************ Sermon on Daniel 9:7-8 ************
By: Rev. Adrian Dieleman
This sermon was preached on June 7, 1998
Daniel 9:1-19
verses 7-8
"Shame, Shame, Shame"
Introduction A 16-year-old Maryland boy who is serving time in a juvenile-detention center for sexually molesting his 9-year-old sister wants to go home. But before Montgomery County court officials will release him, the boy must convince his family that he feels an emotion that for decades has been either scorned as destructive to self-esteem or dismissed as hopelessly old-fashioned. He must prove that he feels a sense of shame.
In this case, showing that he is ashamed means not just admitting his crime and apologizing to his sister, but literally getting down on his knees before her and begging for her forgiveness.
When the therapist tells the boy this, he looks stunned. When he realizes that his freedom depends on an apology, he cocks his head in his sister's direction and says, "Sorry, Sarah" [that is not her real name]. Everyone in the room rejects the apology as insincere. Despite the pleas and threats of his family, the boy holds firm. "I won't do that," he says over and over again. "Tell the court, forget it." Even after other family members get down on their knees to apologize to the sister for not seeing the signs of abuse, the boy refuses and is returned to detention.
After another week away from his family, he changes his mind. The room is still. He drops to his knees and says: "Sarah, I'm sorry for taking advantage of you. I'm sorry for sexually molesting you. I'm sorry for getting on top of you. I'm sorry for blaming you. And I'm sorry for not apologizing the last time." Tears all around. They boy has finally expressed a sense of shame about what he has done.
(Newsweek, February 6, 1995, p.21)
We need shame today as we prepare our hearts for the Lord's Supper. But, as Daniel realizes, we cannot have shame without the acknowledgment of sin and guilt. So he says,(Dan 9:7-8) "Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame--the men of Judah and people of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you. (8) O LORD, we and our kings, our princes and our fathers are covered with shame because we have sinned against you.
I Acknowledgment of Sin and Guilt
A Daniel does the unexpected by praying this. Don't forget, Israel is in exile and has lost many precious possessions – home and jewelry, temple services and freedom, businesses and vineyards. In such circumstances, what can be more natural than to pray, "O Lord, give – give us back our fields and homes, give us back our temple and city, give us back our land and freedom"? But Daniel does not begin his prayer by asking for restoration; rather, he begs the divine Judge for grace. We do not hear him cry out, "Have mercy on us in the misery of exile." Instead, he prays, "Have mercy on us in the misery of sin and guilt." This misery is much greater than all the hardships of exile, war, poverty, and sickness put together.
B In his prayer we notice that Daniel does not try to blame others for Israel's misery. I'm sure many others were doing that – blaming aggressive, powerful Babylon for swallowing up weak, peace-loving Israel. For these people the question of guilt was easily settled. They would say it is the fault of godless Babylon that Israel has to spend year after year in the misery of exile. But that is not what Daniel says, that is not how Daniel reasons. Listen to what he says:(Dan 9:5) we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws.
(Dan 9:7) we are covered with shame--the men of Judah and people of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you.
(Cf Dan 9:8; Dan 9:9; Dan 9:10; Dan 9:11;Dan 9:13; Dan 9:16)
Isn't this an amazing confession? Shoulder to shoulder with the godless Babylonians, admits Daniel, stands the equally godless Israelites.
Like Daniel, we must learn to point the finger of accusation at ourselves. We must realize that the covenant people, the members of the church, are also numbered among the guilty ones! If we don't do so, we'll never learn the lesson that Daniel 9 is intended to teach us, and then we'll never be able to join in Daniel's prayer.
Our nation has witnessed a number of horrific shootings in the last year and a half:
-On February 19, 1997 Evan Ramsey, 16, killed his school principal and a fellow student and wounded two in Bethel, Alaska.
-On October 1, 1997 in Pearl, Mississippi, Luke Woodham, 16, killed his mother, his ex-girlfriend and another student.
-On December 1, 1997 Michael Carneal, 14, shot at a group of students, killing three, in West Paducah, Kentucky.
