Mon.’s Devo - God Rules the Kingdoms of the Earth

Read: Daniel 4:1-37; 2 Peter 1:1-21; Psalm 119:97-112; Proverbs 28:17-18 Chapter 4:1-3 was written by Nebuchadnezzar after he experienced it so he begins with great humility. He tells the story of how he was enjoying the peace of his reign after all the wars and had a dream. In the dream he saw a great tree that reached to heavens and all the world could see it. He heard a holy man shout to cut the tree and let off its branches only leave the stump. Bound the stump with iron and bronze and let it stay in the wilderness with the wild animals for seven periods of time. Let it have the mind of an animal so that everyone may know that God rules the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses - even the lowliest of people. *** None of the wise men could tell him what the dream meant so he called for Daniel, Belteshazzar. Daniel explained humbly that the tree was Nebuchadnezzar and he would be driven from society and live in the fields with the wild animals for seven periods of time until he learned that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses. Then he would be give him back his kingdom. He begged him to stop sinning and start doing what was right. Daniel suggested he start being merciful to the poor and maybe this wouldn’t happen. *** Obviously Nebuchadnezzar didn’t repent, and a year later when he was on his roof looking over his kingdom he proclaimed that by his own mighty power he had built this beautiful city to show forth his majestic splendor. Immediately he heard a voice from heaven saying that he was no longer the ruler of the kingdom. He was driven from society and had to live in the fields as an animal. His mind had left him and his hair grew long and his nails grew to be claws. He was there for seven periods of time. Then he looked up to heaven and his sanity returned. He was humbled and praised the Lord and was restored to greater honor than before. Now you can reread the first three verses and understand why he sounds so humbled. *** Peter reminds us that we have been given all we need to live a holy life. God has given us promises that enable us to share in his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. We do this by developing faith with moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, patient endurance and godliness. Then we will have love for everyone. If we develop these characteristics, we will never fall away from grace. *** Lord, may we be productive and useful in your kingdom.