So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: “Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land.
Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame—the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you. We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord, because we have sinned against you. The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets. All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you.
Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you. You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing on us great disaster. Under the whole heaven nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem. Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth. The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him.
Now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us.
Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”

A little longer passage today. We are studying The Beatitudes in church right now and this one came up a week ago: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭4‬) As we studied this, I understood in the teaching that a lot of what was being discussed here is mourning over our sin. And as we do this individually, we begin to turn our hearts individually back to God. This is critical! This Beatitude in Matthew is definitely a call to personal repentance.

Another important application is corporate (societal) repentance. And we see this in the above passage in Daniel. Daniel was not personally responsible for the sins of his forefathers or other countrymen, but he prayed a prayer of societal repentance.

Daniel mourned over the sins of his people, in sackcloth and ashes. He called on God to redeem them. He understood what grieved God’s heart. He also understood that God has a heart of compassion towards his people.

So I am calling on myself today, as I see Israel under attack and the moral decay of a fallen world continues to creep into my backyard: Mourn, Pray, and seek God out. Join me. Let us grieve over what grieves the heart of God! And may we call him to action through his promises in his Word!

Lord, turn my heart to anguish and tears over what hurts your heart. I see perversion and sin on an elevated level: War crimes against innocents, sexual immorality flaunted, and baseless acts such as raising children to act like animals. It sickens you. In our churches, bring your cleansing fire and clear out the fakeness and worldly ways in our midst. Renew a true devotion to you, to your will and your ways, no matter the cost. Start with me!