"Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice."
Daniel 9:14
What is your response to unexpected trouble? When cares crash upon you like the flood gushing down the valley from a broken dam, and you are swallowed up by it. Israel was captured by the Chaldeans (Babylonians), and they were in a hard place, and many didn’t understand why. Why would God bring the cruelty of capture by a pagan, God-hating nation upon them?
When Daniel was trying to figure out what was happening to His people, He did what we all should do—he turned to the scriptures to see what God had to say. In the book of Jeremiah the prophet, Daniel learned that this captivity was a long time coming. He also learned that he and his people were to be captives in Babylon for 70 years! (v. 2) And what’s worse, at least in the minds of some, it is God our Father, “bringing upon us a great evil!” (v. 12). “God did this to us?” To these incredulous captives, it was impossible that God could do this to them! Why?
Daniel’s response to this appalling state of affairs is an essential example for us, let’s see. Daniel did not play the blame game, but he used the pronouns “we” and “our” often as he talked about the sin of Israel and Judah.
“We have sinned,…” (v. 5).
“Neither have we hearkened to the…prophets,…” (v. 6).
“We have sinned against thee…” (v. 8).
“Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God…” (v. 10).
We have not walked in His Laws, (v. 10).
“All Israel have transgressed thy Law…, (v. 11a)
“We have sinned against Him…, (v. 11b).
“We…” have not confessed our sin or turned “from our iniquities,” (v. 13).
“For we obeyed not His voice,” (v. 14).
“We have sinned, we have done wickedly,” (v. 15).
“Because of our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers…” (v. 16).
Did you note how Daniel not only acknowledged the sin but also owned his part in it? He realized that he was as guilty as anyone else, and he humbly came down on God’s side of the issue. His attitude showed Israel that God had done the right thing to him, and to his people.
“O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee,” (v. 7).
“…for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth,” (v. 14).
“…O Lord, according to all thy righteousness…,” (v. 16).
Yes, God is righteous, and He only does the right thing. He never makes a mistake, nor does He ever need a “do-over.” What God did to His people Israel and Judah, in bringing them to captivity was both for their good, and for His glory.
In this ninth chapter of Daniel, we can also see why Daniel had the confidence to go to His God, acknowledging his (and Israel’s) sin.
“…God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him,” (v. 4)
“To the Lord, our God belong mercies and forgivenesses,” (v. 9).
Daniel knew that he was safe taking his sin to the God of mercy and forgiveness. He didn’t wait for anyone else, but he went on to deal with his sin. Daniel understood that the sin needed to be dealt with, for he prayed, “O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name,” (Daniel 9:19). Daniel asked the Lord for forgiveness, not because he or the nation was right or deserving, but because they belong to Him!
Believer, are you quick to take your sin to God, or to ignore it hoping it will just go away? This episode in the nation of Israel shows us that God doesn’t forget nor ignore sin. Do you wallow in self-pity because you have “blown it again?” Or like Daniel, do you go to God, without excuses or blaming others, and confess it to Him? Our God is the God of “mercies and forgiveness.” Why not go to Him right now and deal with your sin, His way?
If God sent His people into captivity for their sin, what might He do to our nation if we do not repent of our sin?
In our verse for today, I learn that My God is Righteous!