How does Daniel 9:10 connect with the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20? Core Verse “We have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God or walked in His laws, which He set before us through His servants the prophets.” (Daniel 9:10) At Sinai: What God Set Before Israel • God Himself speaks: “And God spoke all these words” (v. 1). • The Ten Commandments are the foundational covenant terms—non-negotiable, moral bedrock. • Moses, called “My servant” (cf. Numbers 12:7), delivers these words to the people, just as Daniel 9:10 says the prophets did. Direct Parallels Between Daniel 9:10 and Exodus 20 • “Obeyed the voice of the LORD” ⇢ Exodus 20 opens with God’s audible voice; Israel pledged obedience (Exodus 24:3). • “Walked in His laws” ⇢ The Ten Commandments summarize all divine law (Deuteronomy 5:22). • “Set before us through His servants” ⇢ Moses is the first of those servants; later prophets echoed the same commands (2 Kings 17:13). Where Israel Went Off-Course Daniel confesses the nation’s failure to keep precisely what Exodus 20 demands: 1. No other gods / No idols ⇢ widespread idolatry (Jeremiah 2:11). 2. Do not misuse God’s name ⇢ empty ritual and swearing (Jeremiah 7:9–11). 3. Remember the Sabbath ⇢ land desolated for neglected Sabbaths (2 Chronicles 36:21). 4. Honor parents ⇢ social breakdown (Ezekiel 22:7). 5. Do not murder ⇢ injustice and bloodshed (Isaiah 59:3). 6. No adultery ⇢ spiritual and literal unfaithfulness (Hosea 4:13–14). 7. Do not steal ⇢ economic oppression (Amos 8:4–6). 8. Do not bear false witness ⇢ corrupt courts (Micah 3:11). 9–10. Do not covet ⇢ greed of leaders (Isaiah 56:11). Why the Connection Matters • Covenant accountability: breaking the Ten Commandments triggered the exilic curses foretold in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28. • Prophetic continuity: every prophet, including Daniel, stands on Sinai’s foundation. • Moral clarity: the commandments remain the fixed standard—Jesus reaffirms them (Matthew 5:17–19; John 14:15). Living Implications • God still speaks through His written Word—obedience is the proper response (James 1:22). • Confession, like Daniel’s, aligns us with God’s assessment of sin (1 John 1:9). • Walking in God’s laws proves covenant loyalty, not legalism (Psalm 119:44–45). Summary Daniel 9:10 looks back to the very heart of God’s covenant voice in Exodus 20. Israel’s exile, Daniel’s confession, and our call to faithful obedience all revolve around the same Ten Commandments first proclaimed on Sinai. |
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