Context No. 3076 of 4322 · Daniel (Greek)

Daniel (Greek) 9:12-16: in context

12He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us, and against our judges who judged us, by bringing on us a great evil; for under the whole sky, such has not been done as has been done to Jerusalem. 13As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil has come on us. Yet we have not entreated the favor of the LORD our God, that we should turn from our iniquities and have discernment in your truth. 14Therefore the LORD has watched over the evil, and brought it on us; for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he does, and we have not obeyed his voice. 15“Now, Lord our God, who has brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have gotten yourself renown, as it is today, we have sinned. We have done wickedly. 16Lord, according to all your righteousness, please let your anger and your wrath be turned away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a reproach to all who are around us.

This is part of Daniel's great prayer of confession. He acknowledges that God has confirmed his word by bringing calamity on Jerusalem, exactly as the law had warned, and that even so the people had not entreated him or turned from their sins. The LORD our God is righteous in all his works, Daniel prays; we have not obeyed his voice.

Daniel, one of the most upright men in all of Scripture, prays not they have sinned but we have sinned, identifying himself fully with his people's guilt. And he does not charge God with injustice in the disaster; he insists on the opposite, the LORD our God is righteous in all his works. He justifies God and confesses the sin honestly, and only then appeals for mercy, and not on the people's merit but on God's own righteousness and name. This is how the righteous intercede: owning the guilt as their own, justifying God, and pleading his mercy rather than their worth.

When I pray about the failures of my community or myself, do I own the guilt as "we," justify God, and appeal to his mercy rather than my merit?

Sources

Daniel 9:14: "The LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he does, and we have not obeyed his voice."
Daniel 9:18: "For we do not present our petitions before you for our righteousness, but for your great mercies."
Nehemiah 1:6: "I confess the sins of the children of Israel... Yes, I and my father's house have sinned."