Daniel 9:14

Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God [is] righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice.

Therefore hath the LORD {H3068} watched {H8245} upon the evil {H7451}, and brought {H935} it upon us: for the LORD {H3068} our God {H430} is righteous {H6662} in all his works {H4639} which he doeth {H6213}: for we obeyed {H8085} not his voice {H6963}.

So ADONAI watched for the right moment to bring this disaster upon us, for ADONAI our God was just in everything he did, yet we didn't listen when he spoke.

Therefore the LORD has kept the calamity in store and brought it upon us. For the LORD our God is righteous in all He does; yet we have not obeyed His voice.

Therefore hath Jehovah watched over the evil, and brought it upon us; for Jehovah our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth, and we have not obeyed his voice.

Daniel 9:14 is a pivotal verse within Daniel's profound prayer of confession, acknowledging God's righteous judgment upon Israel. It encapsulates the understanding that the suffering experienced by the nation—specifically the Babylonian captivity—was a direct and just consequence of their persistent disobedience to God's commands.

Context

This verse comes during Daniel's heartfelt prayer (see Daniel 9:3-19), offered while he was contemplating Jeremiah's prophecy of the seventy-year captivity in Babylon. Daniel, even though personally righteous, identifies with the sins of his people. He recognizes that the exile was not an arbitrary act but a divine response to centuries of rebellion against God's covenant. This context highlights a nation facing the repercussions of neglecting prophetic warnings and divine instruction.

Key Themes

  • God's Unwavering Righteousness: The verse emphatically states, "the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth." This affirms God's perfect justice and integrity. His actions, even those involving judgment, are always consistent with His holy character. He is not capricious but acts according to His established laws and warnings.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: The phrase "we obeyed not his voice" directly links the nation's suffering ("brought it upon us") to their rebellion. It underscores the biblical principle that disobedience to God's revealed will inevitably leads to negative outcomes, as warned in the Mosaic covenant (e.g., Deuteronomy 28:15-68).
  • Divine Oversight and Judgment: "Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil" signifies God's active awareness and intentionality in bringing about the judgment. It's not a passive observation but a purposeful allowance or application of consequences for unrepented sin. God is sovereign over history and human affairs, even in their darkest moments.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "watched upon" (שָׁקַד - shaqad) can mean "to be alert," "to watch," or "to be wakeful." It often carries the connotation of being diligent or persistent in one's purpose, sometimes even in bringing about an anticipated outcome. In this context, it emphasizes God's active and deliberate attention to the nation's evil and His readiness to fulfill His warnings. The term for "righteous" (צַדִּיק - tsaddiq) denotes conformity to a moral or legal standard, emphasizing God's inherent justice and fairness in His dealings with humanity.

Significance and Application

Daniel 9:14 offers timeless truths for all believers:

  • Acknowledge God's Justice: When facing difficulties or observing societal brokenness, it's crucial to remember that God remains just and righteous. His judgments are not arbitrary but are rooted in His perfect character and in response to sin.
  • Embrace Responsibility: Like Daniel, we are called to acknowledge our own sins and the sins of our communities, rather than blaming God or external circumstances. True repentance begins with taking responsibility for disobedience (see 1 John 1:9).
  • The Seriousness of Obedience: This verse powerfully reminds us that God's commands are not optional. Disobedience carries consequences, both individually and corporately. Conversely, obedience brings blessing and alignment with God's will.

Daniel's prayer provides a model for confession, recognizing God's sovereignty and righteousness even in the midst of suffering caused by human sin.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Daniel 9:7

    O Lord, righteousness [belongeth] unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, [that are] near, and [that are] far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.

  • Nehemiah 9:33

    Howbeit thou [art] just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly:

  • Psalms 51:14

    ¶ Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: [and] my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

  • Jeremiah 44:27

    Behold, I will watch over them for evil, and not for good: and all the men of Judah that [are] in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them.

  • Jeremiah 31:28

    And it shall come to pass, [that] like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the LORD.

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