Charles Spurgeon Commentary Daniel 9:4

"And I prayed unto Jehovah my God, and made confession, and said, Oh, Lord, the great and dreadful God, who keepeth covenant and lovingkindness with them that love him and keep his commandments," — Daniel 9:4 (ASV)

And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;

You must have noticed how, in prayer, holy men of old were accustomed to vary the names of God. Here, we find Daniel addressing him as the great and dreadful God; but that title was not chosen haphazardly, for the prophet felt that, as Jerusalem had remained so long a desolation, the terrible aspect of God's character was more conspicuous even than the tender one; yet he coupled with it that gracious truth, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments.