Daniel – Repent as one, for God’s glory

Episodic highlights in Israel’s return from Babylon to rebuild the temple that parallel rebuilding the Church today. Only about 3% returned, and even these halted time and again. But, the temple was rebuilt, and to this temple they prepared, our Lord came the first time. Is He not preparing His church in these days for His soon return?

And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes … O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee. To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him …O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name. Daniel 9:3,8-9,19

With fasting, sackcloth and ashes, Daniel confesses the sins of His nation. These aren't the sort of prayers that we step aside from daily activities to pray briefly about, and then go on about our business. Daniel is deeply engaged emotionally over the state of Israel. Will you let God flood your own heart with such grief over the state of the Church?

Daniel is also concerned with the impact on God's reputation. He affirms God's rightful judgment, and also recognizes God as merciful, and asks Him to forgive because the people are called by His name.

Daniel does not at all excuse himself from the guilty. Reading about his life, we might do so. But Daniel understands himself inextricably woven within the nation, and guilty. Have you thought that can separate yourself from the church and her rebellion in becoming enmeshed in denying the power of God and seeking to use money and methods in its stead? I don't mean the corporation where you attend, but the city or town where you live. All of the saints there together comprise the local church our Lord recognizes.

It isn't that it is wrong to meet in congregations throughout the city. But we should not be competitive or hostile to one another. We cannot divorce ourselves from sharing in the guilt of the local church by retreating to our own little subgroup and claiming "we have it right, it is them that are wrong on their own." We. We are in sin. We have rebelled. It is right that God has let us become so blind and poor and unclean. But He is also merciful, and we are called by His name. Let us be burdened with the shame we bring to Him and return to build again that which is broken down.