TUESDAY, JUNE 5
Daniel 9:3-15
Luke 18:9-14

“… every one that exalteth
himself shall be abased …”

DANIEL’S PRAYER OF CONFESSION

True prayer is always in a spirit of humility. We see this in Daniel’s supplication before God. Daniel’s chief concern was that the people’s sins be cleansed and forgiven, and favour with God be restored. That should be our concern no less. “For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me” (Ps 51:3). Can any claim to be more righteous than Daniel or David? We may also learn from the publican who “… standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13). In his prayer, Daniel identified with his people. He made confession of the people’s sins as well as his own. In all of Scripture, nowhere can we find any blemish in Daniel’s character. Yet, before God he was just another member of Adam’s fallen race. But in God’s sight, Daniel was “a man greatly beloved” (Dan 10:11), a truly godly man. True godliness is a constant sensitivity to sin and its awful consequence before our thrice holy God.

True confession does not allow for excuses or comparisons. Neither should one resort to much speaking or persuasive words of wisdom. Daniel’s prayer of confession exemplifies this very well. He enumerated the people’s transgressions thus: “We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets …. Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws … all Israel have transgressed thy law …” (Dan 9:5-11).

If there is fault or blame, it is ours 100 percent! Never try to lay any of our fault on God. Daniel well expressed this truth in Daniel 9:7. The entire nation stood guilty before God. This is still so today. The full consequence of Israel’s rebellion is yet to be seen, it is in the future. We who love the Lord should also love the Lord’s people, the Jews. Should we not, like Daniel, also confess on their behalf?

THOUGHT: What are the ingredients of true confession?
PRAYER: Lord, I confess my sins, please forgive me.

PRAYER: Lord, I confess my sins, please forgive me.