26 February 2024

Open shame, O Lord, falls on us, our kings, our officials, and our ancestors, 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 following his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.

From Daniel 9:4-10, NRSV

In this long and earnest prayer of Daniel, we hear the prophet giving voice to the sins and failure of the whole Jewish people. Daniel does not make any excuse for the sins of the people and does not seek to exclude himself from blame even though he was not responsible for the choices that people had made. Instead, he acknowledges that the punishment of exile was deserved. Daniel’s prayer also offers the people hope. He recalls the Lord’s mercy and forgiveness and reminds the people that God has always been faithful to the Covenant he made.

• • Why do you suppose Daniel made this prayer of confession?
  • Is it important to confess our sins and how can we best do this?

As you end your day, try to confess your sins with honesty.