The seventy years of captivity were almost over. Daniel knew that God required repentance before He would return the people to their home (Deuteronomy 30:1~3), so Daniel confessed the Jewish nation’s shame, unfaithfulness and disobedience. Daniel acknowledged that God held them accountable by dealing with them as He said He would in the Law of Moses. Yes, they had forgotten God, been rebellious and not kept the laws. But Daniel knew they would again find favor in the eyes of God. He knew God was a loving and merciful God(verse 9) and that true repentance would bring forgiveness.

What a lesson this is for us in our lives! Do we ever forget God? Rebel? Not keep God’s laws? Do we ever push God aside while we try new ways of “getting by?” By all means! But by the same token, do we not have the same God that forgave the repentant Jewish nation for their rebellion? True repentance will bring forgiveness for us today, just like it did for God’s children thousands of years ago.

God is a merciful and forgiving God. He’s just waiting for us to wise up and hold Him to His promises of forgiveness and grace!