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! 20The 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. 27Therefore, 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.”
God had had enough! if you remember, every time King Nebuchadnezzar described Daniel, he said he was filled with the spirit of the holy gods (verse 9). God wanted the king to recognize him as the one and true God, and he knew that this would be the way to do it. King Nebuchadnezzar would be cut down and stripped of his kingdom for seven years. He would be out in the wilderness and people would think him insane. But God also had mercy on him. The king would return to his kingship after he professes God as the Most High. God is a God of second chances and he loves each of us and wants to give everyone a chance to acknowledge and come to him. It's just that some of us are more stubborn and take longer to let the word hit our heart and mind than others. Has it truly hit the mark of your heart? Have you truly accepted God as God? I pray that we have.
No comments:
Post a Comment