What does Daniel 9:8 mean?

Daniel is hopefully praying for the Jewish people to be restored from their captivity and exile (Daniel 9:1–4). As he does so, he confesses the sins of the people. While Daniel, himself, seems innocent of these actions (Daniel 1:8; 6:5), he does not try to separate himself from the nation of Israel. He prays about "our" sin and what "we" have done (Daniel 9:5–7; 9:20). That Israel's sin is so widespread is a source of "open shame." It was those sins which led God to punish the people with exile (Deuteronomy 28:48–50; 29:25; 2 Kings 17:1–8; Jeremiah 25:7–11). David's prayer is part of the promise that God will restore the people when they confess and truly turn to Him once again (Deuteronomy 30:1–3; Jeremiah 29:10–14).

The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1–17) demonstrate that sins are offenses against God and others. However, sin is primarily a wrongdoing against God. Adultery, for example, not only wrongs the other people, but it also betrays and disobeys the God who said, "You shall not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14). When an employee pilfers from the workplace, he does wrong to his employer, but even more his theft offends the Lord who commanded, "You shall not steal" (Exodus 20:15). A man who covets his neighbor's wife sins against his neighbor in mind and heart, but primarily against God, who said, "You shall not covet your neighbor's wife" (Exodus 20:17).

King David, in his darkest spiritual hour, committed adultery with Bathsheba and arranged to have her husband killed in battle. This harmed many people. Yet David recognized his sins were primarily assaults on God. He writes in Psalm 51:4 that "Against [the Lord], you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight." Many of the kings of Israel and Judah flagrantly disobeyed God and His will (see the books of 1 and 2 Kings).