Atheists recruited to be part of a lawsuit

[Shilo]

part 5 from Frames of reference at http://www.dyeager.org/blog/

means all, that’s all all means. Your situation isn’t different — sin is still sin. Don’t try and rationalize it.

Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spoke in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries to which thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee. (Daniel 9:6-7 KJV)

Not only did they fall away from the law, they ignored the people sent by God to warn them. Gee, does this begin to sound familiar? Wickedness, rebellion against God, ignoring His law, and refusing to heed the warning from men God sent. Has man evolved since Daniel’s time? It doesn’t appear so. The only thing man learns from history is man learns nothing from history — the same mistakes repeat again and again.

People don’t like to hear the truth, so they ignore it or rationalize it, or they find people who tell them what they want to hear. It’s normal to rationalize your situation — after all, it’s different (NOT!). Sin is sin, and we’re all guilty before God. But people turn away from the truth toward others who speak not the truth, but what they want to hear.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (2 Timothy 4:3-4 KJV)

God’s rules apply to everyone, all the time, in every situation. You must speak the truth in love — not sandwich-board evangelism. If people reject it, fine; it’s not your job to be the Holy Spirit, only to give information. The responsibility for that knowledge falls on the individual person.

O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee. To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him; (Daniel 9:8-9 KJV)

It’s popular today to blame everyone else but the person responsible

It’s our fault, not the Twinkies[6]. It’s popular today to blame everyone else but the person responsible. It’s not your fault, you have a disease. But where is personal responsibility? To paraphrase for modern times, to us belongs shame, our President, our congress and our fathers have sinned against you.

from Frames of reference http://www.dyeager.org/blog

Remember “the buck stops here”? Today it’s pass the buck. Nobody claims responsibility for anything (Chutzpah is murdering your parents and throwing yourself on the mercy of the court because you’re an orphan[7]). What does Daniel say — we have sinned against you. It’s our fault. We’re responsible. He’s been in captivity for decades, he could easily pass the buck (it’s not my fault we’re here, I was just a kid) — but doesn’t.

Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written

 

[Shilo]

part 6 from Frames of reference at http://www.dyeager.org/blog/

in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him. (Daniel 9:10-11 KJV)

God’s law is clear. Some things are just bad — don’t do them or promote them. Today it’s popular to say the Bible needs to change with society and doesn’t apply to modern life or certain situations. But if God exists, can’t He design a message for all generations and situations? I think so. The Bible doesn’t change. God’s law is God’s law. You don’t have to follow it if you don’t want, but you can’t change what God says.

As a nation, have we abandoned God’s law? Let the reader decide for themselves if the words of Daniel’s prayer apply equally today.

Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day; And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known. (Deuteronomy 11:26-28 KJV)

God doesn’t force you into anything — it’s your choice, it’s our countries choice. But you say, we haven’t served other gods, have we? Perhaps not the idol, but the old pagan gods remain, waiting to ensnare you.

Ashtoreth — Pleasure and sexuality. It’s good for me, and it doesn’t matter who gets hurt as long as my needs are met. Value relativism.

Baal — Power. Look at any recent political race proves the popularity of Baal remains; people who still bow down to Baal fill the political arena.

Mammon — Money. Wall Street overflows with people worshiping Mammon as greed runs rampant in our society. Nothing is ever enough.

Molech — Practicality. Molech’s statue had arms outstretched and they built a fire in his belly until he glowed red-hot; if you sacrificed your first child Molech would honor your sacrifice and bless you. It was practical to sacrifice one to be blessed. But we don’t perform such hideous acts today — today we use salt water instead of fire and call it planned parenthood.

Nebo — God of knowledge and wisdom. Take a walk on any college campus and you’ll still see this god bowed down to daily, even if the idol itself doesn’t exist.

The old pagan gods still exist today, perhaps not as statues, but they’re worshiped nonetheless. Just as Israel at times fell into idolatry, Christians must be careful as many still worship these ancient gods — just because an idol doesn’t exist doesn’t mean these gods aren’t still around. Society just wraps the old pagan worship in new terminology (like “dilate and extract”).

Through all this, Daniel still hasn’t got to his petition yet!

And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil; for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem. As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us; yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth. (Daniel 9:12-13 KJV)

God warned them, the nation ignored, and judgment came. Even after judgment they ignored God, an example of stiff-necked and refusing to yield no matter what. The same attitude exists in Revelation as the people there refuse to repent as well.

we’ve been warned, how long will God’s mercy last when we openly flaunt rebellion against God?

For our country, we’ve been warned, how long will God’s mercy last when we openly flaunt

 

[Shilo]

part 7 from Frames of reference at http://www.dyeager.org/blog/

rebellion against God? When we turn our backs on Him? When the promotion of sin becomes top priority? How long? Nobody knows, but the relevance of Daniel’s prayer remains today.

Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us; for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth; for we obeyed not his voice. And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly. (Daniel 9:14-15 KJV)

Daniel admits they got what they deserved; the wages of sin is death. And since all sinned, all deserve death. No attempt to rationalize anywhere in Daniel’s prayer as Daniel speaks the truth, straight out.

Now, finally, the request. He’s acknowledged God and confessed his sin, so now he can petition God.

O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us. Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake. (Daniel 9:16-17 KJV)

Daniel doesn’t ask because Israel is good, but because the Lord is. Daniel knows they deserve the punishment for their sin, but wants mercy. Don’t pray for justice, but mercy.

O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name; for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies. 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 9:18-19 KJV)

The deliverance does not come because of what they did, but because of God’s promises; the basis for the request isn’t on what he’s done, but on God’s character. Mercy is not getting what you deserve. In the case of sin, death. As a nation, destruction.

And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God; Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. (Daniel 9:20-21 KJV)

During the prayer an angel interrupts him about the time of the evening offering. Daniel has been in captivity for decades, yet measures time by temple sacrifices, which shows where his heart is. Character matters.

And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to show thee; for thou art greatly beloved; therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. (Daniel 9:22-23 KJV)

Of course the famous seventy weeks of Daniel, which we’ve dealt with in a section by itself.

Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself; and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week; and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (Daniel 9:24-27 KJV)

Daniel’s prayer for his country was a modern one. Does the idea in Judges of “everyone did what was right in their own eyes” sound familiar? We don’t want to restrict anybody from anything anymore. Value relativism, situational ethics, do whatever feels right for you — without God, anything is possible.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV)

That’s a description of Daniel 9. We will be held accountable as stewards, we hired the guys leading the county. If the country be Godly, it’s because the people demand it. If the actions be ungodly, it’s because the people allow it.