RUSSELL SANDERS
3-28-2021
DANIEL THE PROPHET – LESSON 5
JUDGMENT – REPENTANCE – AND ACTION
Chapter 9 of Daniel deals with Daniel’s prayer of repentance for Israel and the personal visitation by the Archangel Gabriel (not a dream or a vision) who told him of God’s “seventy-week” plan. These seventy weeks have been the focal point of much “prophecy teaching” subject to “human interpretations” that can be conflicting and confusing at times.
Tomorrow we will begin to look at the “seventy weeks,” but for today we will look at Daniel’s earnest prayer and supplications (vs. 3) with fasting in sackcloth and ashes that brought Gabriel to him. (Gabriel is God’s “messenger” Archangel.)
Daniel, in verse 4, made his confession of God’s faithfulness to those that love him and keep His commandments (precepts).
Then he confesses in verses 5-6, “We have sinned and have committed iniquity (lawlessness, rebellion …neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets (preachers of the word) …” That sounds just like our nation (and world) of today. Our nation and its rulers do not hear God’s word and have rebelled against all that is just and righteous.
Verses 7-8 says, “…unto us (we have) confusion of faces (people) as at this day…confusion of face to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers (political leaders, people of influence, social leaders) because we have sinned.“ The confusion that is rife throughout America has to do with calling “that which is right as being wrong, and that which is (morally and ethically) wrong as being good and right. Our society has turned everything upside down and contrary to God’s word. This is what Israel had also done which led to their judgment of captivity, and their nation being decimated.
In Verse 11 He said “All (Israel, America) have transgressed…that they might not obey thy voice; therefore, the curse is poured upon us…”.
Just as the curse fell upon Israel, so has the curse fallen today upon America. You could say “We got what we asked for” in a new Washington, D.C. administration put in by “the people” (with God permitting it) that is blatantly anti-Christian, anti-God, anti-free speech, and that openly promotes child sacrifice in the womb, glorifies the entire homosexual agenda, profits from child sex-trafficking, and vilifies anything, person, or business that accepts Biblical morality. That is judgment against us!
We also can see God’s judgment in other ways. Earthquakes are now ten to fifteen times more frequent and with greater intensity. Likewise, with volcanoes. Floods and famine worldwide have increased. Plagues have come upon us that even challenge our modern medical technology.
Many of our churches have been forced to shut down by government. Businesses that refuse to cater to the LGBTQ populace are sued and put out of business, and it will get even worse; it has only just begun.
What do we do? Do what Daniel did. He sought God earnestly with prayer and fasting. He repented of any personal sin, then he repented on behalf of the entire nation and on behalf of its rulers (who were already deceased).
Then he pleaded with God in verse 17, “Now therefore, Oh our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications (requests) and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary (church, your people) …”
God heard Daniel and sent Gabriel in person to Daniel to share His overall plan.
We must earnestly seek God and petition Him as did Daniel. Then we must follow (and do) whatever “marching orders” He gives us by His word and Holy Spirit. We must not only “hear” from Him; we must also take action to “do” whatever He leads us to do.
The only thing it takes for evil to rule is for good people to do nothing. In James 1:22, it says, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves “(into thinking nothing will change).
“Step up to the plate” and do what is right. God will then bless you and supernaturally empower you, and “make a way” for you.
