Justice Goodness And Humility

“Lord, great and awesome God, you who keep your merciful covenant toward those who love you and observe your commandments! We have sinned, been wicked and done evil; we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws. We have not obeyed your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, our fathers, and all the people of the land. 

Justice, O Lord, is on your side; we are shamefaced even to this day: we, the men of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem, and all Israel, near and far, in all the countries to which you have scattered them because of their treachery toward you. O LORD, we are shamefaced, like our kings, our princes, and our fathers, for having sinned against you. But yours, O Lord, our God, are compassion and forgiveness! Yet we rebelled against you and paid no heed to your command, O LORD, our God, to live by the law you gave us through your servants the prophets.” (Daniel 9:4-10)

How many of us would make the above confession to God?  We have sinned; we have been wicked and done evil; and we have rebelled and departed from God’s commandments. We have not obeyed the prophets such as Micah who said: “You have been told, O mortal, what is good, and what the LORD requires of you: Only to do justice and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.”

We should be shamefaced because we have been treacherous.  None of us are innocent of guilt.  But we can make amends simply by being compassionate and forgiving.  Moreover, having the same mindset as the prophet Micah would be a proper turnaround.

Deacon David Pierce