Dan. 9:5-19; Meeting the Present Crisis (8)

We are continuing to hear Daniel’s description of “sin.” 

(8)                        v8: Sin against God. (v11).  The “shame of face” we noted in the previous post is ours because of our standing before God.  If we compare ourselves to other people, our “peers,” we might think we are no worse than they are.  But when we understand that sin is first and foremost against God, then we are ashamed.  We stand before God who has always kept His word, always given good commands, and always provided well for us through Creation.  Mom always said, “you ought to be ashamed.”  Daniel says, we have shame whether we admit it or not.

(9)                        v10: Disobeying God's voice. (v11,14).  Here, the voice of the LORD concerns the written word of God for Israel, the law of Moses.  What the prophets did was to remind them of God’s laws. 

(10)                        v11: Transgression: overstepping the Law of God.  They stepped outside God’s laws, one by one.

(11)                        Turning aside onto another path.  And then, in their idolatry and lifestyle choices, they chose a path different than God’s laws.  They chose to be like the nations around them and lost their distinctive role in the world as God’s witnesses. 

(12)                        v13: Failure to seek His favor.  Lastly, we see Israel’s perseverance in their sin.  They experienced God’s judgment but did not respond to it by turning to the LORD.  We see this in our own world today.  We experience difficulties that should cause us to stop and consider what the LORD is telling us.  Instead, we attribute our problems to “natural” explanations and set about to use our resources to overcome them without seeking God’s help.

There are NO excuses offered, no rationalizations, no mitigating circumstances. There is a clear understanding of sin and its extent!  Even after 70 years in Babylon Daniel still felt deeply the sin and the shame.

In vs16-19 Daniel makes his request of the LORD, reaffirming the truth that he does not ask based on righteous deeds but on the basis of God’s mercy.  God answered the prayer.  In Daniel’s situation, the answer came in the form of words, additional revelation from the LORD in one of the most important Messianic prophecies (9:24-27).  And the answer was delivered by none other than God’s special messenger Gabriel (v20-23). 

In this setting, we are not so much concerned with the answer because it was specific for Daniel’s situation.  Our purpose here was to point out a need, the first need, when we face a crisis.  It is not to “mimic” Daniel’s prayer but to mimic the fact that he prayed, the attitude with which he prayed, and his ability to make a God-honoring confession of sin.  LORD help us in this time of crisis!