Text: Daniel 9:3-19

Dear Young People,

A SECOND CONFESSION
When a person is truly and deeply convicted of sin, his heart would lead him to confess his sins before God. However, though the heart is assured of God's forgiveness, the heart being remorseful tends to recall even more sins, and that often leads to a "second confession". This seems to be the case as far as Daniel was concerned. The second confession was made on a slightly different tack.

"We have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God,
to walk in His laws which he set before us
by His servants the prophets."
Daniel 9:10

There is some similarity between the words of his first confession (Cf. Daniel 9:5-6). As Daniel pleaded guilty before God once again, we cannot help but note how smitten he was by the enormous weight of the sins of Israel. He was most conscious that Israel had not obeyed the voice of the Lord and thus had not walked according to the laws given by the prophets (Cf. Daniel 9:6).

ACKNOWLEDGING THAT GOD WAS RIGHT IN PUNISHING ISRAEL
The second confession was different in that Daniel accepted that God was just when He meted out punishment upon Israel. The nation had nothing to complain about, not even when it is suffering miserably.

"Yes, all Israel has transgressed Your law,
and has departed so as not to obey Your voice;
Therefore the curse and the oath written in the Law
Of Moses the servant of God have been poured out on us,
Because we have sinned against Him."
Daniel 9:11

Daniel, of course, would be familiar with what Moses taught Israel. Just before Israel entered into the Promised Land of Canaan, Moses ordered the Priests to read out the Promises of Blessings and the Warning of Curses from God (Cf. Deuteronomy 27:11-13).

The Lord promised blessings if and when the nation walked in obedience to God's laws. On the other hand the Lord threatened that He would bring curses on the nation if they were to depart (apostasy) from the Lord.

Daniel knew why Israel was in exile. The nation had indeed departed from God and had walked in wanton disobedience. Part of the second confession acknowledged that God was right to punish Israel. The nation had broken the Covenant established by Moses. It deserved to be punished. The only appeal to God was His promise of mercy.

Prayerfully,                                                                             

Pastor Charlie

First released 14th April 2002, © Bethany Independent-Presbyterian Church, Singapore