The prophet Jeremiah had predicted that after 70 years of exile in Babylon, the Jews would be permitted to return to their homeland (Jeremiah 25:11; 29:10; 2 Chronicles 36:21 cf. Leviticus 26:34). The prophet Isaiah had also looked ahead, specifying Cyrus, a future king of Persia, as the ruler who would give permission to return and rebuild Jerusalem (Isaiah 44:26-28 cf. 2 Chronicles 36:22-23). Among the exiles were the prophets Daniel and Ezekiel. Daniel served in the royal courts of Babylon and its conqueror Persia. In the Scriptures, he read Jeremiah’s prophecy about the 70 years. Here is how Daniel responded:
WE HAVE TURNED ASIDE.
I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, “O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules…. To You, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame…. The curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against Him. Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of Your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for Your own sake, O Lord, make Your face to shine upon Your sanctuary [the temple in Jerusalem], which is desolate…. For we do not present our pleas before You because of our righteousness, but because of Your great mercy.” (Daniel 9:4-5, 7, 11, 17-18 cf. Nehemiah 1:1-11)