A Plea for Repentance

Daniel 4:27 ~ "Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity."

How many have it in us to do as Daniel did and plead for the repentance of those who are close to us? Daniel's plea to Nebuchadnezzar reminds us that we also must heed the word of God and plead with those we love to forsake sin and turn to the LORD. 

Let us consider a few things from our text today. 

First, who is Daniel talking with? This is the king of the most powerful nation in the world at the time. Nebuchadnezzar had conquered farther than any monarch of his era. He was ruler and Daniel was a slave. Truly Daniel had been elevated to a position of prominence, even of great influence, and yet he still was a captive. And being captive and subservient to the king of Babylon, Daniel did not assert authority over the king to give commands. He entreated Nebuchadnezzar to consider his words and heed his counsel.

There are times when we have an opportunity to speak to someone that they should leave behind their sins and turn to Christ. But we have no real authority over them and cannot command them to repent and turn to the LORD. Yet, with words of wise counsel and a heart of compassion, we can entreat others to seek the LORD, to repent of sin and turn to Christ. Daniel was pleading for the very man who took him captive and enslaved his nation. This hearkens us to the command of our LORD to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (see Matthew 5:44).

Because Daniel was well acquainted with the king, he did not give a general plea for repentance, but specifically spoke about how such a repentance would look. He did not merely say, "king, you're a bad man and you should repent." Daniel pointed out two very clear categories of Nebuchadnezzar's condition: his "sin" and his "iniquities." Those two terms correspond to both his private and public sins. And his repentance would relate to those conditions: by practicing righteousness and by showing mercy to the oppressed.

Jesus gives us instruction on how to go to someone when we know they are in rebellion against the LORD. In Matthew 18:15-20 we are given the necessary steps to call someone back from sin. One of the great truths of this hinges on the knowledge of the offence. Let speculative accusations and hear-say confrontations be dismissed by all of God's children. We should never be party to such gossip. But if you know the truth then let the words of Galatians 6:1 govern your approach, "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted."

And if they are to repent, what might that look like? It looks like a person who has made a shift away from sin and toward righteousness. Paul gives us a clear example in Ephesians 4:28, "Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need." We hear it from John the Baptist as he called on people to repent. "Soldiers also asked him, 'And we, what shall we do?' And he said to them, 'Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages'" (Luke 3:14). 

Dear friends, our God is rich in mercy and relents from sending calamity (see Joel 2:12-14). Daniel knows this. The prophet pleaded with Nebuchadnezzar that he should repent and discover the abundant mercy of the LORD. And the LORD God was patient, giving the king a whole year before His judgment fell, giving Nebuchadnezzar time to repent. Ultimately, it was the heavy hand of God that brought Nebuchadnezzar to his knees. Let it not be so with us.

If there is a sin harbored within your heart, beloved even now repent and turn away from it and practice righteousness. Find in the Scriptures where God speaks plainly about your sin and then how He would have you repent of it. God is slow to anger and abounding in love, He will forgive all who turn away from sin and turn to Christ by faith. Perhaps you are in that season now where you've heard the call to repentance. Don't wait until the hand of God is heavy upon you. The Apostle Paul said in Acts 26:20, "...but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance." Let us all heed these words as well.

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

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