Daniel 9:8
O LORD, we are covered with shame--our kings, our leaders, and our fathers--because we have sinned against You.
O LORD
The Hebrew word used here is "YHWH," the sacred and personal name of God, often rendered as "LORD" in English translations. This invocation signifies a direct and personal appeal to the covenant-keeping God of Israel. It reflects Daniel's deep reverence and acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and holiness. In the context of prayer, it underscores the relationship between God and His people, reminding us of His eternal presence and faithfulness despite human failings.

to us belongs open shame
The phrase "open shame" translates from the Hebrew "bosh," which conveys a sense of public disgrace and humiliation. This acknowledgment of shame is not just personal but communal, reflecting the collective guilt of the nation. It is a recognition of the consequences of sin and a humble admission of failure before a holy God. Historically, this period was marked by the Babylonian exile, a direct result of Israel's disobedience, serving as a poignant reminder of the seriousness of turning away from God's commandments.

to our kings, our leaders, and our fathers
This phrase highlights the comprehensive nature of the guilt, extending from the highest echelons of society to the foundational generations. "Kings" and "leaders" (Hebrew: "melek" and "sarim") were responsible for guiding the nation in righteousness, yet they often led in rebellion. "Fathers" refers to the ancestors who set patterns of behavior. This collective confession emphasizes the continuity of sin through generations and the need for national repentance. It also serves as a call for leaders today to guide with integrity and faithfulness to God's Word.

because we have sinned against You
The Hebrew word for "sinned" is "chata," meaning to miss the mark or fall short of God's standards. This confession is central to the verse, acknowledging that the ultimate offense is against God Himself. It reflects a deep understanding of sin's nature and its relational breach with God. Scripturally, this echoes the broader biblical narrative where sin leads to separation from God, yet confession and repentance open the way for restoration. It is a call to recognize personal and communal sin, seek God's forgiveness, and strive for holiness in alignment with His will.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Daniel
A prophet and a man of prayer, Daniel is the author of the book. He is in Babylon during the time of this prayer, interceding for his people.

2. The Lord (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, to whom Daniel directs his prayer of confession and repentance.

3. Israel
The nation of God's chosen people, who are in exile due to their disobedience and sin against God.

4. Kings, Leaders, and Fathers
These represent the political and spiritual leadership of Israel, as well as the ancestors who have contributed to the nation's current state of shame.

5. Sin and Shame
The central theme of this verse, highlighting the reason for Israel's exile and the need for repentance.
Teaching Points
The Reality of Sin
Sin leads to shame and separation from God. Recognizing our sin is the first step toward repentance and restoration.

Corporate Responsibility
Daniel's prayer includes the sins of the leaders and ancestors, reminding us of the communal aspect of sin and the need for collective repentance.

The Role of Leadership
Leaders have a significant impact on the spiritual direction of a community. Their actions can lead to blessings or consequences for the people they lead.

The Importance of Confession
Confession is a vital part of our relationship with God. It acknowledges our failures and opens the door for God's mercy and forgiveness.

Hope in God's Mercy
Despite the shame and sin, there is hope in God's character as merciful and forgiving, encouraging us to turn back to Him.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Daniel's acknowledgment of sin in Daniel 9:8 challenge us to examine our own lives and communities for areas of disobedience?

2. In what ways can we, like Daniel, take responsibility for the sins of our leaders and ancestors in our prayers and actions today?

3. How do the themes of sin and shame in Daniel 9:8 relate to the broader biblical account of redemption and restoration?

4. What role does confession play in your personal spiritual life, and how can you incorporate it more regularly?

5. How can we find hope and encouragement in God's mercy, as demonstrated in Daniel's prayer, when facing the consequences of sin in our lives?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28
These chapters outline the blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, which Israel is experiencing due to their sin.

Ezra 9 and Nehemiah 9
Both passages contain prayers of confession similar to Daniel's, acknowledging the sins of the people and their leaders.

Romans 3:23
This New Testament verse echoes the universal nature of sin, affirming that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
The Omnipotence of PrayerJ.D. Davies Daniel 9:1-19
The Nation's Advocate At God's BarH.T. Robjohns Daniel 9:1-21
Estimating Our Own CharacterG. Cubitt.Daniel 9:8-10
Forgiveness of SinsDean Law.Daniel 9:8-10
Of God's Mercies and ForgivenessesAdam Littleton, D.D.Daniel 9:8-10
Views of Guilt and Views of MercyThe EvangelistDaniel 9:8-10
People
Ahasuerus, Daniel, Darius, Gabriel, Jeremiah, Nahum
Places
Egypt, Greece, Jerusalem
Topics
Belongeth, Belongs, Confusion, Covered, Face, Fathers, Heads, Kings, O, Open, Princes, Rulers, Shame, Sin, Sinned
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Daniel 9:1-19

