September 3 - 1 Chronicles 8:29-9:1 | Daniel 4:1-37 | Ezekiel 40:1-37

Good morning everyone,

Today we started off with just a bit more genealogy; but were you as delighted as I was to see it quickly change to the book of Daniel? Super cool story too, that has an amazing “mind’s eye” opportunity I would encourage you to not miss. Imagine yourself, if you will, waking with this crazy off the wall dream so vividly stuck in your head. If you’re king Nebuchadnezzar you have experienced this sort of thing before but still you are super curious about what this dream is all about. Right? So who do you call? No, not ghostbusters, your main man for dream interpretation, Daniel. 

Now Daniel goes before the king, hears him out and again, let yourself envision all that is going through Daniel’s head when he realizes the meaning of the dream. Remember, Nebuchadnezzar is not a nice man, not in the least. He is a cold blooded killer who not only enjoys killing but the act of torturing that leads up to it. The guy is a selfish, prideful, wicked, wicked (yes, I did say wicked twice) man and Daniel has a message from God for him to either recognize God as the Most High or for seven seasons his life, the way he knows it, will be totally turned upside-down, his kingdom stripped from him and he will find himself living in the woods as a wild beast. Can you just see Nebuchadnezzar looking at Daniel, scratching his head and wondering, “what is this kid smokin’?” Clearly Nebuchadnezzar did not take God’s message seriously because twelve months later as the king was boasting, we read, “a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox,” and immediately he was driven away from the people and ate like an ox not to mention all the personal appearance and hygiene changes. 

This is a great story because so many of us are like Nebuchadnezzar. All too often, in order for God to get our attention we have got to hit rock bottom. Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” It is when we are on the bottom that we can look up and take hold of the helping hand of God. Right? When we finally will look to what God can do through his power, strength, and majesty. Getting our eyes off the things below and looking to what God can do right now in you and in me, and through us all. Make sense? 

But …… 

In Daniel 4:34 we read, “At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.” Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom was restored to him and became greater than it was before. Many times the second journey in God’s will for our lives is far greater than the original. God sometimes saves the best for the last. I know He did with me. He knows we will fall, we will feel finished, we will think that it’s all over, but He is never done with us. May I suggest to submit all to His service, and to serving Him in whatever and wherever He leads. In Joel 2:25 it says, “I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten.” The best was yet to come for Nebuchadnezzar, it is for us too. Amen?

Have a great day and to God be the glory.

God bless you all …..