Daniel chapter 9 verses 3 – 6 (NIV)
So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: “Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land.
Daniel chapter 9: verses 18-19 (NIV)
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. 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.”
Daniel was a man distinguished by his integrity. His enemies tried and failed to find something with which they could condemn him, and they found nothing at all. (Daniel Chapter 6 verse 4) Yet here we see him identifying with the rest of Israel and coming before God in repentance for his nation. He didn’t adopt a holier than thou attitude and he took responsibility for the state of the nation alongside his countrymen.
That’s what God expects us to do as Christians. We need to take part of the corporate responsibility for the spiritual health of our nation. We have received personal forgiveness and grace but the land in which we live needs to repent and turn back to God. Therefore, we must follow Daniel’s example. But his integrity and holy life meant that he could pray in the manner in which we see in verses 18-19 of Chapter 9. He asks first for forgiveness before he asks for God to move in power.
It also occurs to me that one of the reasons we are called to pray for our political leaders is so that they too will learn to take responsibility for their own actions instead of blaming their opponents. If we don’t take responsibility for our own actions and blame someone else, then how can we expect to receive God’s forgiveness. As Christians, we may not be of the world, but we are called to live in it, and to pray for it too.
Dear Lord,
I admire the description of Daniel’s character, commended for his integrity and trustworthy attitude. Yet he still identified as one of Your people and sought forgiveness for Israel’s sins. Help me to follow his example in the way I live, but also in the way I pray for this land and all who live in it. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.