God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered; and those who hate him shall flee before him! 2 As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away; as wax melts before fire, so the wicked shall perish before God! 3 But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy!
4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts; his name is the Lord; exult before him! 5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. 6 God settles the solitary in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land. 7 O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, Selah 8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel. 9 Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad; you restored your inheritance as it languished; 10 your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy. 11 The Lord gives the word; the women who announce the news are a great host: 12 “The kings of the armies—they flee, they flee!” The women at home divide the spoil— 13 though you men lie among the sheepfolds— the wings of a dove covered with silver, its pinions with shimmering gold. 14 When the Almighty scatters kings there, let snow fall on Zalmon. 15 O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan; O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan! 16 Why do you look with hatred, O many-peaked mountain, at the mount that God desired for his abode, yes, where the Lord will dwell forever? 17 The chariots of God are twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary. 18 You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there.1 9 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah 20 Our God is a God of salvation, and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death. 21 But God will strike the heads of his enemies, the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways. 22 The Lord said, “I will bring them back from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea, 23 that you may strike your feet in their blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe.” 24 Your procession is seen, O God, the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary-- 25 the singers in front, the musicians last, between them virgins playing tambourines: 26 “Bless God in the great congregation, the Lord, O you who are of Israel's fountain!” 27 There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead, the princes of Judah in their throng, the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali. 28 Summon your power, O God, the power, O God, by which you have worked for us. 29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings shall bear gifts to you. 30 Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples. Trample underfoot those who lust after tribute; scatter the peoples who delight in war 31 Nobles shall come from Egypt; Cush shall hasten to stretch out her hands to God. 32 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; sing praises to the Lord, Selah 33 to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens; behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice. 34 Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, and whose power is in the skies. 35 Awesome is God from his sanctuary; the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God! Meditation If you were a New Testament writer which verses from Psalm 68 would you incorporate? Here are a few I would choose (of MANY great options):
The Church has historically celebrated Psalm 68 at Pentecost because it commemorates the victory of God and the gifts of grace for His people. Paul uses 68:18 to explain, “The grace given to (believers) according to the measure of Christ’s gift” (Ephesians 4:7-12). God defeated death and has ascended into Heaven, giving gifts to the Church to apply His victory to all of life. God has ordained different roles and provides practical gifts to every believer to build up Christ’s Body. God gives the gift of His word and work that we may develop in His grace and grow through truth and love. The grace of God awakens us to the victory of God through which we have gifts from God to be used for growing the glory of God in and through the Church. Responding to God’s grace we must discover, develop, and deploy the gifts Christ has endowed through His Spirit, celebrating His victory in this life as we eagerly await the victory that is to come when he returns. Richly Dwelling -Which verse would you highlight from Psalm 68 if you were a NT writer? -Paul uses vs 18 so that we can apply the victory of God to all of life. Do you struggle to celebrate the victory of God? -How has God gifted you in position and practice? What is your highest and best use of these gifts to further His glory? Key Verse 18 You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there. And he said to me, “Son of man,[a] stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.” 2 And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. 3 And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. 4 The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ 5 And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them. 6 And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions.[b] Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. 7 And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.
