Daniel 9:9

Daniel 9:9 says, To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;  This is a continuation of Daniel's prayer to God on behalf of God's people.  Daniel said that mercy and forgiveness belong to God even though we rebel against Him.  It is only through God's mercy that we can find forgiveness for our sins.  We cannot earn God's forgiveness or make up for our sins through good works.  We can only acknowledge our sins and ask God's forgiveness.  Verse ten adds, Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.  Daniel was known as a man of God, but he included himself in those who had failed to walk in God's law.  It is not enough to pray for the sins of others if we feel that we are without sin ourselves.  If we begin to feel that the sins of others are more unworthy of forgiveness than our own sins are, then we are not listening to what God's word teaches us.  Verse eleven continues, Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.  Daniel said that Israel was suffering because they did not obey the law of God.  Sometimes we seem to act as though we think God has to bless our nation because of the actions of previous generations.  A nation cannot be a Christian nation based on past actions of its people, but can only be a Christian nation based on the actions of its people today.  We are in no way superior to any other nation simply based on the fact that we were born where we were born.  Verse twelve states, And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.  Daniel said that God had brought His judgment on Israel, His people, because of their disobedience.  Those who profess to believe God while defying His law should expect His judgment to be great.  When we do this, we not only bring judgment upon ourselves, but we lead others astray.  Verse thirteen adds, As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth.  Daniel said that even though this was written in the law of Moses, their scripture, that they still would not turn from their iniquities and pray for an understanding of God's truth.  There is really no truth but the truth of God, and we should pray daily for a better understanding of His truth.