Prayer of Renewal: Daniel

Daniel lives in exile in the land of Babylon. He serves in the upper echelons of society while also maintaining his faith through regular prayer. In the midst of his regular prayer, he offers one of the most powerful expressions of corporate repentance and renewal in the entire Bible.

Recipe for a Prayer of corporate repentance and renewal:

• Step 1: Remember who you are addressing (vs.4)
• Step 2: Take ownership of what you have done (vss. 5-11a)
• Step 3: Acknowledge God’s ways are right and just (vss. 11b-14)
• Step 4: Make your request for mercy (vss. 15-19)
  • For the sake of God’s glory (vss. 17 & 19)
  • Out of a concern for His Name among the nations (vss.18 & 19)

1. Can you think of a song you have sung in church recently that basically leads us in a corporate repentance or lament? Why do you think there is such a lack of such songs in the American church repertoire? What might that reflect? Why do you think it is so hard for us to corporately or communally repent?
2. If you are familiar with any of the great revivals in history, before God moves mightily to redeem and restore people back to himself, what does he first do in the church? Why is it important to realize this?
3. Daniel repented on behalf of his people once he heard the news that the destruction of Jerusalem was going to last 70 years. What do you think it will take for the church in America to come to such a posture? How about your church?
4. Read verse 4. Notice how Daniel addresses the Lord. What does that tell us about how Daniel thinks of God? How might that differ from how we normally address the Lord in prayer. How does this differ or how is this similar to other prayers we have studied in this series so far?
5. Read verses 5-11. What do you notice about Daniel’s confession? How inclusive is he? Why do you think he includes himself in this confession (notice he uses the pronouns ‘we’‘our’ and ‘us’). What does that tell you about Daniel? Do you think it is possible to corporately repent if we don’t include ourselves as part of the problem?
6. In verses 11-14 Daniel acknowledges that God’s ways are right and Israel is getting what it rightly deserves and what God always said he would do. Is there any correlation here for the Church? Do you think the United States may in any be experiencing judgment from God? How do you see this?
7. (Verses 15-19) If we are asking God to turn from his anger and wrath (vs.16) we need to be willing to turn from our corporate and communal sins. What do you think the church in the United States might need to confess and repent of? What would you put on that list? Is there any way that you, like Daniel did, could, on behalf of the Church, confess? What do you think that would accomplish? In the world? In your heart? How have you contributed to the problem and what can you do in your own life to make matters right?

DIG DEEPER

• Read Revelation chapters 2-3. How many of the seven churches did Jesus invite to repent? What did He say they needed to repent of? What might that mean for the church in Milwaukee in 2018? Is there anything Jesus would say to us?
• Take an international Christian out for coffee (someone not from the United States) and ask them to candidly give you their observations about the church in the United States. What do they notice and see that might be blind spots for us who grew up in the American Church? Is there anything we might need to repent of from the perspective of an outsider?