8 “But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” 9 And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it.10 And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe. Meditation Every Christian is called first to Jesus Christ and second to participation in God’s mission of redemptive restoration. Today’s reading reveals the anatomy of Ezekiel’s call; a paradigm to propel Christians into the individual calls Christ has for our lives. Stand (1): Standing is a position ready to hear and obey the direction of the king. Sent (3): All of God’s people are sent to participate in God’s mission, beginning with family and then outward, sometimes to places far away. Ezekiel was sent as a prophet to “a rebellious people” (mentioned 7 times!) who had ears but would not hear. Secure (6): Three times God repeats the command to “be not afraid.” Throughout Scripture the command is repeated 365 times! If God is for us, who can be against us! We can boldly follow God’s call to serve Him in all of life. Speak (7): God gives us what we need for service to Him. God called Ezekiel to speak (7) and He gave him words to eat (8), words sweeter than honey (3:1-3). Sent (3-9): Where, and to whom, are you sent for service of the King? Ezekiel was sent to God’s people in exile, filled with God’s Spirit to participate in God’s purposes in a difficult place and during a difficult time. Sincerity (10): Participation in God’s mission of redemptive restoration comes from the heart, a heart re-made by grace and love for the works prepared in advance for us to do. Richly Dwelling -You are called to Jesus first and His mission second. How clear is Christ’s call for your life? If not clear, ask Him to give clarity of call. -Which portion of the anatomy of Ezekiel’s call stands out to you? Why? -How can you more faithfully participate in God’s mission of redemptive restoration today? Be specific. Key Verse 3 And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. 2 And as soon as Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), then Jeroboam returned from Egypt. 3 And they sent and called him, and Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came and said to Rehoboam, 4 “Your father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke on us, and we will serve you.” 5 He said to them, “Go away for three days, then come again to me.” So the people went away.
6 Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, “How do you advise me to answer this people?” 7 And they said to him, “If you will be a servant to this people today and serve them, and speak good words to them when you answer them, then they will be your servants forever.” 8 But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him. 9 And he said to them, “What do you advise that we answer this people who have said to me, ‘Lighten the yoke that your father put on us’?” 10 And the young men who had grown up with him said to him, “Thus shall you speak to this people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you lighten it for us,’ thus shall you say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father's thighs. 11 And now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’” 12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king said, “Come to me again the third day.” 13 And the king answered the people harshly, and forsaking the counsel that the old men had given him, 14 he spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.” 15 So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of affairs brought about by the Lord that he might fulfill his word, which the Lord spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat. The Kingdom Divided16 And when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, “What portion do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, David.” So Israel went to their tents. 17 But Rehoboam reigned over the people of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah. 18 Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was taskmaster over the forced labor, and all Israel stoned him to death with stones. And King Rehoboam hurried to mount his chariot to flee to Jerusalem.19 So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day. 20 And when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. There was none that followed the house of David but the tribe of Judah only. 21 When Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, 180,000 chosen warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam the son of Solomon. 22 But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God: 23 “Say to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, 24 ‘Thus says the Lord, You shall not go up or fight against your relatives the people of Israel. Every man return to his home, for this thing is from me.’” So they listened to the word of the Lord and went home again, according to the word of the Lord. Jeroboam's Golden Calves25 Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. And he went out from there and built Penuel.26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom will turn back to the house of David. 27 If this people go up to offer sacrifices in the temple of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.” 28 So the king took counsel and made two calves of gold. And he said to the people, “You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.” 29 And he set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. 30 Then this thing became a sin, for the people went as far as Dan to be before one. 31 He also made temples on high places and appointed priests from among all the people, who were not of the Levites. 32 And Jeroboam appointed a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month like the feast that was in Judah, and he offered sacrifices on the altar. So he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he made. And he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places that he had made. 33 He went up to the altar that he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, in the month that he had devised from his own heart. And he instituted a feast for the people of Israel and went up to the altar to make offerings. Meditation King Solomon wrote the wisdom of Proverbs to his son, ”Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. Many are the plans in the mind of man but it is the purposes of the Lord that will stand” (Proverbs 19:20-21). Today’s reading reveals the Lord’s sovereignty over the division resulting from rejecting counsel. When Rehoboam went to Shechem to become king and the assembly asked for mercy Rehoboam took three days to discern, taking counsel from both older and younger men. Rehoboam eventually ignored the assembly’s request and rejected the counsel of the older men. The kingdom divided when Jeroboam took the northern tribes and established a new center of worship including idolatrous golden calves. The theological point of the chapter is reinforced in verses 15 and 24, namely, that what came to pass was from the Lord. The interplay between walking in wisdom, listening to advice and instruction, and the sovereign plans of the Lord, could not be clearer. The goal of wise counsel is to walk in wisdom, a merciful invitation of the Lord to walk in “a manner worthy of the Lord, pleasing Him… bearing fruit in every good work, growing in knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might (Colossians 1:10-11). God’s sovereign grace invites His people to know Him through Jesus Christ, “in whom (is) hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3). For fruitful life we must remain grounded in God’s grace, embrace the wisdom of wise counsel, and trust God’s sovereign plan. Richly Dwelling -Where do you identify with Rehoboam who rejected the wisdom and direction of both his father, Solomon, and the instruction of the older men in the kingdom? -What stands out to you about the rebellion and resulting division from Rehoboam’s rejection of wisdom? Where do you need to trust the wisdom and instruction of the Lord? -God reveals Himself as sovereign over the circumstances (15, 24), working everything according to His plan. God’s grace invites us to find wisdom in Jesus Christ, the fullness of His plan. How can you walk in wisdom today, centering your steps on Jesus Christ and His word? Key Verse 15 So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of affairs brought about by the Lord that he might fulfill his word, which the Lord spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat. Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 Now Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, had taken Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her home, 3 along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land”), 4 and the name of the other, Eliezer (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”). 5 Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was encamped at the mountain of God. 6 And when he sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her,”7 Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. And they asked each other of their welfare and went into the tent. 8 Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the hardship that had come upon them in the way, and how the Lord had delivered them. 9 And Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the Lord had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.
