“And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, ‘O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments…’”
And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, “O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments,
Verses 4-14 are Daniel’s prayer of confession. His prayer began with a confession to the transcendent God. He recognized God’s faithful commitment to His people by the word “covenant” and His love for them by the word “mercy.” God’s people were not loyal to God, but God was loyal to them.
Daniel addresses God by His personal name, Yahweh (LORD). Daniel uses this name for God seven times in chapter nine, but nowhere else in the book.
God is “great and awesome.” “Great” refers to God’s sovereignty and immensity. An “awesome” person is someone to be feared or deeply respected. He is also a God of “covenant and mercy.” God is faithful. God is both transcendent (great) and immanent (covenant and mercy). God is faithful to His contracts, and He always extends His love to His people. The word “mercy” carries the idea of steadfast love. Daniel had a clear understanding of the essence of God.
Those who love God and are true to His Word will benefit from God’s promises. God is reliable so that we can trust Him.
PRINCIPLE:
We can measure the discipline in our lives by our response to the principles of the Word.
APPLICATION:
We can measure the disaster in our lives by our attitude toward the Word of God. Non-compliance with the Word of God or rebellion against the principles of the Bible will put us on a deep slide.
It is impossible for God to be unfair. He is absolute and perfect veracity. God cannot change Himself, but believers must adjust to the perfect character of God to fellowship with Him.
Deut 28:45-48, “Moreover all these curses shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you. 46 And they shall be upon you for a sign and a wonder, and on your descendants forever. 47 Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, 48 therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in need of everything; and He will put a yoke of iron on your neck until He has destroyed you.”
As the Jews were custodians of God’s Word, so it is our responsibility to carry the principles of the Word in our lives to shine as stars before those without Christ.
Php 2:15-18, “…that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. 17 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.”
Dr. Richison I have confesion 2 make, I had witheld the giving of my tithes for awhile because I felth I could not afford, I also used the scriptue, give as you purpose in your heart to give. I found out that was a act of disobedince. I ask God tooo forgive me, at the same time I thank God for His love and Mercy in help me to realize what I was doin was wrong and being able to turn around be 4 it was to late.
I love your commentaries will there be more on other books that are not listed my life is changing because of the understanding I’m getting from your commentaries thank you so very much.
Aillean, there are 23 books as of now (I am still working on the gospel of John; it will take about a year to finish). The next book is the book of Hebrews.