Text: Daniel 9:3-19

Dear Young People,

PLEADING "MERCY AND FORGIVENESS"
The confession of Daniel came from a truly repentant heart. There was full admission of sin and error on the part of Israel as a nation. If God were to disregard the pitiful plight of Israel, He would be well within His rights.

However, Daniel knew that there was another part of God that would respond to his impassioned plea. Thus with all his faith he cried out,

"To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness,
Though we have rebelled against Him."
Daniel 9:9

Where did Daniel obtain this knowledge of God? How did he know how to pray the way he did?

LEARNING FROM GOOD EXAMPLES WRITTEN IN THE SCRIPTURES
Daniel must have read about how Moses prayed for Israel when the nation sinned against God by getting Aaron to create a golden calf for the purpose of worship. Moses had sought God's forgiveness on behalf of the nation. Graciously, God accepted the intercessory prayer of Moses. He went on to give to Moses a glimpse of His glory.

"Now the Lord descended in the cloud and stood
with him there, and proclaimed the Name of the Lord.
And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed,
'The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious,
longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,
keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity
and transgression and sin…"
Exodus 34:7

Daniel must have drawn great knowledge, encouragement and enlightenment from his study of the Scriptures. He then drew much strength and faith to plead the mercy and forgiveness of God.

A DEEP SPIRITUAL STRUGGLE
Daniel knew that he could not take advantage of the promises of God. Yes, God was indeed gracious and merciful, but he knew that he must continue to maintain a deep sense of humility before the Lord in his prayer.
As he thought about the sins of Israel, his heart was once again convicted of its wayward and sinful ways. We can imagine how Daniel must have struggled in his heart and mind. On the one hand there was the fact of sin, and on the other, there was the mercy and forgiveness of God. Deep prayer often involves this kind of struggle.

Prayerfully,                                                                             

Pastor Charlie

First released 7th April 2002, © Bethany Independent-Presbyterian Church, Singapore