7.3 – Discussion of Daniel 9 verses 12-19

>>> Verses 12 and 13: Verse 12 explains that God punished Jerusalem more severely than any other city on earth.   It says in verse 13 that God gave them the punishment described in the Law of Moses. We can see what this means in Leviticus 26 verses 18, where it says: ……….”I will increase your punishment seven times”, verse 24: “……..and punish you seven times harder than before”, verse 28: “…………again make your punishment seven times worse than before”, verse 34/35: “Then the land will enjoy the years of complete rest that you would not give it; it will lie abandoned and get its rest while you are in exile in the land of your enemies”. Several times we see mentioned the term “seven times” This refers to the number of 7 times 70 not celebrated Sabbath rests, or 490 years.   See also Daniel 9 verse 24: “Seven times seventy years is the length of time God has set for freeing your people and your holy city from sin and evil”. God Himself brings the time of calamity over His disobedient people.

>>> Verse 14-19: Daniel recognizes that God’s justness is also in his punishment. He prays according to the will of God and in accordance with Leviticus 26 verse 40-42: “But your descendants will confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors, who resisted me and rebelled against me, and caused me to turn against them and send them into exile in the land of their enemies. At last, when your descendants are humbled and they have paid the penalty for their sin and rebellion, I will remember my covenant with Jacob and with Isaac and with Abraham, and I will renew my promise to give my people the land”. Reading these verses, Daniel trusted that the Lord would remember the covenant He made. This is the same as Moses did in Exodus 32 verses 9-14, where it says: “I (the Lord) know how stubborn these people are. Now, don't try to stop me….. and I am going to destroy them…...”But Moses pleaded with the Lord his God and said, “Lord, …………..change your mind and do not bring this disaster on your people.   Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Remember the solemn promise you made to them to give them as many descendants as there are stars in the sky and to give their descendants all that land you promised would be their possession forever.” So the Lord changed his mind and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened”.

We see that the covenant God made with Abraham is being referred to repeatedly, as the bases for God’s decision to forgive his people.