The Salvation Story of King Nebuchadnezzar!

Reading:  Daniel 4
My verse:  "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar,
                    praise and extol and honor the King of heaven ,
                    for all his works are right
                    and his ways are just;
                    and those who walk in pride he is able to humble"  (Daniel 4:37).

This is truly an amazingly wonderful story of haughty pride, the depths of misery such pride can take one to and Your wonderful mercy, LORD God.  I love this story of Nebuchadnezzar's salvation.

Again, Nebuchadnezzar has a dream that disturbs him.   Daniel interprets this very disturbing dream which  predicts  something awful will happen to King Nebuchadnezzar if he does not change his ways.  Daniel pleads with the king to do so.

"Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you:
 break off your sins by practicing righteousness,
 and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed,
 that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity" (Daniel 4:27).

LORD God,  You graciously give King Nebuchadnezzar a warning through this dream.  You then give him time to change his ways.  In fact, You give him a whole year but the king just doesn't get it.

"At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon,
and the king answered and said,
    "Is not this great Babylon,
     which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence
     and for the glory of my majesty?"

While the words were still in the king's mouth,
   there fell a voice from heaven,
"O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken:

The kingdom has departed from you,
   and you shall be driven from among men,
   and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field.

And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox,
   and seven periods of time shall pass over you,
   until you know that the Most High 
   rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will."

What a thing!  A king living out in the pasture as a beast for seven years!  He even grew long hair on his body.  What a most bizarre punishment!  And fortunately, for the king this dreadfully humiliating punishment worked.   King Nebuchadnezzar did come to his senses and was even restored to his kingdom.  Most importantly, he came to fully accept that You, LORD God as the "King of heaven" and earth.

 This is such a wonderful story of hope!  Nothing is too hard for You, LORD God.  You can save even a mighty king who has everything a person could wish for.  Here was a king so proud and self satisfied with his life as it was.  There are many people in this state - self satisfied, thinking they don't need help from anyone.  You, LORD God,  speak to this in Matthew 19:23.

"Then Jesus said to his disciples,
    "Truly, I tell you, 
      it is hard for someone who is rich 
      to enter the kingdom of heaven."

And yet, even these You are able to bring to You, LORD God.  Love what Paul says in 2 Timothy 2:25-26.

"God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,
and they may come to their senses
and escape the snare of the devil,
after being captured by him to do his will."

Nothing is too hard for You, LORD God.  You can give a repentant heart to the unrepentant, You can reveal your Truth to those that are blind to it.  You can enable the foolish to "come to their senses." You can help the lost to "escape the snare of the devil."

You, LORD God, are NOT vindictive.  You want us to turn from our sinful ways.  You want  us to turn to You and allow You to love on us and show Your mercy to us!  This story of King Nebuchadnezzar is a most wonderful illustration of this truth!

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Giving Credit Where Credit is Due!

Reading:  Daniel 2,3
My Verse:  "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
                         to whom belong wisdom and might.

                    He changes times and seasons;
                         he removes kings and sets up kings;
                         he gives wisdom to the wise
                            and knowledge to those who have understanding;
                         he reveals deep and hidden things;
                            and the light dwells with him.

                   To you, O God of my fathers,
                         I give thanks and praise,
                      for you have given me wisdom and might,
                        and have now made known to me what we asked of you,
                        for you have made known to us the king's matter" (Daniel 2:20-23).

How I love, respect and admire the honesty of Daniel.  He does a most amazing thing here.  He not only interprets the king's dream but the is even able to tell what the dream was!  This was simply not possible as the wise men of Babyon told King Nebechanezzar.  And this is what Daniel does.  But he is very careful to say that it was not his doing but Yours, LORD God!

When Daniel hears what the king is demanding he does not panic but calls together his friends - Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah and tells them what is up. He "told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery."  And so they prayed!  They did not cry and moan that they were going to be killed instead they looked to You for an answer to do something that was virtually impossible.  What faith and steadfastness these men had!

Then You, LORD God, give them what they asked for.  You "made known" to Daniel the dream and its interpretation.  I like how Daniel does not take the glory but is careful to give You the credit, LORD God.  And he also is clear that it was not just him asking you.  He acknowledges his friends participation in this - "you have made known to us the king's matter."

How we need to learn from this.  Our tendency is to take the credit and be proud of what we do - when we can do nothing without You enabling us; without You providing us with the resources and without You setting up the circumstances to make things possible.

"But He answered, It is written,
                              Man shall not live by bread alone,
                              but by every word that comes from the mouth of God"
                                                                                          (Matthew 4:4).

"For it is God who works in you,
  both to will and to work for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).

"It is the LORD who goes before you.
 He will be with you;
 He will not leave you or forsake you.
 Do not fear or be dismayed" (Deuteronomy 31:8).

"For if anyone thinks he is something
    when he is nothing
    he deceives himself" (Galatians 6:3).

"I am the vine,
   you are the branches.
 Whoever abides in me and I in him,
     he it is that bears much fruit,
     for apart from me you can do nothing"  (John 5:5).

Thank You, LORD God, for such a man as Daniel.

Dare to Be A Daniel by Philip Bliss (1873).

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

Staying True to God Whilst Among Unbelievers!

Reading:  Daniel 1
My Verse:    "But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself
                         with the king's food,
                         or the wine that he drank.

                      Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs 
                         to allow him not to defile himself" (Daniel 1:8).

