thoughts from the book of Daniel

Last night in prayer meeting we read from Daniel 9, where the prophet Daniel pours forth a prayer of repentance on behalf of his captive people Israel.  In many ways I think this is one of the most beautiful chapters of the Bible because it so clearly presents our unworthiness and yet the timeless promises of God's faithfulness to his people even when they are wayward and rebellious and do not seek Him.

"O Lord, to us belongs shame of face, to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You. . . We have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in His laws, which He set before us by His servants the prophets. . . All this disaster has come upon us; yet we have not made our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities and understand Your truth. . . And now, O Lord our God, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and made Yourself a name, as it is this day -- we have sinned, we have done wickedly!  . . . O my God, incline Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies."

Daniel 9: 8,10,13,15,18

In light of the events that have taken place in the United States this week with the passing of a health care "reform" bill that the majority of the American public opposes, I thought this passage was extraordinarily appropriate to share.  The United States, as a nation, is receiving what it justly deserves - a corrupt president, a corrupt government, and the gradual lessening of our freedoms.  But so often it seems that what "scares" and "angers" the American people (including believers) is the loss of their idolized "freedoms" rather than a proper recognition of their standing before a just and holy God.  We are more motivated by pride, selfishness, fear, a fiercely independent spirit, self-righteousness, and the list can go on. . . than we are by our relationship to Him to whom we are accountable for every thought, word, and deed.

What should our Scriptural response be in such a time?  I think it should be a response of abasing ourselves in humility and repentance before the Lord, recognizing that we have not sought Him as we ought, nor have we been "salt and light" in our culture.  Our response should not be first and foremost to plead for Him to remove the judgement from our land, but first and foremost pleading with the Lord to work in our hearts and teach us "to turn from our iniquities and understand His truth."

On a separate note, for those of you who were interested to hear more about the street preacher arrested in Glasgow last week, here is a link: http://sgwm.com/newsblog/2010/03/23/out-of-jail%E2%80%A6fellow-christian-shawn-holes-was-arrested-while-preaching-the-gospel-in-downtown-glasgow-scotland/