READING: Daniel 7-9, Rev 1:1-2:7
Jerusalem lay in ruins under the hand of God’s judgment. The temple was in shambles. Daniel grieved that reality, and he prayed for God to restore that city. Listen to his passion and desperation as he bared his heart to God:
Therefore, our God, hear the prayer and the petitions of your servant. Make your face shine on your desolate sanctuary for the Lord’s sake. Listen closely, my God, and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations and the city that bears your name. For we are not presenting our petitions before you based on our righteous acts, but based on your abundant compassion. Lord, hear! Lord, forgive! Lord, listen and act! My God, for your own sake, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your name.” (Dan 9:17-19)
I’m especially struck by the honesty and insight of the words, “we are not presenting our petitions before you based on our righteous acts, but based on your abundant compassion.” How true those words were then, and how true they are today for us! We have no inherent right to take our requests to our Creator, but He graciously and compassionately invites us in to His presence. We cry out for His forgiveness. We long for Him to hear us. We want Him to listen and to act—and as Daniel shows us, we should want Him to act not for our glory, but for His own sake. The story is all about Him in the first place.
PRAYER: “God, forgive me. Hear me. Act through me for Your glory.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Daniel 10:12, Rev 2:8-29
