The Life of Daniel (15)

The Lord had shown His servant Daniel what will happen in the future. The one dominion will arise, the other will perish, and mighty rulers will also be put down from their thrones. The previous chapter speaks of a mighty, fierce enemy, Antiochus Epiphanes. He shall also stand up against the Prince of princes, but he shall be broken without hand. God as the righteous Judge summoned this cruel ruler to stand before His judgment seat after a violent disease took him away from the earth. This awful disease was a striking token of God’s wrath; nothing remained of this ruler’s imaginary power and position. Chapter nine places us in the reign of Darius, the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, who was advanced by Cyrus to the rank of ruler of the Chaldeans.

It was still a time of affliction and much sadness for Israel in Babylon. However, the Lord would arise and would perform that which we read in Isaiah 13:19, “And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.” In 538 B.C., Babylon had fallen before the victorious advance of Cyrus.

It was in the first year of Darius’s reign that “Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.” He read what we find in Jeremiah 25:11, “And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.” This brings Daniel on his knees to plead with the Lord for his people.

Confession of guilt

The Lord had, indeed, given His word that there would come an end to the desolation of Jerusalem and Judah after Israel was in exile for seventy years; however, it did not seem to happen, and there were no indications that deliverance was near. Therefore, Daniel sets his face unto the Lord God to seek Him with “prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes.” This is an urgent, humble prayer. Daniel exhibits his grief over sin and confessed his unworthiness of receiving divine mercy. These are marks of contrition, outward signs of internal humiliation and penitence. His prayer is sent to the LORD, the God of the covenant. He is the Lord who is the God, that is the true God of heaven and earth. How privileged Daniel is that he can say “my God” as we read in verse 4. He knows God and may know by grace that he belongs to Him. He speaks of Him as “great and dreadful” as we also read in Deuteronomy 7:21b, “For the LORD thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible.”

He also addresses Him as the one who “keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him.” That is the hope and expectation for this undeserving supplicant and his people. Hear his confession:

A) “We have sinned,” that is, we have wandered away from the right way—we have missed the mark, which is to serve Him rightly.

B) “And have committed iniquity” which means, we have done perversely, unrighteously.

C) “And have done wickedly,” in our rebellion against God.

Daniel adds to this “by departing from Thy precepts and from Thy judgments.” We have turned aside. There is a climax in this confession. It is written in a form that emphasizes action.

What is remarkable is that Daniel does not say they have sinned but we. He identifies himself with his people. He does not stand above them. How is that with us? Are we convinced that our countries are turning farther from the right path of obedience, from the sovereign Lord and Creator? We may, indeed, weep because of the condition of our land and church. However, do we confess that we have committed iniquity? Have we, under the low-hanging clouds of God’s judgment, learned to bow under Him and make a heart-felt confession like Daniel did?

The guilt of the people becomes greater since God had sent the prophets to them to reveal His will. In spite of their clear testimonies, however, the people rebel. There is so much sin, not of ignorance, but of willful disobedience.

He then mentions a contrast when he says that “the Lord is righteous,” which is manifested in His dealings with Israel. He sent them His prophets who warned them of sin, and particularly, He sent the exile as a punishment of God. Daniel declares God to be just, but to the people belong “confusion of faces.” Shame should cover them because of the consciousness of punishment which is so well deserved. Therefore, they are driven into exile and scattered through the countries. Daniel says it was “because of their trespass that they have trespassed against Thee.” This is the situation which Daniel describes in his prayer “as at this day,” that is, as the present circumstances exemplify. The entire nation has been guilty of faithless dealing toward God. It is a tragic confession when we consider that Israel was to be a light to all the world. This prayer is not a complaint about the cruel oppressors of Babel, about their ungodliness, their destruction of the city and killing many people, and leading so many into exile. Daniel is included, but he may say that the Lord is right in all His ways and works.

He speaks as the thief on the cross, “We indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds,” or as Micah, “I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against Him.” It was a prayer in evil and discouraging times, just as it is in our day. Israel was led into exile, the temple had been destroyed, the altars had been removed, no sacrifice could be brought, and the city of Jerusalem was in ruins. Yet, there is no complaint in Daniel’s prayer about the heaviness of God’s dealings but a bowing under Him. That is, generally, what is missing in our days, also in the churches, this true confession including self and agreeing with God. When sin really becomes sin for us, there will be sorrow and true humiliation, for sin is:

1) Alienation—a departing from God.

2) Hatred—the carnal mind is enmity against Him.

3) Contempt—it looks down upon God’s sacred precepts.

4) Defiance—it boldly resists God and ridicules all penal consequences.

5) Rebellion—it breaks the bonds and ignores submission.

6) Treason—it joins hands with God’s adversaries.

7) Robbery—it defrauds God of His due, for He has a right to our obedience.

Daniel may have a precious place in this prayer. May it be our petition also to be brought in the same place as a penitent beggar.

God’s mercy

The sinfulness of the people has been honestly confessed, but Daniel may plead upon divine compassion, verse 9. He says “To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses.” These words are placed in the plural form which denotes intensity in the manifestation or the continued exercise in the qualities of those attributes. That is his hope. That is the only hope for a guilty people. God will not show mercy at the expense of His justice. He will not be moved to compassion because of the miserable condition in which Israel and we are, by nature. He speaks not only of mercies or compassions but also of forgiveness.

Daniel may speak of Him who will come in the fullness of time to pay for all the robberies, the rebellion, and the wickedness of sinners. Indeed, Daniel speaks unto a great and dreadful God, who is holy and just, but this same God is also gracious and may grant unto them forgiveness. Daniel is pleading upon God’s name, His attributes, His mercy. He does not ask for deliverance but for forgiveness of their sins and that the Lord may remember His covenant. That is what the publican pleaded when he said, “God be merciful to me a sinner.” That is what the Canaanitish woman prayed: “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Thou Son of David.”

God is the Father of all mercies, and there is forgiveness for the sake of His Son, the Mediator. Mercy is having a burning heart to show compassion, undeserved goodness, and love towards a people in misery. God is rich in mercy; the Apostle Paul says His mercy endureth forever. His mercy reacheth unto the heavens. It is the pleading of the poet in Psalm 85:7, “Shew us Thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us Thy salvation.”

All God’s attributes must be exalted and magnified. We need mercy and forgiveness. A Remedy is provided, a Refuge is erected; Christ has suffered, the Just for the unjust. Christ is the unspeakable gift of God’s love; Christ is the treasure-house in which forgiveness is stored. He is the Mediator, the Surety for guilty ones. The poet says in Psalm 130:3, “If Thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?” He could also speak of the wonder of grace, “But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared.” It is the hope and pleading ground for unworthy sinners, and Daniel may wrestle with his God, that He might turn to them in mercy and restore them. We often hear about pleading upon the promises. This is the true pleading from the dust of self-abasement, completely agreeing with God in His Justice, but, by faith, taking hold of His Word and what He has promised. That is what the Canaanitish woman has done. Christ has spoken of bread for the dogs. There is bread, and that is what she must have, even as a little dog. Do you know such pleading? Have you been truly humbled before God? They will not be ashamed who wait for Him.

(To be continued)

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