Whenever the Lord pointed out to Israel their specific sins, they often did not truly repent. Their response was often a mere lip service to the Lord, something they in effect felt was sufficient. After all, they worshipped the Lord! The prophets should not be so legalistic. They should not pretend as if it is always about obedience. Surely the Lord is also merciful? It is not in the first place about the law but about the gospel.
As humans we are always very clever in our sinful hearts. We always have great excuses to cover our own sins and their seriousness. We are prone to cover our own guilt with well-sounding pious words.
Israel specifically lived a life contrary to the will of God and did not seek to change this. Daniel now confesses that God’s punishment therefore came entirely according to God’s own covenant word, as Moses pronounced it before the ears of God’s people. No one has the right to protest the misery that came upon the people. The people knew the first five books of the Bible. They knew that the Lord had foretold and shown them that his people who live against his will and would not listen, will one day go into exile. The Lord had already announced this covenant punishment in Leviticus 26:1–46 and Deuteronomy 28:1–68.
11 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. And the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against him.