hotcoffee
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Daniel 9:15 “Now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. 16 Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us.
17 “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. 18 Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. 19 Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”
17 “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. 18 Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. 19 Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”
I've seen it before. Prophets prayed that God would change things because He did such powerful work when He took His people out of Egypt.
This time the commentaries take us back to Ezekiel 36 starting at verse 16. God said He would restore His people back to Israel.
Ezekiel 36:22 “Therefore say to the Israelites, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone
The plain English Commentary puts it in bullets for us.
- God had done it before. He had brought his people out of Egypt although they had not obeyed him there. (See Jeremiah 16:14-15.)
- God always does what is right and good. He is kind. He likes to forgive people.
- God is suffering. Jerusalem is his city. Nobody lives in his holy place. Other people hate God’s city and God’s people.
- People should know that the Lord is God. They know it when he acts.
Daniel was earnestly praying that God would fulfill His promise in spite of the fact the people of Israel didn't deserve it.
