light) with panim (face). Together they echo the priestly blessing from Numbers 6, where God's face shining is a picture of favour, warmth and peace. Daniel is asking for the kind of look that restores life to a dead place. Secondly, the phrase for the Lord's sake uses lema'an (for the sake of) and Adonai (Lord). This shifts the whole foundation of prayer. The request is not anchored in Daniel's worthiness or the people's repentance but in God's own commitment to His name. The word desolate (shamem) describes something utterly abandoned and ruined. It makes the need feel desperate. Yet Daniel dares to ask for light to fall on that very wreckage, not because the rubble deserves rebuilding, but because the God who dwells there is faithful.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have noticed the boldness of Daniel's appeal. Many Reformed commentators, like Calvin and Matthew Henry, see here the essence of prayer: resting on God's mercy, not human worth. Wesley and Gill identify the phrase for the Lord's sake as pointing to the Messiah, the ultimate ground of all our petitions. Catholic and Orthodox readers likewise hear in this verse a deep trust in God's covenant faithfulness. Whatever the specific lens, all agree that Daniel models something vital: when we have no case to make from our own lives, we can still plead God's own reputation and promises. The prayer is honest about ruin, but confident in the One who can shine into it.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers take for the Lord's sake as a formula for getting what we want from God, as if saying the right words obligates Him to act. In fact, Daniel is doing the opposite. He is letting go of any claim on God based on human merit. The phrase is not a magic lever but a humble surrender. Daniel appeals to God's own character because he knows nothing else will hold.
Living This Out
Think of one situation in your life that feels truly desolate right now, a relationship stalled, a hope deferred, a place in your heart that seems beyond repair. You may not even feel qualified to pray about it. Daniel shows you a way: go to God and simply say, For Your sake, Lord. Not because you have a good argument, but because His character is the argument. This week, when you bring that situation to prayer, try adding those words. Let them free you from needing to prove you deserve an answer. Rest instead on the faithfulness of the God who hears.
Main takeaway: True prayer finds its confidence not in the one who prays but in the character and glory of the God who hears.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Daniel asked God to let His face shine on the broken temple. That means he wanted God to smile on it again. Even when things look ruined, we can ask God to help because He is good.
For ages 9, 12
Daniel knew the people of Israel had disobeyed God and didn't deserve His help. So he prayed in a different way. He said, God, please do this for Your own sake, meaning because You are good and faithful, not because we are. That changes how we pray. When you mess up, you don't have to pretend you are perfect. You can ask God to act because of who He is.
Questions People Ask
What does 'cause your face to shine' mean in Daniel 9:17?
It is a beautiful Old Testament picture of God's favour and blessing. The image comes from the sun: when God's face shines on someone, it means He is looking at them with warmth, approval and peace. Daniel is asking God to stop frowning at the ruined temple and to smile on it again.
Why does Daniel say 'for the Lord's sake' instead of 'for our sake'?
Daniel has just confessed that Israel deserves only judgment. So he cannot base his prayer on their goodness. Instead, he appeals to God's own reputation and promises. 'For the Lord's sake' means 'because of who You are and what You have committed to do.' It shifts the ground of prayer from human merit to divine faithfulness.
Was Daniel praying for the temple to be physically rebuilt?
Yes, at that moment the temple in Jerusalem was still in ruins after the Babylonian destruction. Daniel's prayer is part of his intercession for the restoration of Jerusalem and the sanctuary. Yet he also sees the deeper need: God's presence and favour returning to His people, not just a building.
How does Daniel 9:17 apply to my prayers today?
This verse frees you from having to come to God with a perfect record. When you feel unworthy, you can still pray boldly because your confidence rests on God's character, not your performance. You can bring your most desolate situations to Him and say, 'Lord, act for Your own sake.' It is an invitation to humble trust.
Who is 'the Lord' in 'for the Lord's sake'?
The Hebrew word is Adonai, a title of reverence used for God. Some Christian commentators, like Matthew Henry and John Wesley, see here a reference to the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, through whom all God's promises are fulfilled. Others simply understand it as God Himself. Both views agree that the prayer rests on God's initiative, not human worth.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study