Dan. 9:14-16; Ps. 51:12-17, Meeting the Present Crisis (6)

Again, what about God is praiseworthy when we come to Him in our crisis?

(v)   His compassion & forgiveness. v9,18.  These are together in v9, and then the first term is repeated in v18.  “Compassion” is a Hebrew term (raham), in the masculine gender, that means literally “womb.”  Now before you get upset, given the sad state of affairs in the confusion of men and women in our society, let me explain.  This is what Paul meant in 1 Thess. 2:7: But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.  Daniel is pleading with God to do something we tend to think mothers (who like fathers are created in the image of God) are best at displaying.  She will discipline her child but never disown her child.  This is powerfully illustrated in Ps. 51 where David is confessing his great sin and pleading for forgiveness.  In the very first verse he too asks for God’s mercy “according to the multitude of Your tender mercies (raham).”  David prayed that God would cleanse him and deliver him from guilt (51:7,14), and his only sacrifice was a “broken and a contrite heart” (51:16-17).  This is how Daniel comes to God.  He can only plead God’s compassion.  He has no other standing. 

(vi)                        His previous deliverance. v15.  Here is another important item of praise for God when we come to Him.  We must not forget when we know that God has done this before for us.  Daniel “reminds” God of the “exodus” from Egypt.  This does two things.  It recognizes our true sinfulness, that we are “often” in need of God’s deliverance.  And second, it acknowledges that God is fully capable of deliverance.  As Daniel says, You made yourself a name, as it is this day when You brought us out of Egypt. 

(vii)                     His glory. v15.  Again, especially when our crisis is something we made for ourselves, we must acknowledge God’s glory, which Daniel does by recognizing God’s great “name” that goes back to the deliverance from Egypt.  Our sin hurts us.  But worse, it causes others to shame our God because we, those who call Him “my God,” have shamed Him through our disobedience.  He created us for His glory.  In times of confession, as well as through our works of service, our motive must be pure: whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31). 

Application: Praise is first the recognition of God for who He is.  Thanksgiving recognizes what He has done.  As we come to God in our crisis, let us be serious about “praise.”  It must come first because the requests depend on the “perfections of God.”  How can we ask for forgiveness if He cannot do that.  But when we recognize His mercy and compassion it will embolden us in prayer.  Serious prayer is benefited by serious Bible study on the character of God!