10 Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh and has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods, because in this affair they dealt arrogantly with the people.”12 And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law before God. 13 The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. 14 When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?” 15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; 16 when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.” 17 Moses' father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. 19 Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, 20 and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do.21 Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 22 And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.” 24 So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said. 25 Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 26 And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves. 27 Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went away to his own country. Meditation You cannot do everything. Your limitations are a grace from God. Autonomy is an unsustainable strategy that diminishes our participation in God’s glory story. Godly leadership celebrates the grace of limitations and delegates duties to people God has prepared. Jethro was a priest of Midean who heard “all the Lord had done” for Israel, “rejoiced”(9), and began worshipping the Lord as the greatest of all gods (10-12). God is gaining glory by fulfilling His mission to draw worshippers to Himself from every people and nation. Often we miss God’s advancement of glory as we get engulfed in daily duties of leadership. Moses did what seemed right, deciding disputes for all who inquire of God’s direction (13-16). Jethro diagnosed the dysfunction, pointing out the impossibility of Moses deciding every case. “You will certainly wear yourselves out… you are not able to do it alone” (18). Moses followed the direction to discern people God had prepared to “share the burden,” able men who feared God, were trustworthy, and hated bribes. The earliest temptation was “to be like God” (Genesis 3:5) but only He can be everywhere, do everything, and know everything. God has designed us to optimize impact through working together, gifting each of us uniquely for His glorious work. Leaders who refuse to delegate run the risk of trying to be like God and rob God of glory. Leaders who trust God’s sovereign grace will celebrate their limitations through delegation, discerning whom God has prepared and uniquely equipped for certain roles. Richly Dwelling -God’s sovereign grace frees us from sin and slavery and frees us for participation in His glory story, worshipping Him with all our hearts. As Moses shared the mighty works of God with Jethro, who in your life or family needs to hear the grace of God? -Do you see the grace of God in your limitations? Why or why not? -God calls leaders to delegate to people He has prepared, to equip and empower them for His purposes. What does this look like in your life and leadership in your home, church, and community? Key Verse 25 Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.3 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him,4 and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
Increase Our Faith5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. Unworthy Servants7 “Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? 8 Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” The Coming of the Kingdom20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” 22 And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them. 24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.[i] 25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. 26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, 29 but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all— 30 so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. 32 Remember Lot's wife. 33 Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. 34 I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. 35 There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.” 37 And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.” Meditation The love of Jesus transforms the duty of discipleship into delight of obedience. Jesus went to the cross “for the Joy set before Him” (Hebrews 12:2); the duty of the Father’s will was a delight for Jesus to fulfill. His grace will grow delight from our lives. Jesus is “on His way to Jerusalem” (11) to die and he takes time to heal ten lepers who begged for healing. One leper returned to praise Jesus in thanksgiving (11-19). Gratitude is essential in the ecosystem of delight. People who use Jesus for selfish gain will never discover the delight of discipleship. Disciples are grounded in grace, understanding the call to forgiveness and holiness (1-4) built on the foundation of faith (5-6). Disciples are servants who obey Him, performing our duty to the King of Kings (7-10). Only the mercy of King Jesus can sink our roots into the soil of forgiveness, faith, and holiness. Being grounded in grace grows kingdom awareness, namely, if we want to find our life we must lose it (33), not turning back to any worldly priority when the Kingdom is consummated (20-37). Jesus would go to Jerusalem to “suffer many things and be rejected” (25) so that disciples can be accepted and healed. His grace transforms our discipleship to delight, knowing He will return to fully unite with those who have faith in Him. Richly Dwelling -Is your discipleship more duty or delight? Why? -Jesus was joyful in the duty of the Father’s will to die for the Church because He delighted to be united with you, His people. How does this transform your perspective on discipleship- Are you thankful? -The King’s economy is one in which when we lose our life we will truly find it, living for the joy of the return of the King. How can you prioritize King Jesus and lose your life today, giving of yourself for His glory? Key Verse 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” READ THE WEEK'S LINKS HERE. King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! 2 It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.
