Daniel 9:9

9 You are merciful and forgiving, although we have rebelled against you.

Daniel 9:9 Meaning and Commentary

Daniel 9:9

To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses
Mercy is his nature, and what he delights in; it is abundant, and he is plenteous in it the fountain of mercy is with him, and numerous are the streams which flow from it, called "the multitude of his tender mercies"; all temporal favours spring from hence, and so do all spiritual blessings, the sure mercies of David; and particularly the forgiveness of sin, which is the Lord's prerogative, and is according to the tender mercies of our God, and the riches of his grace; and is of all sins, and of all sorts of sinners; he doth abundantly pardon all that apply to him for it, and forgives all trespasses; see ( Psalms 130:4 Psalms 130:7 ) : though we have rebelled against him:
there is mercy with the Lord, and forgiveness with him, even for rebellious ones; which is an exaggeration and illustration of his pardoning grace and mercy: or, "for we have sinned against him" ^F7; so that it is a plain case that he is merciful and has forgiven our iniquities, since he has spared us, and not destroyed us, and now is about to put an end to our captivity, according to his promise; and if he had not mercy on us, and did not forgive our sins, we must perish in them, and there would be no hope of salvation for us.

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FOOTNOTES:

F7 (wndrm yk) "quia rebellavimus", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Polanus, Cocceius, Michaelis.

Daniel 9:9 In-Context

7 You, Lord, always do what is right, but we have always brought disgrace on ourselves. This is true of all of us who live in Judea and in Jerusalem and of all the Israelites whom you scattered in countries near and far because they were unfaithful to you.

8 Our kings, our rulers, and our ancestors have acted shamefully and sinned against you, Lord.

9 You are merciful and forgiving, although we have rebelled against you.

10 We did not listen to you, O Lord our God, when you told us to live according to the laws which you gave us through your servants the prophets.

11 All Israel broke your laws and refused to listen to what you said. We sinned against you, and so you brought on us the curses that are written in the Law of Moses, your servant.