-On March 24, 1998 in Jonesboro, Arkansas, Mitchell Johnson, 13, and Andrew Golden, 11, killed four classmates and a teacher on a school playground.
-On April 24, 1998 Andrew Wurst, 14, opened fire at a school dance in Edinboro, Pennsylvania, killing a teacher.
-On May 19, 1998 in Fayetteville, Tennessee, Jacob Davis, 18, killed a classmate three days before graduation.
-On May 21, 1998 in Springfield, Oregon, Kip Kinkel shot 26 people, killing two students and his own parents.
-And, last Fall a 15 year old boy here in Visalia killed a policeman in the line of duty.
In many or all of these instances we are right in condemning these obviously sick boys and wondering about the control of their parents. But anyone in a right relationship with God does not leave it at that. Instead, he or she cries out the words of Daniel, "O Lord, we have sinned and done wrong. O Lord, we are covered with shame." We can point to the sins of these boys and the neglect or abuse of their parents. We can point to those who do the sins of abortion, abuse, and homosexuality. It is easy to point the finger at others. But, as we prepare for the Lord's Supper, we must always begin by accusing ourselves and confessing our own sin.
C We also notice that Daniel does not try to minimize guilt and wrong as he confesses his sins and the sins of his people. But that is exactly what most people do. They usually deny they have done anything wrong.Topic: Confession
Subtopic: Of Sin Commanded
Index: 816
Date: 1/1989.14
Title:
Once when Frederick II, an eighteenth-century king of Prussia, went on an inspection tour of a Berlin prison, he was greeted with the cries of prisoners, who fell on their knees and protested their unjust imprisonment. While listening to these pleas of innocence, Frederick's eye was caught by a solitary figure in the corner, a prisoner seemingly unconcerned with all the commotion.
"Why are you here?" Frederick asked him.
"Armed robbery, Your Majesty."
"Were you guilty?" the king asked.
"Oh yes, indeed, Your Majesty. I entirely deserve my punishment."
At that Frederick summoned the jailer. "Release this guilty man at once," he said. "I will not have him kept in this prison where he will corrupt all the fine innocent people who occupy it."
I am sure you all know that Roman Catholic belief and practice requires confession of sin to a priest. According to the latest survey, in 1989, only 40% of adult Roman Catholics confess their sins at least twice a year.
Most Protestants are no better. It used to be that ministers strongly urged their congregations to confess their sins. But today's aging baby boomers do not want to hear sermons that make them feel guilty. So what happens? Liberal churches and ministers condemn such social evils as racism, sexism, sexual harassment, abuse, pollution of the environment, and so on. But their voices are very quiet about subjects closer to home – like divorce, pride, greed, and too much personal ambition. Conservative churches and ministers are not much better; they shake their fists and fingers at sins in the world like abortion, pornography, alcoholism, drug-abuse, and pre-marital sex. But their voices too are quiet about the sins of the regular person in the pew – like pride, greed, anger, too much personal ambition, materialism, and so on.
As we prepare for the Lord's Supper we cannot try to minimize guilt and wrong. We must be willing to admit them and own up to them.
D What really distinguishes the Christian from the world? We can't say we are less wicked for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. What distinguishes us from the world is that we recognize our wickedness for what it is. What distinguishes us from the world is that we confess our sins and shortcomings. What distinguishes us from the world is that we run from sin while the world runs after sin. The church is the only body on earth that confesses sin. Where the confession of sin dies out, the church is no longer church.
So with Daniel we must always realize our sin, our unworthiness, our misery. With Daniel we must always confess our guilt. With Daniel we must always pray, "O Lord, listen! O Lord forgive!" "O Lord ... we have sinned against you."
II Shame
A People who recognize their sin and guilt, people who admit their sin and guilt, people who realize they are no better than Kip Kinkel or Jacob Davis or Andrew Wurst, will have a sense of shame. That's what Daniel says. "Lord ... we are covered with shame ... because of our unfaithfulness to you. O Lord, we ... are covered with shame because we have sinned against you."