     8611   prayer, for others

Daniel 9:1-23

     4926   delay, human

Daniel 9:4-14

     6624   confession, of sin

Daniel 9:4-19

     1065   God, holiness of
     6655   forgiveness, application

Daniel 9:5-9

     6222   rebellion, against God

Daniel 9:5-14

     8705   apostasy, in OT

Daniel 9:7-8

     5836   disgrace

Daniel 9:7-14

     6125   condemnation, divine

Library
Daniel: a Pattern for Pleaders
"O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God; for thy city and thy people are called by thy name."--Daniel 9:19. DANIEL was a man in very high position in life. It is true he was not living in his own native land, but, in the providence of God, he had been raised to great eminence under the dominion of the country in which he dwelt. He might, therefore, naturally have forgotten his poor kinsmen; many have done so. Alas! we have known some that have
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 61: 1915

The Man and the Book.
In this and the following lectures I attempt an account and estimate of the Prophet Jeremiah, of his life and teaching, and of the Book which contains them--but especially of the man himself, his personality and his tempers (there were more than one), his religious experience and its achievements, with the various high styles of their expression; as well as his influence on the subsequent religion of his people. It has often been asserted that in Jeremiah's ministry more than in any other of the
George Adam Smith—Jeremiah

Whether the Time of the Future Judgment is Unknown?
Objection 1: It would seem that the time of the future judgment is not unknown. For just as the holy Fathers looked forward to the first coming, so do we look forward to the second. But the holy Fathers knew the time of the first coming, as proved by the number of weeks mentioned in Daniel 9: wherefore the Jews are reproached for not knowing the time of Christ's coming (Lk. 12:56): "You hypocrites, you know how to discern the face of the heaven and of the earth, but how is it that you do not discern
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

That Whereas the City of Jerusalem had Been Five Times Taken Formerly, this was the Second Time of Its Desolation. A Brief Account of Its History.
1. And thus was Jerusalem taken, in the second year of the reign of Vespasian, on the eighth day of the month Gorpeius [Elul]. It had been taken five [34] times before, though this was the second time of its desolation; for Shishak, the king of Egypt, and after him Antiochus, and after him Pompey, and after them Sosius and Herod, took the city, but still preserved it; but before all these, the king of Babylon conquered it, and made it desolate, one thousand four hundred and sixty-eight years and
Flavius Josephus—The Wars of the Jews or History of the Destruction of Jerusalem

From the Supplement to the Summa --Question Lxxii of the Prayers of the Saints who are in Heaven
I. Are the Saints cognizant of our Prayers? II. Ought we to appeal to the Saints to intercede for us? III. Are the Saints' Prayers to God for us always heard? I Are the Saints cognizant of our Prayers? On those words of Job,[267] Whether his children come to honour or dishonour, he shall not understand, S. Gregory says: "This is not to be understood of the souls of the Saints, for they see from within the glory of Almighty God, it is in nowise credible that there should be anything without of
St. Thomas Aquinas—On Prayer and The Contemplative Life

The Blessing of God.
NUMB. VI. 22-27. We have already seen the grace of GOD making provision that His people, who had lost the privilege of priestly service, might draw near to Him by Nazarite separation and consecration. And not as the offence was the free gift: those who had forfeited the privilege of priestly service were the males only, but women and even children might be Nazarites; whosoever desired was free to come, and thus draw near to GOD. We now come to the concluding verses of Numb. vi, and see in them one
James Hudson Taylor—Separation and Service

Three Things Briefly to be Regarded in Christ --viz. His Offices of Prophet, King, and Priest.
1. Among heretics and false Christians, Christ is found in name only; but by those who are truly and effectually called of God, he is acknowledged as a Prophet, King, and Priest. In regard to the Prophetical Office, the Redeemer of the Church is the same from whom believers under the Law hoped for the full light of understanding. 2. The unction of Christ, though it has respect chiefly to the Kingly Office, refers also to the Prophetical and Priestly Offices. The dignity, necessity, and use of this
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

General Account of Jesus' Teaching.
^A Matt. IV. 17; ^B Mark I. 14, 15; ^C Luke IV. 14, 15. ^a 17 From that time Jesus began to preach [The time here indicated is that of John the Baptist's imprisonment and Jesus' return to Galilee. This time marked a new period in the public ministry of Jesus. Hitherto he had taught, but he now began to preach. When the voice of his messenger, John, was silenced, the King became his own herald. Paul quoted the Greeks as saying that preaching was "foolishness," but following the example here set by
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Fifthly, as this Revelation, to the Judgment of Right and Sober Reason,
appears of itself highly credible and probable, and abundantly recommends itself in its native simplicity, merely by its own intrinsic goodness and excellency, to the practice of the most rational and considering men, who are desirous in all their actions to have satisfaction and comfort and good hope within themselves, from the conscience of what they do: So it is moreover positively and directly proved to be actually and immediately sent to us from God, by the many infallible signs and miracles
Samuel Clarke—A Discourse Concerning the Being and Attributes of God

