Praying For Forgiveness With Daniel

The Bible is full of people who are honourable and those who we would do well to not follow their example.  Today we pray with one of my favourite people – Daniel.  Daniel had a habit of praying and even when to continue to pray could cost him his life, he went home and as was his custom, he opened his windows, not caring who saw him, and prayed 3 times a day.  It did cost him a trip to the lions’ den overnight but God kept him safe and raised him up to place of prominence in the government. 

Daniel remained a humble man.  We’ll pray a prayer with him today where he confesses sin – not just his own but those of his nation and his government.  He tells God that he’s not complaining because God only did what He said He would do if people would not stop doing evil.  But Daniel also knows God’s heart and he reminds God of how he rescued his people from slavery and hardship in Egypt and became known for the great and glorious God he is.  Daniel asks God to rescue them again so His honour can be seen among the nations again. 

I pray to have a heart like Daniel’s who sees reality for what it is, knows what we deserve, and yet also knows that God’s mercy goes deeper and His love for us is unfailing.  When you see “Israel” and “Jerusalem” mentioned just put in the name of your own country and city.  Let’s call out to God for His great blessing today – undeserved though it might be – but in a great demonstration of how awesome God is.

“O Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill your covenant and keep your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and obey your commands. But we have sinned and done wrong. We have rebelled against you and scorned your commands and regulations. We have refused to listen to your servants the prophets, who spoke on your authority to our kings and princes and ancestors and to all the people of the land.

“Lord, you are in the right; but as you see, our faces are covered with shame. This is true of all of us, including the people of Judah and Jerusalem and all Israel, scattered near and far, wherever you have driven us because of our disloyalty to you.

O Lord, we and our kings, princes, and ancestors are covered with shame because we have sinned against you. But the Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him.

We have not obeyed the Lord our God, for we have not followed the instructions he gave us through his servants the prophets. All Israel has disobeyed your instruction and turned away, refusing to listen to your voice.

“So now the solemn curses and judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured down on us because of our sin. You have kept your word and done to us and our rulers exactly as you warned. Never has there been such a disaster as happened in Jerusalem.

Every curse written against us in the Law of Moses has come true. Yet we have refused to seek mercy from the Lord our God by turning from our sins and recognizing his truth. Therefore, the Lord has brought upon us the disaster he prepared. The Lord our God was right to do all of these things, for we did not obey him.

“O Lord our God, you brought lasting honor to your name by rescuing your people from Egypt in a great display of power. But we have sinned and are full of wickedness. In view of all your faithful mercies, Lord, please turn your furious anger away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain. All the neighboring nations mock Jerusalem and your people because of our sins and the sins of our ancestors.

“O our God, hear your servant’s prayer! Listen as I plead. For your own sake, Lord, smile again on your desolate sanctuary. “O my God, lean down and listen to me. Open your eyes and see our despair. See how your city—the city that bears your name—lies in ruins. We make this plea, not because we deserve help, but because of your mercy.

“O Lord, hear. O Lord, forgive. O Lord, listen and act! For your own sake, do not delay, O my God, for your people and your city bear your name.”

Daniel 9:4-19