We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy

Daniel 9:1-17

I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.

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. We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord, because we have sinned against you. The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets. All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you.

“Now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us.

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.

The Date is 538/ Babylon has virtually ruled Judah since the Battle of Carchemish in 605. The 70 years of captivity spoken of by Jeremiah is almost up. Daniel pleads with God for the return of his people to their homeland. He is completely one with his people, sharing the blame for sin and his request rests solely on God's mercy.

Why?

Daniel knew what will happen to his people and his kingdom in Judah, so he felt sad about the sins of his people. So Daniel prayed for Judah, and his people, and confessed the sins of Israel. 

Daniel prayed honestly for the prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.

Yes, we are not righteous, but because of the great mercy of the Lord, so we can stand here and read and listen to the word of the Lord.

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我們對於一件神已經預定發生的事是否會像但以理一樣披麻蒙灰，禁食禱告?我們抱著什麼樣的態度在面對呢，抓住神的應許祈求，但是一副神欠我們，一定要給我們的樣子，但以理全部是認罪的禱告！主詞是我們。歸回的應許完全是神的恩典，不是人佩得的。

但以理在乎的是神的聖所。求神不要再對耶路撒冷不管，主的名受羞愧，關心神的名，為神榮耀的緣故，復興耶路撒冷！沒有強調趕快回國！

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How?

I am a sinner either because the love of the Lord comes upon me so I can be one of the Christian. May my heart and my mind be filled with the Spirit of the Lord, and shines the light of Jesus to the people around me.