What happens when people have no sense of shame? The result is Hitler's Germany where 6 million Jews and 2 or 3 million others were gassed to death. The result is Jeffrey Dahmer who killed and ate 15 victims. The result is boys who kill classmates, teachers, and police officers.
What happens when people have no sense of shame? The result is young people who do drugs, engage in premarital sex, and engage in shop-lifting and outright theft time after time after time. The result is 1200 grief-stricken families in Philadelphia, only 10 of whom have seen some kind of remorse from the person who killed their loved one (Newsweek, February 6, 1995, p.22).
What happens when people have no sense of shame? The result is moral Frankenstein monsters who don't care about the hurt and damage and pain they cause. A mother, whose teenage son was murdered a couple of years ago in Philadelphia, tells us what happens when people have no shame: "You go to court and the guy is looking at you, like, 'What's the problem? So what if I killed your son?'" (Newsweek, February 6, 1995, p.22).
B When people sin they need to feel shame. Real shame. Not outer shame but inner shame. Not just shame that they are caught. But shame because they fell. Shame because they sinned against God. Shame because they were unfaithful to God. Consider this story:Topic: Shame
Subtopic: Of Sin
Index: 1689
Date: 6/1986.18
Title: A Father's Shame
A man was successful in business, and had a well-educated son who was highly respected and honored like his father. But one day to everyone's surprise the young man was charged with embezzlement. At his trial he appeared nonchalant and arrogant about his sinful actions. When the judge told him to stand up for sentencing, he still seemed unrepentant. Then hearing a slight scuffle on the other side of the room, he turned to see that his aged father had also risen. The once erect head and straight shoulders of that honest man were now bowed low with shame. He had stood to be identified with his boy and to receive the verdict as though it were being pronounced upon himself. Suddenly his son realized the terrible grief he was inflicting on him, and tears welled up in his eyes. He had tarnished the family name by his behavior. Now his poor father was caught in the backwash of his son's evil deeds, although he had done everything he could do to keep him on the straight and narrow path.
This is the kind of shame Daniel is speaking of: an outward expression of an inner feeling. That's the kind of shame we need as we prepare our hearts for the Lord's Supper.
C In the Bible it is never enough to have a sense of shame about sin and guilt and misery. Shame always leads to action; it always results in a change of direction; it always causes repentance.Topic: Repentance
Subtopic:
Index: 2706-2712
Date: 12/1987.14
Title: Enough to Quit
A Sunday School teacher once asked a class what was meant by the word "repentance." A little boy put up his hand and said, "It is being sorry for your sins." A little girl also raised her hand and said, "It is being sorry enough to quit."
That little girl hit the nail right on the head: those who are sorry for their sin, those who are shamed by their sin, want to quit.
I think of the difference between Judas and Peter. They both sinned in the events leading up to the Lord's crucifixion and death. Judas betrayed the Lord for 30 pieces of silver. Peter denied the Lord. Afterwards, Judas in his great despair, went and hung himself. Peter, however, felt shame – especially when the Lord looked at him – so he went outside and wept bitterly.
As we prepare for the Lord's Supper we need a shame that leads us to repentance, a shame that makes us sorry enough for our sins that we want to quit.
Conclusion
Daniel acknowledges sin and guilt and misery. Daniel feels shame on account of this sin and guilt and misery. But Daniel does not leave it there. He prays,(Dan 9:19) "O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name."
Daniel prays for forgiveness because he knows that God, out of grace, forgives those who repent. Daniel prays for forgiveness because he knows that God, out of grace, forgives those who admit their sin and their shame.
What is true for Daniel is true for you too. God will forgive you, out of grace because of Christ, when you repent, when you admit your sin and your shame. Don't forget what John says:(1Jn 1:9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
But, if you do not confess, if you do not feel any shame, if you do not acknowledge your sin and guilt, then God's graceful forgiveness is not for you.
I implore you, my brothers and sisters: acknowledge your guilt and sin and misery. Be filled with an inner shame that you have so failed your God. And then, by grace, receive the joy of forgiveness when you come to the Lord's Table next week.
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