Daniel 9:7 - “Lord, righteousness belongs to you, but to us confusion of face, as it is today; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, who are near, and who are far off, through all the countries where you have driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against you.
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What does "Daniel 9:7" mean?
Daniel 9:7 is a powerful and poignant confession of national sin and a recognition of God's justice in the face of Israel's suffering. Let's break it down:
"Lord, righteousness belongs to you..." This acknowledges God's perfect justice, holiness, and moral purity. He is always right, even when His actions seem harsh or difficult to understand. In contrast, it implicitly highlights Israel's lack of righteousness.
"...but to us confusion of face..." "Confusion of face" is a Hebrew idiom that means shame, disgrace, and a sense of being utterly humiliated. It's the feeling of being caught in wrongdoing and having your guilt exposed. Daniel recognizes that the nation of Israel is deeply ashamed because of their sins.
"...as it is today..." This emphasizes that the shame and disgrace are not a thing of the past but a present reality. Daniel is writing this during the Babylonian exile, a time of national humiliation and subjugation.
"...to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel..." This specifies the scope of the shame and disgrace. It includes:
The men of Judah: The elite and influential of Judah.
The inhabitants of Jerusalem: The general population of the capital city, who should have been upholding God's law.
All Israel: This encompasses the entire nation, including those near and far.
"...who are near, and who are far off, through all the countries where you have driven them..." This broadens the scope even further, referring to the Jewish people scattered throughout the Babylonian Empire and beyond. It acknowledges that God was the one who dispersed them as a consequence of their sins.
"...because of their trespass that they have trespassed against you." This is the core of the confession. The shame and exile are directly attributed to Israel's sins against God. The double use of "trespass...trespassed" emphasizes the gravity and extent of their disobedience. It's not a minor offense, but a repeated and deliberate breaking of God's covenant.
In essence, the verse means:
"Lord, You are perfectly righteous, but we are filled with shame and disgrace because of our sins. This shame is upon all of us – those in Judah, in Jerusalem, and all of Israel, whether near or far, wherever you have scattered us because of our persistent rebellion against you."
Key Themes:
Divine Justice: God's actions, though severe, are ultimately just.
National Sin: The verse highlights the collective responsibility of the nation for its disobedience.
Humility and Repentance: Daniel models a deep sense of humility and a willingness to confess sin.
Covenant Relationship: The verse underscores the broken covenant between God and Israel due to their unfaithfulness.
Sovereignty of God: God is in control, even in the midst of exile and suffering. He is the one who "drove them" into exile.
Daniel's prayer is a powerful example of how to approach God with honesty, humility, and a genuine desire for forgiveness and restoration.
Daniel 9:7 - “Lord, righteousness belongs to you, but to us confusion of face, as it is today; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, who are near, and who are far off, through all the countries where you have driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against you.
What does "Daniel 9:7" mean?
Daniel 9:7 is a powerful and poignant confession of national sin and a recognition of God's justice in the face of Israel's suffering. Let's break it down:
"Lord, righteousness belongs to you..." This acknowledges God's perfect justice, holiness, and moral purity. He is always right, even when His actions seem harsh or difficult to understand. In contrast, it implicitly highlights Israel's lack of righteousness.
"...but to us confusion of face..." "Confusion of face" is a Hebrew idiom that means shame, disgrace, and a sense of being utterly humiliated. It's the feeling of being caught in wrongdoing and having your guilt exposed. Daniel recognizes that the nation of Israel is deeply ashamed because of their sins.
"...as it is today..." This emphasizes that the shame and disgrace are not a thing of the past but a present reality. Daniel is writing this during the Babylonian exile, a time of national humiliation and subjugation.
"...to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel..." This specifies the scope of the shame and disgrace. It includes:
The men of Judah: The elite and influential of Judah.
The inhabitants of Jerusalem: The general population of the capital city, who should have been upholding God's law.
All Israel: This encompasses the entire nation, including those near and far.
"...who are near, and who are far off, through all the countries where you have driven them..." This broadens the scope even further, referring to the Jewish people scattered throughout the Babylonian Empire and beyond. It acknowledges that God was the one who dispersed them as a consequence of their sins.
"...because of their trespass that they have trespassed against you." This is the core of the confession. The shame and exile are directly attributed to Israel's sins against God. The double use of "trespass...trespassed" emphasizes the gravity and extent of their disobedience. It's not a minor offense, but a repeated and deliberate breaking of God's covenant.
In essence, the verse means:
"Lord, You are perfectly righteous, but we are filled with shame and disgrace because of our sins. This shame is upon all of us – those in Judah, in Jerusalem, and all of Israel, whether near or far, wherever you have scattered us because of our persistent rebellion against you."
Key Themes:
Divine Justice: God's actions, though severe, are ultimately just.
National Sin: The verse highlights the collective responsibility of the nation for its disobedience.
Humility and Repentance: Daniel models a deep sense of humility and a willingness to confess sin.
Covenant Relationship: The verse underscores the broken covenant between God and Israel due to their unfaithfulness.
Sovereignty of God: God is in control, even in the midst of exile and suffering. He is the one who "drove them" into exile.
Daniel's prayer is a powerful example of how to approach God with honesty, humility, and a genuine desire for forgiveness and restoration.