Photo: John Tyson – Unsplash

At present, the Church of England is in a bad way. In recent weeks we have been subjected to a succession of disclosures regarding abuse and cover-up – and painful as they are, I believe we should be grateful that the truth has been brought out into the light. This is in addition to a variety of challenges that I have referred to in previous posts, and that are well known. What can we be praying at a time like this?

Over the past few months I have been praying and thinking about Daniel’s prayer in Daniel 9. The first thing to notice is that Daniel prays his prayer in response to the prophecy from Jeremiah that God’s people are going to return to Judah and Jerusalem. He’s not praying that they would return – rather he’s praying about the manner of their return and their long-term future.

Originally God had said that his people would return from exile when they repented (Leviticus 26:40-45); and Daniel is acutely aware that God’s people in Babylon aren’t repenting. Yet God has said he’ll restore them to Jerusalem anyway. So Daniel’s questions are: “What does that mean for our long term future – if the underlying issue of hard hearts hasn’t been resolved?” And “What about the glory of God’s name in all of this?” God’s name has been dishonoured through his people going into exile – we can imagine the surrounding nations saying “Look how weak their God must be – that they have been taken into exile.”

And this is where Daniel finally settles – this is the underlying basis of his prayer:

Now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us.
Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favour on your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.

Daniel 9:15-19

Daniel asks that in spite of their sin, in spite of their lack of repentance, God would still act in mercy – for the sake of his own glorious Name, that it might be honoured in the world.

And in the midst of the current challenges in the Church of England, I believe this is a great prayer for us to be praying. We recognise that God’s Name is being dishonoured – of course it is, that at least should be obvious. And we ask him to act for the sake of his glorious Name. We don’t know what that will look like – just as Daniel didn’t know what it would look like. But we ask him to do it, because the honour and glory of his Name is the most important thing – more important than us, more important than a particular institution, even more important than a particular nation. So that is my prayer at the moment. Can I encourage you to make it yours also.

Lord – Act for the sake of your Name.