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.
