Wednesday Devotional
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Wednesday, October 15 – GOD IS RULER OVER MANKIND TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: “…Until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, and bestows it on whomever He wishes.” – (Daniel 4:25 NASB) We have seen that Daniel and his friends lived in an atmosphere of loose morals and low standards in Babylon where they had been taken captive. And through it all they had been able to keep themselves pure from this culture and apart from the evil that was rampant in that day. Everything was permeated with idol worship and worship of false gods. We have already seen how God rewarded them for their faith and trust in Him under the most difficult situations. God had revealed Himself as Keeper by His power in keeping them from the sentence of death. He had shown Himself as the Revealer of secrets by giving Daniel the king’s dream and its interpretation. He had revealed Himself as Deliverer by rescuing the three friends from the fiery furnace. And here God let Nebuchadnezzar understand that He alone was sovereign, and there are grave consequences to those who don’t acknowledge Him as Supreme Ruler over mankind. The greatest sin which besets conceited man is pride, which can come in various forms, even masqueraded as humility. But God has a way of humbling those who think they are autonomous. “That they may know that Thou alone, whose name is the Lord, art the Most High over all the earth.” (Psalm 83:18) And again, “I have made the earth, the men and the beasts which are on the face of the earth by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and I will give it to the one who is pleasing in My sight.” (Jeremiah 27:5). Man in his pomp is like the dumb animals; they lack understanding and reasoning. Jesus told the learned men that if God so chose, He could make the very stones cry out on His behalf. Just because man fails to acknowledge God as Supreme never negates the fact that He is Supreme! The wise comprehend this; but the foolish are lost in their own so-called wisdom. Daniel explained this dream to the prideful king, and Matthew Henry writes, “Daniel was struck with amazement and terror at so heavy a judgment coming upon so great a prince, and gives advice with tenderness and respect. It is necessary, in repentance, that we not only cease to do evil, but learn to do good. Though it might not wholly prevent the judgment, yet the trouble may be longer before it comes, or shorter when it does come. And everlasting misery will be escaped by all who repent and turn to God.” Do you see a correlation between this and our present culture? Today’s Prayer: Our dear Father, Almighty God, thank you for the reminder that You are God and there is no other. Thank you for the great love sacrifice that Jesus made. Read and meditate on Chapters 3 and 4 of Daniel
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