CONSEQUENCES OF ANGER

 

7 Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame—the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you.

 

Daniel is now in the second part of his prayer.  He first of all declared an attribute of God.  He is righteous.  This means that God's character or nature always leads Him to do that which is right.  The Hebrew word means straight.  It means that God’s sets the standard.  God showed the Jew what the standard was.  They had the commandments and the law.  Their refusal to do so had two consequences.  First, they were covered with shame.  Shame is an unpleasant self-conscious emotion associated with a negative evaluation of the self; withdrawal motivations; and feelings of distress, exposure, mistrust, powerlessness, and worthlessness.   Our message is consequence.  It means there will always be a consequence to what we do or do not do.  In this case the Jews they were scattered among the nations all because of their unfaithfulness.  They were the people of God and they went after the gods and idols of the world.   The direct result of their unfaithfulness was deportation and destruction of Jerusalem and Judah.  Sin always has a high price.  Often it is fatal.  Daniel was praying but this also is recorded as a warning to others.  Prayer often clarifies what we are going through, why it happened and the results.  Prayer and the word are the lenses that God uses to help us see things clearly.

 

8 We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord, because we have sinned against you.

 

Daniel makes it clear in this verse that the responsibility for what has happened is clearly on the leadership of the land.  The kings, princes and ancestors are covered with shame.  They were well aware what was required but chose not to heed the warnings.  Sin in the bible also states that when we sin against God we also injure others.  What we do affect others.  These leaders knew what was right and did not and the whole nation suffered.  This is absolute selfishness.  A side note parents this is also a lesson to learn in the family.  What we do or do not do affects our kids.  You will never be forgiven until you admit your sin.  Daniel is deeply affected by what he is praying and often we are as well.  True intercession always feels the pain of others. 

 

9 The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him;

 

Daniel here reveals four things about God. 

 

1.      He is Lord

2.      He is God. 

3.      God is merciful. 

4.      He is forgiving.  God is wanting, and willing to forgive us.  Daniel is amazed at the character, essence and nature of God. 

 

We have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets.

 

Now Daniel strikes a very important lesson here.  We often like to blame others for what has happened to us.  This is a victim mentality which is prevalent in our age.  Today it seems everyone is playing the victim.  You will never be a victor if you keep playing the victim.   People refuse to take responsibility for what they have done.  Things are not fair.  Complaining and playing the victim does not change it.  Taking our own responsibility does.  Each person made their own decision.  We have consequences to what we think say and do.  The sooner you take ownership of the thing the quicker the solution.  Daniel makes it clear why they were where they were.  Prayer gives such clarity.  .

11 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you.

 

Daniel closes off our time together by revealing three things all Israel had done.  They had transgressed.    Next, they turned away.  Lastly, they refuse to obey God.  Let us pray as we hurdled toward chaos, destruction and nationwide consequences for God’s mercy, love, grace and forgiveness.  It is in ours hands.   Let us pray while there is yet time.