Watchman: Daily Devotional, The Act of Confessing One’s Sins I Prayed to the Lord, Who Is My God, and I Confessed What I Had Done (Dan. 9:4). Confession Results in Forgiveness and Preserves the Integrity of God’s Character

Confessing your sins indicates that you agree with God that you have offended His holy character, are deserving of punishment, and require forgiveness. That is exactly what Daniel does in verses 5-16. "I was speaking and praying, and admitting my fault and the sin of my people Israel, and bringing my supplication before the Lord my God," verse 20 says.

Unlike some who face God's chastisement, Daniel did not shift blame for Israel's disaster. Instead, he recognized that his people had deliberately disregarded God's Word and neglected His prophets, bringing wrath on themselves. They were once a God-blessed nation; now they were immigrants and captives in a foreign place. God had followed through on His vow to condemn them if they disobeyed Him (Deut. 28:15).

Daniel examines the repercussions of Israel's transgression in lines 12-15, including her imprisonment and the guilt she felt for her arrogance and refusal to repent.

Verse 14 contains possibly the most essential component of confession: Daniel's declaration that "the Lord our God is righteous in all His actions that He has done." The Gentile countries recognized Israel as God's chosen people. The destruction of Jerusalem undoubtedly aroused questions about God's character: what type of God would stand by while His people were slaughtered and His temple plundered? What is the advantage of having such a God? This is, in essence, Daniel's response: "In whatever He does, God is righteous. Don't accuse Him of being unjust because we deserve it."

Confession thus has a dual purpose: it brings forgiveness while also allowing God to chasten us without raising allegations of unfairness or injustice against Himself.

Daniel's prayer happened at a crucial point in Israel's history, but confession was clearly a regular part of his life. That should also be your pattern. Don't put off confessing your sin until calamity occurs. Make it a daily habit.

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