To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.
Daniel 9:9-10
Daniel prays and seeks to model repentance for an entire nation in this prayer. He read through the prophet Jeremiah and was convinced through the prophet’s words that the exile could come to an end after 70 full years in captivity. And moved by the realization that all that had been endured in Babylon was God’s just judgment, the old prophet offers ups sincere and honest confession of sin before the Lord in a prayer on behalf of all Judah and Israel.
Daniel also firmly clings to the mercy of a forgiving God Who could pardon His people’s rebellion and restore them back to their former position. And so by faith Daniel confesses, repents, and pleads for God to be merciful. He pays heed to the words of the law which the prophets gave. He trusts God to restore His covenant with Israel.
In so doing Daniel models what confession, repentance, and faith also look like today. First, we are confronted and convicted by the truth of God’s Word by the Holy Spirit. For us, it is the gospel that shows us how far we have fallen and how much Jesus will save us. Then we confess and turn from our own failed efforts, trusting only in God’s saving mercies. Then we can be restored to obedience and joy as we walk with Jesus!
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