"Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquility." (Daniel 4:27)
Of all things he is asking the king to do, he said to show mercy to the poor. The Old Testament study guide says:
"Daniel counseled the king to reform his life, to repent of his sins, and to show greater mercy to the poor. The implication of Daniel’s statement is that if Nebuchadnezzar would do as he was counseled, he might receive divine favor and avert the threatened punishment, thus maintaining his prosperity of life. Mercy to the poor was mentioned as a prerequisite to obtaining forgiveness of sin. It is one of the most sincere evidences of repentance and submission to the Lord’s will."
I thought it would be appropriate to share this scripture on my parent's blog because of the great need there is around the world and especially where my parents are serving their mission. That it is required to be merciful to the poor in order to receive a forgiveness of sins is powerful and gives us much to think about and ponder. May we prayerfully consider Daniel's plea and ask the Lord's guidance on how we can show mercy to our brothers in sisters here in America and throughout the world." - Melia
This scripture goes along with what Daniel was saying found in the New Testament in James 1:27.
ReplyDelete"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."