Daniel's prayer

I'm sorry I haven't blogged in a while. I've had many things on my mind the last few weeks. However the Lord has given me many things to write about. The first of which is Daniel's prayer and how it's possible that it parallels with how we should be praying today.

Back before Jerusalem was destroyed for the first time, it was filled with "God's people". The Bible tells us that these people disobeyed God which led to their captivity into the hands of the Babylonians. Prior to this the prophet Jeremiah had foretold that there would be a period of captivity for 70 years. When Daniel understood this prophecy he prayed the prayer of Daniel 9:4-19. Take a moment and read it.

After I read this I realized that the same thing has happened to the race of humanity. We were created as God's people, we sinned which lead to this time of captivity to Satan's "kingdom" and Jesus has promised us that He'll return to restore His people. Now is there a possibility that Daniel's prayer should be an example to us in these last days? I think so. So let's take a look at it but using today's words...

Oh Lord, the great and awesome God, keeping the covenant and mercy to all that love you, and to them that keep your commandments; We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by turning from your commandments and from your judgments: Neither have we heeded the words of your servants the prophets, which spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. Oh Lord, righteousness belongs to you, but unto us belongs shame, as it is in these days; to the spiritual leaders, and to all your people near and far, through all the countries that you have driven them, because of their sins against you. Oh Lord, to us belongs shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. To you, the Lord our God, belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against you; Neither have we obeyed your voice, oh Lord our God, to walk in your laws, which you have set before us by your servants the prophets. Yes, all your people have transgressed your law, even by turning away from them, that they might not obey your voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses your servant, because we have sinned against you. And you have confirmed your words, which you spoke against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole universe has not been done as has been done upon the earth. As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before you, the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand your truth. Therefore you watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for you, the Lord our God, is righteous in all your works which you do: for we did not obey your voice. And now, Oh Lord our God, that has brought your people out of the bondage of sin with a mighty hand, which has made you renown, as you are in these days; we have sinned, we have done wickedly. Oh Lord, according to all your righteousness, I pray you, let your anger and your fury be turned away from your people: because of our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, your people are become a disgrace to everyone around us. Now therefore, Oh our God, hear the prayer of your servants, and our supplications, and cause your face to shine upon us who are desolate, for your sake. Oh my God, incline your ear, and hear; open your eyes, and behold our desolations, and your people who are called by your name: for we do not present our supplications before you for our righteousnesses, but for your great mercies. Oh Lord, hear; Oh Lord, forgive; Oh Lord, hear and do; defer not, for your own sake, Oh my God: for your people are called by your name.

This is a very humbling prayer when we think not only about our own sins but about the entire world throughout the ages. God's people, humanity, truly has sinned and turned away from God. It is because of our sins that God is separated from us; it is because of our sins that we can no longer hear His voice. Should we not pray most earnestly to have those sins forgiven? Should we not be searching our souls to confess every sin so that nothing can stand between God and us? Yes, most earnestly.

He also prays that God shines His face on our desolations, and the Strong's implies that desolations could also mean our callousness or hardened hearts. Today we are so desensitized that perhaps this is our desolation. And if God were to shine His face on our desensitization or callousness we'd be transformed into caring loving beings who reflect God's character.

I also like the part where Daniel acknowledges that God brought His people out of Egypt, the land of slavery just as He did for us. Jesus rescued us from the slavery to sin by His death and resurrection. In Romans 6 we read that those who are baptized into Jesus’ death are also resurrected into Jesus’ life and are no longer slaves to sin. I’d copy and paste the whole chapter but just go look it up. Romans 6 changed me. Understanding that dying to sin, through Jesus, and then living with Jesus, never to be slaves to sin again, was profound. Check it out, I promise you’ll be blessed.

Prayer: Dear Lord we pray the prayer that Daniel prayed. We acknowledge our sins, we acknowledge that your ways are the right ways and we ask forgiveness for our sins. We pray that we are freed from them, no longer slaves to sin, so that we can live forever with you. We want you to come soon but we want your will to be done in all things. Come in your time but we pray that it be hastened if possible. We ask these things in Jesus’ name, amen.