3 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation. Nebuchadnezzar's Second Dream 4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace. 5 I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me. 6 So I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. 7 Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its interpretation. 8 At last Daniel came in before me—he who was named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods—and I told him the dream, saying,9 “O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you, tell me the visions of my dream that I saw and their interpretation. 10 The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. 11 The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth. 12 Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it. 13 “I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven. 14 He proclaimed aloud and said thus: ‘Chop down the tree and lop off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches.15 But leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, amid the tender grass of the field. Let him be wet with the dew of heaven. Let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth. 16 Let his mind be changed from a man's, and let a beast's mind be given to him; and let seven periods of time pass over him. 17 The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.’ 18 This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. And you, O Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation, but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.” Daniel Interprets the Second Dream 19 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! 20 The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth, 21 whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived— 22 it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth. 23 And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time pass over him,’24 this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, 25 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.26 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. 27 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.” Nebuchadnezzar's Humiliation 28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” 31 While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, 32 and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” 33 Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers, and his nails were like birds' claws. Nebuchadnezzar Restored 34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; 35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?” 36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me.37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble. Meditation Wisdom compels us to walk with God in humble gratitude. Christians know this better than anyone, having been moved from death to life by God’s rich mercy (Ephesians 2:4-5). Humility and worship must mark lives of those who know God’s grace. Nebuchadnezzar’s personal testimony (37) highlights the central theme of today’s passage: “Pride comes before the fall and humility precedes honor” (Proverbs 16:18). The king’s accomplishments blinded him to the interpretation of his dream. “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power… for the glory of my majesty?” (30) “Immediately” the dream was fulfilled and Nebuchadnezzar lost his mind and became like a beast of the field. The king “lifted (his) eyes to heaven” and his reason returned to him, responding with humble worship. Only when the king humbled himself before the Lord did the glory and majesty of his kingdom return (34-36). God is merciful to reveal the mystery of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and to restore him as king. God is merciful to reveal to us the secret to majesty and glory, humbling ourselves before the Lord. “God gives more grace… Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will exalt you” (James 4:6-10). Let us join in exclaiming of Jesus, “He must increase and I must decrease” (John 3:30) as we seek to have the mind of Christ who humbled Himself, taking the nature of a servant, becoming obedient to death on a cross (Philippians 2:5-8). We are nothing more than what God has given us, revived by His mercy to a newness of life. Richly Dwelling -Where can you identify the pride in your life, areas you take your own work more serious than the mercy and work of the Lord? -Christ humbled Himself to die for those of us who can’t fully kill our pride, that we might receive God’s mercy for forgiveness and formation. How does God’s grace and mercy motivate us toward humility? -How can you walk in humility today, considering others better than yourself and staying low before the Lord? Key Verse 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble. Read The Week's Links HERE. |
AuthorPastor Mitchell celebrates twenty-four years of marriage with Lisa and together they have four adventurous children. Mitchell is a pastor at First Presbyterian Church in San Antonio, TX. |