DANIEL’S PRAYER
Daniel, in a foreshadowing of the season of Lent, spent time in prayer and fasting begging God to forgive the nation of Judah for their sin and rebelliousness. Daniel says they are covered with shame for their actions.
I have often felt shame for my own actions, the times I have rebelled against God and not lived up to the standard Christ has set for me. While shame for our own actions may come easy, Daniel was praying and feeling shame for his entire nation. This reminded me of something I read once that resonated strongly with me and has stuck with me long after specific memories of the story have faded away. Dostoevsky, in his novel, The Brothers Karamazov, gives us the story of the Elder Zosima. Zosima’s life turns toward piousness after he has an epiphany in which he realizes that each of us is responsible for everyone else.
Taking responsibility for all of humanities sins keeps us from separating ourselves from others, we have all sinned and come up short of God’s glory; we are all guilty, we are all culpable, we are all deserving of the shame Daniel felt. This would be bleak, but in verse 9 Daniel gives us hope when he says, “The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving…”, God showed us his grace, mercy, and forgiveness in the passion and resurrection of Jesus. In this time of Lent let us, like Daniel, pray for God’s mercy and forgiveness, not only for ourselves but for us all.
Written by Chad Spurling
No comments:
Post a Comment