This is kind of raw, but here are some thoughts I jotted down while reading Daniel 9:1,2
1 Darius: a title, not a name. Ahasuerus: also a title, not a name. Setting: year 1 of Darius. This was a real historic king who reigned at a real time in history. He is mentioned in secular histories and I suppose that a person could count down the years of his reign to find when Daniel had this revelation from God. 2 Daniel: Judge of God. Dan, judge. Diyn, a straight course. El, strenght, mighty, god. Ayil, strength, might, cheif. Uwl, strong, powerful, twist. understood: biyn, to mentally sort out, determine or distinguish. by books: books or writings. number: micpar, number. caphar, a tally mark as in keeping score. of years: chana, years. words of: dabar, spoken word. of Yahweh. to Jeremiah (the prophet): Yah will rise. ruwm, rising high. Yah, contraction for Yahweh. desolation: chorbah, drought, desolation. Not a lot is known of Daniel other than he was a prophet. By looking at the translation and definition of his name we can see some of his character. He was a student of the scriptures and at the time listed above, he reached an understanding of what Jeremiah had been told by the words of God. In particular the fulfillment of the prophecy regarding the 70 years of Jerusalem's desolation, or dry spell. This wasn't just any dry spell. The city was ransacked, burned, the people driven out. The worthy ones taken in slavery, the poor and weak left to fend for themselves and many killed during the whole ordeal. Here's just a few cross references so you can see what I mean. 2Ch 36:21 Jer 25:11,12 27:7 29:10 Zec 7:5 Ps 74:3-7 79:1,2 Isa 6:11,12 24:10-12 64:10 Jer 7:34 25:18 Jer 26:6,18 La 1:1 Mic 3:12 So, how did he understand? He prayed. He lamented over the foolish behavior of his fathers. Not for his own sake but so that God might be glorified. That God might put his people in a place to once again worship him in all earnestness. All God wanted was his due. He will get it in one way or other. He can certainly outwait us and what may seem like a time that is too long or unfair will really only be long enough for us to hit rock bottom and turn to his mercies again. You may ask yourself: "How did I get here, under a heavy rock, laying on this hard place?" What do you do? Stop and think. You can't lift that heavy burden off alone. If you just stay here you will die in this trap. The good news though is that God is in control. He is watching and waiting for that moment of repentance. What can I do? What should I do? Dwell on what went wrong just long enough to learn to not be that way anymore. Focus on service, worship and the love that God has for you and me. When I pray, how will I know God has heard me? Peace is a funny thing, he can give it to you even when the whole world is falling down around you. All I really want at this time is the hope that this situation will end. That my service to God will burst out and my weaknesses stay left where they fall. Just grant me peace to keep me sane until that rock is lifted off me.