Thursday July 11, 2024
Theme: “The Life of Daniel”
Text: Daniel 9:2-8
2. In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, saw by the books that seventy years were to pass for the ruins of Jerusalem, according to the number of years of which the Lord had spoken to Jeremiah , the Prophet. 3. I set my face toward the Lord God, to use it in prayer and supplication, fasting and taking sackcloth and ashes. 4. I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed to him: Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps your covenant and has mercy on those who love you and keep your commandments. 5. We have sinned, we have done iniquity, we have been wicked and rebellious, we have turned away from your commandments and your judgments. 6. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, to our princes, to our fathers, and to all the people of the land. 7. Yours, O Lord, is righteousness, and ours is shame in this day, to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, both those who are near and those who are far away, in all the countries where you expelled them because of the unfaithfulness of which they were guilty against you. 8. Lord, to us shame of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you.
Retentions:
In chapter 9, Daniel takes the role of advocate before the Lord; he intercedes on behalf of his people whom God had driven out because of infidelities. Daniel goes up to the breach to urge God to remember his promise to Jeremiah, the prophet. Daniel got this information from the holy book. We understand that Daniel was a reader of the Torah, of the law of God, of the holy book that we today call the Bible; the Word of God written on paper. Daniel's life teaches us to be an intercessor for our nation so that God will keep his attention on it, and his right hand will come to our aid. Also, the life of Daniel teaches us to always read the Word of God to have hidden revelations and maintain communion with God. By reading God's Word, Daniel could understand what God's will was for Judah and Israel. Daniel launches the intercession for God to gather Israel. He asks for forgiveness for the sins committed by his ancestors. He did it alone, fasting and taking sackcloth and ashes; he does not rely on other people. He had faith that God would listen to him and answer his prayer. This is further proof that Daniel knew his God well and had firm confidence in Him. Have a great Thursday. Amen
Alain Louz.-
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