King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.
How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and his dominion endures from generation to generation.
Thought for Today
This week, Nebuchadnezzar is the narrator of his own story. This is unique in the history literature of the Bible. The king of a foreign land telling the tale of how the God of Israel humbled him. Nebuchadnezzar wants everyone one in the land to know the great thing God has done for him. This is likely the draft of a letter he sent out to all the provinces and nations over which he ruled. He starts with awesome words of praise to God, which is a hint that the story will turn out well in the end. It is ironic that the God of Israel gets a greater global witness from the king who took His people into captivity than He ever got from His people. A significant reason God allowed Babylon to conquer His people and take them into exile was because they were adopting other gods instead of showing the world His glory. I wonder if God isn’t working this way in Nebuchadnezzar’s heart to demonstrate for His people what He had asked of them. Is God showing them the way in this foreign land so when they are restored to their land they will know how to trumpet the greatness of their God? This gives us pause to ask if we are taking our great God for granted like Israel did. Are we trumpeting His greatness in our neighborhoods and communities, or have we relegated God to a private relationship only to be shown in public on Sundays? If we do not praise Him He will find the most shocking person to lead the nation in the singing of His praise, just to show us how it is done. So, give God glory in your world today!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to take hold of the opportunities I have to praise your name in my life today. Help me to be winsome and clear when I speak. Amen.
Devotional Quote
I live by grace to witness about the wonders of God. ― Lailah Gifty Akita
Quote of the Day
Eternity is never having to show up because there was never a time that you were not there. And because this is the nature of God, it’s not about asking Him to show up in our lives. Rather, it’s about asking Him to shine through our lives. ― Craig D. Lounsbrough
God’s omniscience (all knowing) power shouts loudly to us through Nebuchadnezzar! Like us, God’s speaking into his life multiple times was necessary for him to ‘get God’. Hallelujah when we Get God! HALLELUJAH!
Daniel 4 - An Unusual Evangelist
Daniel 4:1-3
King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.
How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and his dominion endures from generation to generation.
Thought for Today
This week, Nebuchadnezzar is the narrator of his own story. This is unique in the history literature of the Bible. The king of a foreign land telling the tale of how the God of Israel humbled him. Nebuchadnezzar wants everyone one in the land to know the great thing God has done for him. This is likely the draft of a letter he sent out to all the provinces and nations over which he ruled. He starts with awesome words of praise to God, which is a hint that the story will turn out well in the end. It is ironic that the God of Israel gets a greater global witness from the king who took His people into captivity than He ever got from His people. A significant reason God allowed Babylon to conquer His people and take them into exile was because they were adopting other gods instead of showing the world His glory. I wonder if God isn’t working this way in Nebuchadnezzar’s heart to demonstrate for His people what He had asked of them. Is God showing them the way in this foreign land so when they are restored to their land they will know how to trumpet the greatness of their God? This gives us pause to ask if we are taking our great God for granted like Israel did. Are we trumpeting His greatness in our neighborhoods and communities, or have we relegated God to a private relationship only to be shown in public on Sundays? If we do not praise Him He will find the most shocking person to lead the nation in the singing of His praise, just to show us how it is done. So, give God glory in your world today!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to take hold of the opportunities I have to praise your name in my life today. Help me to be winsome and clear when I speak. Amen.
Devotional Quote
I live by grace to witness about the wonders of God. ― Lailah Gifty Akita
Quote of the Day
Eternity is never having to show up because there was never a time that you were not there. And because this is the nature of God, it’s not about asking Him to show up in our lives. Rather, it’s about asking Him to shine through our lives. ― Craig D. Lounsbrough