During my time at Carey Hall last week, there was a devotional by Dennis Stone, our Regional Area Minister for the Canadian Baptists of Western Canada. He simply read the passage of Scripture and asked us to think of any questions that came to mind which we shared as a group. I found this very enlightening so I am brought this back for you to try.
On the insert in your bulletin, there are a few of the questions that came out of the Pastors who were gathered at Carey. Please use the back of the insert to right any questions you have and then do some digging to find the answers.
I will start by setting the scene for you for this passage.
Daniel (name meaning “God is my judge”) was born in 621 B.C. and much like Joseph, was taken into slavery under a ruler of a mighty nation, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, in 605 B.C. For three years, he was trained in all the wisdom of the Chaldeans and given the Babylonian name “Belteshazzar” which meant “Protect his life”. Even though he grew in his wisdom and training under the pagan lifestyle, he never gave up on his heritage of God’s people. God gave him the gift of visions and interpreting dreams. He was one of the courts wise men to the King. He lived into his mid-eighties following God. [1]
Philippians 1:6 NIV
6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
King Nebuchadnezzar, ruler of Neo-Babylonian empire from 605- 562 B.C., destroyed Jerusalem and carried the Jews into captivity in 587 B.C. [2]
He was haunted by fears of failing as King and it wore on him incessantly. God sent him a dream to help him see God, actually, a warning as to what would happen if Nebuchadnezzar did not turn to God. [3]
Read Daniel 4:1-37 NIV dramatically! (Pg. 628 in the pew Bibles)
Interesting facts to go with this story:
When King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream becomes reality, he is smitten with a mental disease, in which he fancied himself a beast and tried to act like one, roaming among the animals in the parks of the palace grounds. [4]
Daniel was a prince of the royal house of David when he was taken into captivity. He exercised his prophetic office longer than either of his contemporaries, Jeremiah or Ezekiel, the seventy years of his ministry far exceeding that of any other Old Testament seer. Daniel served as prime minister under four dynasties of the world’s greatest powers during that time. [5]
Now let us look at the questions on the insert:
Questions to ponder from this passage:
Paul gave us a thought to go with these last two questions:
Romans 11:11-15 NIV
11 Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.
12 But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!
13 I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry
14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them.
15 For if their rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
As followers of Jesus, we need to live like we are followers!
I found this devotional which I think follows this story of Daniel and King Nebuchadnezzar very well.
Friday, April 21, 2017
Key Bible Verse: You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. (Psalm 73:24, NIV)
Dig Deeper: 1 Corinthians 10:1-12
There is a stretch of highway going up into the mountains of western North Carolina that has been under construction for many years. It is rugged terrain. Vehicles have been caught in rock slides and temporary road closings. Signs flash through the night, Proceed with Caution, as the road winds and twists through the hills, guiding drivers through the maze.
Life can be like travelling a treacherous road. There are potholes that jolt us, detours that get us off course, and signs warning us of danger ahead. The destination of the soul and spirit is of utmost importance to God, so he offers us daily guidance. Some pay close attention to God’s directions; others ignore them and speed past the flashing lights. But everyone eventually arrives at the final destination: death’s door. This is where the soul is separated from the body.
Even on the cross, Jesus taught that death was a passage for the spirit into the presence of God (Luke 23:46). The psalmist declared, “God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave” (Ps. 49:15, NKJV). Have you committed your soul into the hands of its Maker? Are you following the caution signs that God has posted throughout his Guidebook, the Bible?
– Billy Graham in Nearing Home
Copyright © 2017 by Christianity Today/Men of Integrity magazine and Promise Keepers Canada. All rights reserved.
Do not let pride cause you to fall! Look to God for your daily path and strength. Be like Daniel and hold on to God! If you find yourself in Nebuchadnezzar’s position, humble yourself before pride knocks you down.
Remember God loves you and wants the best for you, so follow His path!
Now part of the path is Communion – breaking bread and sharing the cup together. If you love the Lord Jesus and have accepted His gift of eternal life, then join us as we celebrate together.
1 King Nebuchadnezzar, To the nations and peoples of every language, who live in all the earth:
May you prosper greatly!
2 It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.
3 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;
his dominion endures from generation to generation.
4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented and prosperous.
5 I had a dream that made me afraid. As I was lying in bed, the images and visions that passed through my mind terrified me.
6 So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me.
7 When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me.
8 Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream. (He is called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.)
9 I said, “Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me.
10 These are the visions I saw while lying in bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous.
11 The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth.
12 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed.
13 “In the visions I saw while lying in bed, I looked, and there before me was a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven.
14 He called in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches.
15 But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field.
“‘Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth.
16 Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times pass by for him.
17 “‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know 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.’
18 “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
19 Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you.”
Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries!
20 The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth,
21 with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the wild animals, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds—
22 Your Majesty, you are that tree! You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth.
23 “Your Majesty saw a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live with the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.’
24 “This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king:
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.
26 The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules.
27 Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.”
28 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.
29 Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon,
30 he 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?”
31 Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you.
32 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. 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.”
33 Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.
34 At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.
His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation.
35 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?”
36 At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before.
37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
Leave a Reply