Spurgeon Morning and Evening June 14 PM

Biblical Context

The Book of Daniel tells the story of Daniel, a young Jewish man taken captive to Babylon along with many others from Jerusalem. He lived through the reigns of several powerful Babylonian and Persian kings, serving in high positions while remaining faithful to God. The book is made up of historical accounts and prophetic visions. Daniel wrote most of it himself, though some parts might have come from others who knew his life story well. Chapter 9, where our verse comes from, finds Daniel praying for his people, Israel, during their exile. He’s heard Jeremiah’s prophecy about the seventy years of desolation for Jerusalem, and he’s pouring out his heart to God, confessing not just his own sins but the sins of his entire nation. This isn’t just a personal prayer; it’s a deep plea for mercy for a whole people who turned away from God.

Key Word Study

The word ‘sinned’ in Daniel 9:8 comes from the Hebrew word ‘חָטָא’ (pronounced *khaw-taw*). This word means to miss the mark, to go wrong, to stumble, or to fail. It doesn’t just mean doing something bad; it often talks about failing to live up to a standard, especially God’s perfect standard. It’s like an archer aiming for a target but missing it completely. For Daniel and his people, it meant they didn’t live the way God told them to, they didn’t keep His covenant, and they kept turning away from His laws and His love.

The Weight of Our Wrongdoings

Daniel 9:8 hits us hard: “O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face . . . because we have sinned against Thee.” A real sense and clear look at our wrongdoings, how awful they are, and the penalty they deserve, should make us get low before God’s throne. We’ve messed up, even as Christians. It shouldn’t be like that, but it is.

We’ve gotten so many good things from God, yet we haven’t shown enough thanks. We’ve had more good chances than most, but we haven’t done as much good as we should. Who among us, even if we’ve been fighting the good fight for a long time, won’t blush when we look back at our past? As for the days before we were made new in Christ, we pray they’re forgiven and forgotten. But since then, even if we haven’t messed up in the same ways as before, we’ve still messed up against the light we’ve been given and the love we’ve felt – light that really got into our minds, and love we’ve found joy in.

Oh, the terrible pain of a pardoned soul’s wrongdoing! Someone who hasn’t been forgiven yet messes up cheaply compared to one of God’s chosen, who has spent time with Christ and rested their head on Jesus’ chest. Think about David! Many people will talk about his sin, but I really want you to look at how he changed his ways, and hear his broken bones, as each one of them cries out its sad confession!

See his tears, as they hit the ground, and the deep sighs that go with the soft sound of his harp! We’ve made mistakes: so let’s try to get that feeling of true regret. Look, again, at Peter! We talk a lot about Peter saying he didn’t know his Master. Remember, it’s written, “He wept bitterly.” (Matthew 26:75, Luke 22:62). Do we have times when we’ve turned away from our Lord that we need to cry over?

Alas! These wrongdoings of ours, both before and after we changed, would send us to a place of never-ending fire if it weren’t for the amazing mercy that made us different, pulling us like burning sticks from a fire. My soul, get down low under the weight of your natural failures, and worship your God.

Just be amazed at the grace that saves you – the kindness that spares you – the love that forgives you!