“Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, ‘O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you. To us, O Lord, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.'” Daniel 9:3-10
Fasting and sackcloth and ashes were not the usual practice and garb of Jews devoted to scheduled order and cleanliness. The significance of donning coarse dark goats’ hair and smearing the filth of ashes to approach the Almighty who reigned in pure light and glory is emphasized in the content of Daniel’s prayer. Though there is no biblical account of Daniel sinning, his debasement was a deliberate setting aside of self before the holy Lord in grace-bought humility to repent and seek His mercy and favor. His words unveil the perfect match between man’s depravity and God’s purity, man’s need and God’s greatness, man’s shame and God’s love, man’s confession and God’s forgiveness. (Joel 2:12-13)
When we humble ourselves and turn our faces from all that glitters and distracts to the Lord, we see Him for who He is: great, awesome, steadfastly loving. Against His light we see our sin stains, feel our rebellion, and recognize where we have fallen short and turned away. The more we take in of His grandeur, the more we consider and exalt Him, the lower we bow in need.
In sincere confession, we learn to receive His grace that matches in adequacy all we have done wrongly. To us belong doubt, impatience, and hatred; to Him belongs faithfulness, patience, and love. To us false assumptions and cattiness, to Him truth and benediction.
Would we turn to Him and see afresh our sin in the light of His face? Where is God convicting us? What dishonoring behavior have we coddled too long? Are we brave enough to name broken and ignored commands, to repent of rebel affections, and trust God’s grace and forgiveness? The joy and freedom of a clean conscience ignites praise and gladness that glorify Him.
Lord, fix my mind on You, Your excellencies, and Your matchless grace. Help me keep short accounts with You so I am free to serve You unreservedly.
As the rain and snow 