Daniel Interprets the Second Dream

                                                                 Daniel 4: 19-27

 

March 15, 2024

 

Daniel Interprets the Second Dream

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!  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, 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—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.  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,’ 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.”

 

Many of us who go by the name Christian need to grasp this truth; till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.    The Church is not a denomination, nor a building, it is the body of Christ coming together to worship the Lord, Jesus Christ.  It consists of many different personalities, skin colors, and convictions.  But our identity should never be found in anything but being a follower of Jesus Christ.  If you put a political party as your identity, and not that you’re an alien, and Earth is not your home.  Many spend more time identifying with a political party, but never share what Jesus has done for them.

I would be willing to bet the farm that the king was not a nice man, but God called him a servant, and it is God that put men and women in the office they hold, and often it about judgement, but sometimes it a guy like President Trump that comes across as bully and yet keeps his promises and the country prospers under one we do not like his personally.

Let me end with a great quote: 

“Instead of saying Lord, I don’t know how I am going to do this

                                             Say

Lord, can’t wait to See How You Do This.”

From our Back Porch,

Bob Rice