In the book of Daniel, Daniel prayed to God and said, “O Lord, according to all your righteousness, I beseech you, let your anger and your fury be turned away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people are become a reproach to all that are about us. Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of your servant, and his supplications, and cause your face to shine upon your sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake”, and in chapter nine and verse eighteen of his book Daniel said, “O my God, incline your ear, and hear” where we read,
O my God, incline your ear, and hear; open your eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by your name: for we do not present our supplications before you for our righteousnesses, but for your great mercies.
The verse reads, “O my God, incline your ear, and hear; open your eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by your name:” Daniel began with the words, “O my God” or “O my, Daniel’s, Supreme Deity”, “incline your ear” which means “and stretch out, extend and bend low your, Jehovah God’s, physical ear for hearing”, “and hear” or “and listen, perceive, give heed, obey and understand”; “open your eyes” which means “make observant your, Jehovah God’s, eyes for vision and sight”, “and behold our desolations” or “and look at and consider our, Daniel and the people of Israel’s, waste and devastation”, “and the city which is called by your name” which means “and the habitation, dwelling place, abode and town that is uttered, proclaimed and declared according to your, Jehovah God’s, fame, reputation and glory”. Daniel appealed to Jehovah God to bend down his “ear” for hearing and perceiving, and to make his “eyes” for seeing to consider his and the people of Israel’s destruction and the sacred dwelling place that is declared according to Jehovah God’s fame, reputation and glory.
The verse continues, “for we do not present our supplications before you for our righteousnesses, but for your great mercies.” Daniel added the words, “for we do not present our supplications” or “because, since and on account that we, Daniel and the people of Israel, in no way or manner cast down, lay or turn out our, Daniel and the people of Israel’s, earnest prayers and entreaties” “before you” which means “in front and in the presence of you, Jehovah God” “for our righteousness” or “on behalf of our, Daniel and the people of Israel’s, just and right acts and deeds ”, “but for your great mercies” which means “except and indeed on behalf of your, Jehovah God’s, abounding, numerous and abundant pity and tender compassion”. Daniel told Jehovah God that he and the people of Israel did not lay out their earnest prayers before Him because they were right and just, but because they knew Jehovah God is filled with compassion and pity.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how Daniel called upon Jehovah God to open his hearing and seeing toward he and the people of Israel’s devastation. He also wanted God to consider the city of Jerusalem which was named according to His reputation, fame and glory. He knew their appeal to God could not be based upon their own right and just ways, but he could ask God to operate within His compassion and pity toward them. God is a loving, compassionate and personal God who desires a relationship with every persons through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was resurrected from the dead after three days. When we believe and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us so we live according to His truth and in a manner that is pleasing to His “ears and eyes”.
Next time Daniel says, “O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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