Confession Study #3

Daniel 9:20-23
While I was saying these things in my prayer to the Lord, my God, confessing my sins and the sins of the people of Israel and praying for God's holy hill, Gabriel came to me. (I had seen him in my last vision.) He came flying quickly to me about the time of the evening sacrifice, while I was still praying. He taught me and said to me, "Daniel, I have come to give you wisdom and to help you understand. When you first started praying, an answer was given, and I came to tell you, because God loves you very much. So think about the message and understand the vision.

• Confession was something that was done in the Old Testament. It's not just a New Testament thing. Daniel was confessing to God in this passage.

Proverbs 28:12-14
When good people triumph, there is great happiness, but when the wicked get control, everybody hides. If you hide your sins, you will not succeed. If you confess and reject them, you will receive mercy. Those who are always respectful will be happy, but those who are stubborn will get into trouble.

• Confessing sins will give you mercy.

Psalm 38:17-18
I am about to die, and I cannot forget my pain. I confess my guilt; I am troubled by my sin.

• Carrying sin around is like carrying a heavy bag, full of guilt. Guilt is pretty heavy and causes you for feel troubled.

Nehemiah 9:1-5
On the twenty-fourth day of that same month, the people of Israel gathered. They fasted, and they wore rough cloth and put dust on their heads to show their sadness. Those people whose ancestors were from Israel had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood and confessed their sins and their ancestors' sins. For a fourth of the day they stood where they were and read from the Book of the Teachings of the Lord their God. For another fourth of the day they confessed their sins and worshiped the Lord their God. These Levites were standing on the stairs: Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Kenani. They called out to the Lord their God with loud voices. Then these Levites spoke: Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah. They said, "Stand up and praise the Lord your God, who lives forever and ever."

• They stood and confessed their sins, worshiping the Lord. Confessing sin is another way to worship God. I had never thought of it like that before reading this passage, but I guess it makes sense. To confess is to worship.