What actions in Daniel 9:5 reflect disobedience to God's commandments? Daniel 9:5 — The Confession in Daniel’s Own Words “we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, and have turned away from Your commandments and ordinances.” Five Distinct Actions of Disobedience • Sinned – missed the mark God sets (cf. 1 John 3:4). • Committed iniquity – practiced moral crookedness or perversion (Isaiah 59:12–13). • Done wickedly – acted with active intent to harm or oppose what is right (Psalm 106:6). • Rebelled – knowingly resisted God’s rule, rejecting His authority (1 Samuel 15:23). • Turned away from commandments and ordinances – willful departure from God’s revealed instructions (Deuteronomy 28:15). What Commandments Were They Violating? • Exclusive loyalty to the LORD (Exodus 20:3). • Covenant faithfulness spelled out in the Law (Leviticus 26:14–15). • Justice and mercy toward neighbor (Micah 6:8). • Worship according to God’s pattern, not idols (Deuteronomy 12:30–31). • Trust in God rather than foreign alliances or self-reliance (Jeremiah 2:13). Why These Actions Matter • Each step marks a deeper stage of spiritual drift—from missing the mark to outright rebellion. • Together they explain Judah’s exile (Daniel 9:11; 2 Chronicles 36:14–17). • They highlight our need for honest confession and God’s mercy (1 John 1:9). Living Takeaways • Call sin what God calls it; vague language numbs the conscience. • Trace small compromises before they grow into open rebellion. • Return to Scripture to realign with God’s “commandments and ordinances.” |
    |