God Speaks
The LORD Uses Daniel to Interpret His Message to Three Different Kings
Verse of the Day: [May our lives be changed as Nebuchadnezzar’s was. May we point people to the LORD as Daniel did.] 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. (Daniel 4:37 NIV 2011)
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We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Daniel 4-6:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
Daniel 4
1. God is sovereign over the affairs of mankind and will do whatever is necessary to get their attention and submission to His reign in their lives.
2. People should do as Daniel advised Nebuchadnezzar, “Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past and be merciful to the poor.”
Daniel 5
1. The “Most High God rules over the kingdoms of the world and appoints anyone He desires to rule over them.”
2. Over the millennia of our existence, people in general “have not honored the God who gives [us] the breath of life and controls [our] destiny!”
Daniel 6
1. “He is the living God, and He will endure forever. His kingdom will never end. He rescues and saves His people; He performs miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth.”
2. People “should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel.”
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Daniel 4-6?
I declare, O LORD God, that You are sovereign over the affairs of all mankind, and that You will do whatever is necessary to get our attention and willing submission to Your reign in our lives. We should stop sinning and do what is right and break away from our wicked past and be merciful to others. Most High God, You rule over the kingdoms of the world and appoint anyone You desire to rule over them. This is true whether officials are elected, appointed, or usurp power. Help us to reflect and obey You as we go about our daily lives and the business of our nation. You are the God who gives us the breath of life and controls our destiny. Help us to cooperate with You in changing the hearts and minds of people who do not yet trust and obey You. Please remove from public office or positions of power those You know will continue to oppose You and Your ways. LORD, You are the living God. You will endure forever. Your kingdom will never end. You continually rescue and save Your people. In the past, You performed miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth. Do it again in our day. People should tremble with fear before You, the God of Daniel. Yet, You are willing and have made provision for every human being to be adopted into Your royal, celestial family. As we do accept this offer and live accordingly, we bring You joy and glory, LORD. AMEN
Action (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Daniel 4-6? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will join with others in praising and worshiping the Most High God and honoring the One who lives forever.
- I will praise God that I have been declared innocent in His sight, not because of my own righteousness but because of faith in what Jesus has done for me.
- I will seek to grow in my fear of the LORD.
- I will pray that God will show in our day that He is still the same God who disciplined King Nebuchadnezzar for His pride, who dethroned Belshazzar for his disrespect of YHWH (the God Most High), and who rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.