via TJC
Welcome to the Book of Daniel! An Israelite exiled to Babylon, Daniel served in the royal court of King Nebuchadnezzar. His actions, prophecies, and visions generally center around this truth: God is in control—hallelujah!
“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;”
—Daniel 4:34 NKJV
Daniel’s writings are cited in the Revelation of John as much as any other in Scripture. They are connected across the centuries with some amazing prophecy and imagery, and the latter chapters of this book (Chapters 7-12) refer heavily to end times.
However... I find the greatest life lessons from Daniel are in the early chapters. These stories (Chapters 1-6) are absolutely fascinating each in their own way. Today's story is from the 4th Chapter... a great lesson on discipline and its intended purpose.
Nebuchadnezzar, the king of the known world at that time, had a disturbing dream/vision no one except Daniel could interpret. The gist of this dream was that the king would be stripped of his power and lose everything because of his sin & refusal to obey the one true God. He would not heed Daniel’s warning to stop his disobedience and repent. Discipline was the result. He was literally driven from mankind and forced to live in a field like a cow, mindlessly eating grass and subsisting on what was available in nature.
Have you ever been there? In the middle of a field having lost your mind, eating grass, and sleeping out in the open? Okay, maybe not that, but... have you ever felt alone in the world? rejected and outcast with seemingly nowhere to turn? Have you ever been knocked down and you almost decided not to get up? As a child of God, your next step is a no-brainer. Nebuchadnezzar figured it out. So can you.
Daily Battle Order
Just as the king did: “Raise your eyes toward heaven so that your reason will return, bless the Most High and praised and honored, Him who lives forever!”
Even better, don’t wait until it’s over... do it now! He is worthy of praise all the time! God is in control—hallelujah!
“For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” —Hebrews 12:11
Comments