The time had come

 

After Daniel 9:1-19

The time had come;

the old man read

the book, the prophecy

set down years before,

before his birth,

the words thundered

at the people and

ignored until the end

brought destruction,

desolation, and exile.

He read the words and

moved, or was moved,

to prayer, to fall

on his face, to don

sackcloth, to rub

ashes on his face,

to fast. Then he

spoke his prayer

of confession,

his prayer of

contrition, not

spoken from any

high ground or

moral superiority,

but only in recognition

of perfect mercy.

 

Photograph by Jon Tyson via Unsplash. Used with permission.