In the book of Daniel, Daniel said, “I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments; We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from your precepts and from your judgments”, and in chapter nine and verse six of his book Daniel said,“neither have we hearkened to your servants the prophets” where we read,
Neither have we hearkened unto your servants the prophets, which spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.
The verse reads, “Neither have we hearkened unto your servants the prophets, which spoke in your name to our kings, …” Daniel began with the words, “neither have we hearkened” or “no and not in any way have we, Daniel and the people of Israel, listened, perceived and obeyed” “unto your servants the prophets” which means “toward your, Jehovah God’s, ministers who were inspired spokesmen and speakers”, “which spoke in your name” or “who uttered, declared and proclaimed within your, Jehovah God’s, reputation, fame and glory” “to our kings” which means “toward our, royal rulers and leaders”. Daniel shared how he and the people of Israel did not listen to Jehovah God’s inspired spokesmen who made declarations to their royal rulers and leaders.
The verse continues, “… our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.” Daniel added the words, “our princes” or “our, Daniel and the people of Israel’s leaders, chiefs, chieftains, vassals, nobles and officials”, “and our fathers” which means “and our, Daniel and the people of Israel’s, male progenitors and ancestors”, “and to all the people” or “and toward each, every, the whole and everyone of the human beings” “of the land” which means “belonging to the country, territory, district, region and world”. Daniel said he and the people of Israel also did not “hearken” to the “prophets” who also spoke to their officials, male ancestors and everyone of the human beings belonging to the region of Israel.
When we think through the words in this verse, we discovered how Daniel continued to describe the way he and the people of Israel had sinned against Jehovah God. They did not listen to or obey God’s ministers who were inspired spokesmen to their royal rulers, their nobles, forefathers and toward everyone of the people within their region and world. God wants us to listen to Him, and when He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him from the dead after three days, He made the way for us to be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and provided with His Holy Spirit who will teach us how to listen to Him and those He Divinely appoints to be in authority over us.
Next time Daniel says, “O Lord, righteousness belongs to you”, 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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