Appendix v. Rabbinic Theology and Literature
1. The Traditional Law. - The brief account given in vol. i. p. 100, of the character and authority claimed for the traditional law may here be supplemented by a chronological arrangement of the Halakhoth in the order of their supposed introduction or promulgation. In the first class, or Halakhoth of Moses from Sinai,' tradition enumerates fifty-five, [6370] which may be thus designated: religio-agrarian, four; [6371] ritual, including questions about clean and unclean,' twenty-three; [6372] concerning
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Fulfilled Prophecies of the Bible Bespeak the Omniscience of Its Author
In Isaiah 41:21-23 we have what is probably the most remarkable challenge to be found in the Bible. "Produce your cause, saith the Lord; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob. Let them bring them forth, and show us what shall happen; let them show the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. Show the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods." This Scripture has both a negative
Arthur W. Pink—The Divine Inspiration of the Bible

"And There is None that Calleth Upon Thy Name, that Stirreth up Himself to Take Hold on Thee,"
Isaiah lxiv. 7.--"And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold on thee," &c. They go on in the confession of their sins. Many a man hath soon done with that a general notion of sin is the highest advancement in repentance that many attain to. You may see here sin and judgment mixed in thorough other(315) in their complaint. They do not so fix their eyes upon their desolate estate of captivity, as to forget their provocations. Many a man would spend more affection,
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Sin-Bearer.
A COMMUNION MEDITATION AT MENTONE. "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."--1 Peter ii. 24, 25. THE SIN-BEARER. THIS wonderful passage is a part of Peter's address to servants; and in his day nearly all servants were slaves. Peter begins at the eighteenth verse: "Servants, be subject
Charles Hadden Spurgeon—Till He Come

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath Day and Defends his Act.
(at Feast-Time at Jerusalem, Probably the Passover.) ^D John V. 1-47. ^d 1 After these things there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. [Though every feast in the Jewish calendar has found some one to advocate its claim to be this unnamed feast, yet the vast majority of commentators choose either the feast of Purim, which came in March, or the Passover, which came in April. Older commentators pretty unanimously regarded it as the Passover, while the later school favor the feast
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Being of God
Q-III: WHAT DO THE SCRIPTURES PRINCIPALLY TEACH? A: The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man. Q-IV: WHAT IS GOD? A: God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. Here is, 1: Something implied. That there is a God. 2: Expressed. That he is a Spirit. 3: What kind of Spirit? I. Implied. That there is a God. The question, What is God? takes for granted that there
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

The Manifestation of the Messiah
(JOHN I. 31.) "Before me, as in darkening glass, Some glorious outlines pass, Of love, and truth, and holiness, and power-- I own them thine, O Christ, And bless Thee in this hour." F. R. HAVERGAL. The Herald's Proclamation--The Meeting of John and Jesus--Christ's Baptism--"It Becometh Us."--"My Beloved Son." John's life, at this period, was an extraordinary one. By day he preached to the teeming crowds, or baptized them; by night he would sleep in some slight booth, or darksome cave. But the
F. B. Meyer—John the Baptist

The Intercession of Christ
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us! T he Redemption of the soul is precious. Fools make mock of sin (Proverbs 14:9) . But they will not think lightly of it, who duly consider the majesty, authority, and goodness of Him, against whom it is committed; and who are taught, by what God actually has done, what sin rendered necessary to be done, before a sinner could have a well-grounded
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

Destruction of Jerusalem Foretold.
^A Matt. XXIV. 1-28; ^B Mark XIII. 1-23; ^C Luke XXI. 5-24. ^a 1 And Jesus went out from the temple [leaving it to return no more], and was going on his way; and his disciples came to him ^b as he went forth ^a to show him the buildings of the temple. ^b one of his disciples saith unto him, Teacher, behold, what manner of stones and what manner of buildings! ^c 5 And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and offerings, he said [The strength and wealth of the temple roused
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Christ's Priestly Office
Q-35: HOW DOES CHRIST EXECUTE THE OFFICE OF A PRIEST? A: In his once offering up of himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God, and in making continual intercession for us. 'Now once in the end of the world has he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.' Heb 9:96. What are the parts of Christ's priestly office? Christ's priestly office has two parts - his satisfaction and intercession. I. His Satisfaction; and this consists of two branches. [1] His active
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

The Scriptures
Q-II: WHAT RULE HAS GOD GIVEN TO DIRECT US HOW WE MAY GLORIFY AND ENJOY HIM? A: The Word of God, which is contained in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him. 2 Tim 3:16. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,' By Scripture is understood the sacred Book of God. It is given by divine inspiration; that is, the Scripture is not the contrivance of man's brain, but is divine in its origin. The image of Diana was had in veneration
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

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