I was reading in my daily through The Bible in a year plan this morning, election day 2020, in Daniel 9. If you haven’t read this or don’t know the context, I encourage you to read it and ask The LORD how to apply it to your life today!
Daniel has been living in captivity for about 65 years at the time that he wrote this portion of Scripture. So this is also the amount of time that the Israelites have lived in captivity suffering for the sins that they had committed prior to their captivity.
In v2 we find out that Daniel had read Jeremiah and realized what was all going on and why. In v3 He chose to seek The LORD by prayer and fasting. He didn’t deny why they were there, seek help from the government or any other man, he simply sought The LORD. This is something that is lacking in my life and I’m sure for most of yours as well. We all need to take stock in what we spend our time in/on and reprioritize our time based on God’s Word!
In v4 Daniel acknowledged how great and awesome God is and that The LORD always keeps His covenants and promises to a specific person, one who loves The LORD and keeps His commandments. This is clear that God’s promises of blessing us are ONLY for those who truly love and obey Him, but that’s another Bible study, (Romans 8:28-29). For now we just need to focus on our heart being transformed into Christ’s image, DAILY!
In v5 Daniel admits that “we” have sinned, acted wickedly and rebelled against God! He also states that they have turned aside from God’s commandments and ordinances. Interesting that from what we know about Daniel, he was probably about 12 years old when he was taken into captivity. If you’ve had kids or been around any, you surely know how wicked their hearts are from birth and I’m sure that Daniel was no different than any other kid.
But I also realize that he was not the one who had sinned so greatly against The LORD, going whole heartedly to the world for everything and falling the world’s ways of living instead of obeying The LORD. Those sins that were so grossly, willingly, and continually committed were done by his parents, other adults living at the time of their captivity and their ancestors for many years. God was patient with them, much like I believe He is being patient with us today!
So why did Daniel say we in his prayers? He was pleading for his fellowman to be forgiven. We know that none of us can pray for anyone else’s repentance or salvation, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t pray that others, especially those that claim to follow The LORD with their mouths but walk in darkness with their minds and lives, that they and us would wholeheartedly desire to daily seek after The LORD and allow our hearts and minds to be transformed into Christ’s image!
Daniel realized the grossness of their sin and acknowledged that it had taken many people many years to get them where they currently were. It was a group effort with many successive, sinful choices.
This sounds like exactly where our country and more specifically where those who claim to be Christians are in their lives and walks with The LORD today. Our country has not gotten where it is because of anything except the unwillingness of believers in Christ to live their lives full out for Christ with hearts that have been changed by Him so that all of those around them can see Christ’s Light shine in and through them. This is why we as Christians, are on this earth and so sad to see what “Christianity” has become. But let’s move on!
In v6 Daniel acknowledges that The LORD had given them many chances to repent. He had sent prophets to warn them over and over again, and no matter how much they were warned, no matter how many chances they were given, how patient The LORD was with them, etc, they refused to obey Him and chose instead to serve themselves and all this world had to offer them. Again, this is EXACTLY where so much of today’s church resides, seeking self and being entertained instead of seeking The LORD and His will.
In vs7-8 Daniel says that righteousness belongs to The LORD and because God’s people weren’t seeking after righteousness, they were instead living lives of confusion and shame, though they weren’t acknowledging it since they continued to live unrepentant lives. So therefore The LORD was punishing them because they have sinned against Him! Again this clearly parallels so many Christians and churches today, especially in America!
In vs9-10 Daniel continues to pray about how deep their sins have gone by refusing to obey God’s voice and walk in His teachings which were given them by the prophets. Today we have ALL of the words from God written by His prophets to us, it’s called The Bible. The Bible is totally true and completely full of EVERYTHING we need to live a life of Godliness while on this earth. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:1-11). And yet few desire to know The Bible and/or want to apply it to their lives.
In vs11-14 Daniel says that ALL of Israel has sinned. We know that at least 4 of them weren’t part of the all, Daniel, Shadarach, Meshach, and Abednego, but we also know that there’s NONE righteous, no not one, and as Daniel has noted several times here, God is righteous, (Romans 3:10). And because of all this, God’s curse was poured out on ALL of them! They all suffered for the sins of all of them, and while God was patient for many, many years, eventually the time came when He fulfilled His promise to Moses about what would happen if/when they didn’t obey The LORD and walk in His ways.