Daniel is a fascinating book.  It tells of how Daniel and three of his friends were captured and taken to the court of King Nebuchadnezzar to be trained in the wisdom of the Babylonians so that they could serve the King.  And they do this exceedingly well with Your blessing, LORD God.  They show how it is possible to continue to be true to You while living and working amongst unbelievers.

First, Daniel and his friends were taken because of who they were.  They were "of the nobility, youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning and competent to stand in the king's palace."  They were outstanding in every way as young men.  I find it interesting that it is pointed out that they understood learning.  This was important as they were expected to study and learn the literature and language of the Babylonians.  Another interesting skill noted here is that they were "competent to stand in the king's palace" - this tells me they knew their social graces and so were able to conduct themselves in whatever society they found themselves in.

They were to be educated for three years, living under a strict program.  I think it is truly fascinating that Daniel and his friends continued on in the way they conducted themselves as they did before capture.  Here they were captives- basically slaves, they had even been made eunuchs, and yet they did not become embittered and resentful. They continued as they had before to do their very best.  They continued to trust in You, LORD God.  Daniel even boldly requested that they not be required to eat the rich wine and foods of the king's table.  When the head eunuch said he was afraid to disobey the king in this Daniel told him to give them a trial of ten days on their chosen vegetarian diet. At the end of the trial period they were more fit than their counterparts who ate the king's food and wine.

When their education was completed they were brought before the king.  The four youths stayed true to You, LORD God and You blessed them.  As they stood before the king they excelled in all areas.  "And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom". (Daniel 1:20).  Not only did they outdo their fellow students but they outdid the wise Babylonian men of the land!

You point out here LORD God that it was You that gave them "learning and skill in all literature and wisdom."  So important that we remember this.  Yes, we do need to do the work to study and learn but it is You that enables us to learn.   Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Obednego knew this important truth.  Daniel was also given a special skill, "Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams."

The ESV points out how important prayer is.  A study note suggests that You gave Daniel and his friends favor because Solomon prayed for this many years before in I Kings 8:50!

"and forgive your people who have sinned against you,
     and all their transgressions that they have committed against you,
     and grant them compassion in the sight of those who carried them captive,
     that they may have compassion on them"

What an amazing prayer!  Solomon is praying for something that may take place in the future.  Oh, LORD God, this tells me how important it is to pray over  loved ones, that You would have mercy on them when they stray from you!

The fact that Daniel and his friends were captives in Babylon was of Your doing.  You placed them their for Your purposes and Daniel and his friends did as You would have them do.  Jeremiah wrote a letter to the exiles telling them how they were to conduct themselves.

"But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile,
     and pray to the LORD on its behalf,
     for in its welfare you will find your welfare"  (Jeremiah 29:7).

Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Obednego stayed obedient to You.  They did not allow themselves to become immersed in the pagan culture they found themselves in.  And because of this they were able  - through Your mercy and grace - to be "a blessing to their captors and build up the society in which they found themselves." (ESV Studynote)

How we need young men like these in our society today.  Young men that devote themselves to building up their societies by keeping themselves apart from the unbelieving cultures they live in and committing themselves to You, LORD God so that You could use them in amazing ways!

Love this story.  Love how it shows that we can stay true to You, LORD God, even whilst among unbelievers!

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!

That Day Is Coming . . .

Reading:  Ezekiel 39 - 48
My Verse:  "And my holy name I will make known 
                         in the midst of my people Israel,
                         and I will not let my holy name be profaned anymore.

                   And the nations shall know that I am the LORD,
                       the Holy One in Israel.

                   Behold, it is coming and 
                                 it will be brought about,
                                 declares the LORD God.

                   That is the day of which I have spoken" (Ezekiel 39:7-8).

These last ten chapters of Ezekiel are so deep with symbolism and meaning that they are  beyond the ability of all the scholars who have studied them to fully understand.  They can only offer up possibilities as to what is meant.  Mostly, they speak to that Day on which You will return, LORD God.

Chapters 39 and 40 speak of a great battle, a battle involving many armies that come against Israel, but You, LORD God have all in hand as You reveal Yourself to the world - "the nations shall know."

Then chapters 41 to 48 speak of a great city, things that will happen in that great city and how You LORD God will dwell in that place - a place that will be known as "the LORD Is There."

I like, LORD God, that there is coming a day when You will no longer allow Your name to be profaned.  All who do so will know without a doubt that You indeed are LORD God.  There will be no doubt and all who profane Your name will answer to You.

I like, LORD God, that there is coming a day when no nation will be able to deny You as LORD God!

"For it is written,
     "As I live, says the LORD, every knee shall bow to me,
     and every tongue shall confess to God"  (Romans 14:11).

I like, LORD God, that all these things "will come to pass". (Matthew 24:6)

So many people live blissfully ignorant lives. They live as if they do not have to answer for themselves.  They live as if this earth will go on forever.  People are even having themselves frozen to be brought back to life in some distant future when scientists have learned how to do that.  It is fantasy!

Your Word, The Bible,  opens with "In the beginning . . ." (Genesis 1:1) This implies there will be an end.  And Revelation speaks of this end.  It speaks of how You, LORD Jesus are coming back as You promised on that day You left the disciples  as You ascended into heaven.

Yes, "it is coming"  that DAY that will be most terrible for those who stay in rebellious denial of You and most wonderful for those who have accepted You as their LORD and Savior.

"Behold, I am coming soon,
     bringing my recompense with me,
     to repay each one for what he has done.

I am the Alpha and the Omega,
     the first and the last,
     the beginning and the end"  (Revelation 22:12).

Thank You, LORD Jesus, for that wonderful future DAY when You return as You have promised!

Ditat Deus - God Enriches!