- It is very hard for me to watch national, state elected leaders and bureaucrats inflict pain and suffering on innocent people or allow it to be done by others. My prayer for them and myself is that our hearts be softened and turned to Him in obedience so that we knowingly can follow His will. Only then can His creatures be united with Abba Father in His righteous pursuits.
Daniel 4 - A Difficult Interpretation
Daniel 4:19, 24-27
Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was dismayed for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, “Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you.”
Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies! . . . This is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules. 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.”
Thought for Today
Daniel is distraught. The king has been good to him. He has risen to prominence in his service to the king and appears to respect him. While the other wisemen may have avoided telling the king the truth about the dream because they feared for their own lives, Daniel seems to be more concerned for the king. Since this is the kings account of the events, I’m not sure how much I believe that he told Daniel not to worry and took the news with a stiff upper lip. He has not been very emotionally stable in the past. What is truly noteworthy are the words that display Daniels heart for the king. First, he broods over whether to tell the king. Then, wishes the interpretation on his enemies. Finally, he advises the king on how to possibly avoid the sentence the Lord has declared against him. Daniel wanted the best for the king who held his people in exile. He wanted to see the king blessed by God and not cursed. In our politically charged world it can be easy to wish ill on those we see as political enemies. We can get very upset with our leaders today. King Nebuchadnezzar was a hard man. He killed his opponents and advisors with impunity. He ruled with an iron fist. Yet, Daniel cared about him. He didn’t hold him up in prayer, holding his nose at the same time. He wished the best for the king. He advised him how to avoid a fate many probably wished on him. Many of us need to repent of our attitudes toward those in authority today. That is not to say we must support all their positions or plans, but do we support them as people God loves? Do we desire to see God bless and not curse them? These are hard questions, but ones that lift our eyes to seek God’s glory rather than our own.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I apologize for my attitude toward leaders I do not agree with. Help me to see them first as people who will one day stand before you and be more concerned for their eternity than my temporal desires. Amen.
Devotional Quote
Considering the notion that the spiritual battlefield is infinitely greater than the physical, perhaps God is more willing to bless with a sort of divine ecstasy those who see the devil as the enemy rather than those who see other people as the enemies. ― Criss Jami
Quote of the Day
Be quick to bless but lazy to curse ― Paul Bamikole