There are always consequences for our disobedience, some we see immediately, some we may see down the road, and some we won’t realize until we get to heaven. But make no mistake, The LORD is clear in His Word that we’re to obey and follow ALL His commands and when we don’t there are consequences, which is exactly what is being talked about here in this passage and many more both in the Old and New Testaments. (James 4:17, Psalm 119)
God’s Words that came true in Daniel’s days also hold true today. These are words that we might not want to acknowledge are in The Bible when it comes to what may happen to us, but just because we ignore their existence based on the way we choose to live our lives, doesn’t mean that God didn’t mean them.
In vs15-19 Daniel concludes his prayer pleading with The LORD to turn His wrath away from His people. Daniel knows that God wants to use His people to fulfill His will to the world around them. It is NOT for their sakes that Daniel is praying for God’s wrath to end, it is for The LORD’s sake, for His Name to be glorified. Not once did Daniel pray for an easy life or for his government to change or a certain king to get the throne, etc. He prayed that their hearts would be changed so that The LORD would get the glory!
I write this as yet another so-called “huge” election is taking place. Most of my devos are meant for believer’s in Christ. I totally understand that without The Holy Spirit living in people’s hearts, that sinners have no choice but to sin. Anyone who doesn’t wholeheartedly follow Jesus really has little if any hope on this earth. I can’t blame them a bit for putting their trust and faith in any government or man that promises whatever it is that they think will “save” them. It’s a sad existence, one that I lived for many years and in some ways when I choose to follow me instead of following Christ, I still unfortunately do.
So where does that leave those of us who say we follow Christ? Are we really following and obeying Him and His Word that is crystal clear with why we’re on this earth? Honestly when it really comes down to it, does it matter who is elected for any office? Will whoever is in office change ANYTHING that The LORD has, is or is going to do? Do we trust in man or in The LORD? I’m not saying don’t vote, so don’t get that impression. But what I am saying is when we find out who all did get elected, in light of eternity, what will it mean? How will it affect how we live our lives on this earth? Will we as Christians continue to live for ourselves, our pleasures, our earthly treasures, our kids, our jobs, etc? Or will we decide to actually read, study, memorize, and live The Word of God in ALL areas of our lives, (Matthew 6:19-21)?
These are choices we each have to make daily. Jesus couldn’t have said it more clearly when He told us to take up our cross daily and follow Him and that there is nothing that we can gain in this world that is worth our souls, (John 16:24-26).
I believe that The LORD continues to be patient with us, but one day that patience will end. I’d love for Jesus to come and rapture us out of here right now but at the same time I know too many people who haven’t given their lives to The LORD and don’t want them spending eternity in hell, so then honestly I pray He tarries as we seek to bring more to His kingdom and not ours.
We’ve been given this time to repent, live our lives for Him, and armor up as Jesus has promised us that it’s only going to get worse. We’re just beginning to see the birth pains that Jesus talked about and again this is just the beginning of the end, (Matthew 24:3-14). We need to take whatever time we have to get ready for the battle, (Ephesians 6:10-18), so that we’re ready for whatever comes next, whether it seems good to the world or not!
The Great Commission that Jesus gave us right before He left this earth the first time is what ALL Christians are supposed to be living, (Matthew 28:19-20). If you call yourself a Christian and you aren’t obeying His commandments, then according to Jesus, you don’t love Him, (John 14:15). It’s as simple as that. If this is you, then don’t fret, God is still patient and He wants us, just like Daniel prayed, to repent of our wicked ways and turn to following All of God’s commands. It’s a simple as that! Won’t you pray for Jesus to transform you heart, your thinking, and your life to a heavenly perspective?
It’s sad, but true, and unfortunately if we Christians don't change soon the inevitable is right around the corner. I want whatever it takes in our country and world that will bring the most people to their knees in humble surrender to Jesus and I know this means trials and tribulations. I also am confident of how short this life is and how long eternity is and know that any trial and tribulation in this life is short lived compared to eternity. I know I/we need to live for eternity and not for earthly gains! LORD help us to remain steadfast in You!
Please don't hesitate to reach out to us with any questions, prayer requests, etc. We'd love to pray with and for you and to the best of our ability answer any questions you may have soley using God's Word!
Love y’all and LORD Bless,
Curt & Mary Jo
