The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Daniel 4:25,
"You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes."
King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream about an enormous tree. He had Daniel interpret the dream, which was that the tree, with its beautiful leaves, abundant fruit, with food for all and shelter for all, represented his kingdom. In the vision Nebuchadnezzar had, an angel called to have tree cut down, to have his mind changed from that of a man to an animal and to live like one for seven years.
The purpose was to teach "the living" that the "Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people." Verse 17. The fulfillment of the dream took place a year later when Nebuchadnezzar, viewing his kingdom said, "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?" Note the first person personal pronouns used in that statement! Nebuchadnezzar was ripe for humiliation.
At the end of the seven year period we read that Nebuchadnezzar was restored, and made this startling confession, "His [the Most High] dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: 'What have you done?'" Daniel 4:34-35.
Nebuchadnezzar was cured of his arrogance and developed a newly acquired understanding of things of God. What the lesson pointed to, rather specifically, is that God is the one who establishes the rulers of the nations. From Daniel 2:20-22 we read that it is God who establishes the times and seasons, that he is the one who deposes rulers and raises up others. Paul told his hearers in Acts 17:26, "From one man he [God] made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands." God establishes nations and their rulers.
This appears to be a truth that has not made its way into the hearts and minds of many through the years, both within and without the church. We live in a day where God appears to be relegated to merely the definition of morals and ethics, rather than a personal God who directs the affairs of this world for his own purposes.
The wise today will acknowledge the truths we learn about God throughout the whole counsel of his word, including the Old Testament prophets. It is only from this vantage point we have any hope of understanding what it is God is doing in our world today. And, he appears to be very active in what he is doing among the nations in our day.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
"You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes."
King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream about an enormous tree. He had Daniel interpret the dream, which was that the tree, with its beautiful leaves, abundant fruit, with food for all and shelter for all, represented his kingdom. In the vision Nebuchadnezzar had, an angel called to have tree cut down, to have his mind changed from that of a man to an animal and to live like one for seven years.
The purpose was to teach "the living" that the "Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people." Verse 17. The fulfillment of the dream took place a year later when Nebuchadnezzar, viewing his kingdom said, "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?" Note the first person personal pronouns used in that statement! Nebuchadnezzar was ripe for humiliation.
At the end of the seven year period we read that Nebuchadnezzar was restored, and made this startling confession, "His [the Most High] dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: 'What have you done?'" Daniel 4:34-35.
Nebuchadnezzar was cured of his arrogance and developed a newly acquired understanding of things of God. What the lesson pointed to, rather specifically, is that God is the one who establishes the rulers of the nations. From Daniel 2:20-22 we read that it is God who establishes the times and seasons, that he is the one who deposes rulers and raises up others. Paul told his hearers in Acts 17:26, "From one man he [God] made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands." God establishes nations and their rulers.
This appears to be a truth that has not made its way into the hearts and minds of many through the years, both within and without the church. We live in a day where God appears to be relegated to merely the definition of morals and ethics, rather than a personal God who directs the affairs of this world for his own purposes.
The wise today will acknowledge the truths we learn about God throughout the whole counsel of his word, including the Old Testament prophets. It is only from this vantage point we have any hope of understanding what it is God is doing in our world today. And, he appears to be very active in what he is doing among the nations in our day.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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