“The Lord God of their fathers sent warnings to them” 2 Chronicles 36:15
“Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself” Daniel 1:8
“Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings” Daniel 2:47
Read at – 2 Chronicles 36; Daniel 1; Daniel 2; Titus 1
2 Chronicles 36 Son, brother, son, brother sequentially become kings and of each, God says, “He did evil in the sight of the Lord his God.”
“The Lord God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy.”
“and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, … He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear an oath by God; but he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the Lord God of Israel. Moreover all the leaders of the priests and the people transgressed more and more, according to all the abominations of the nations, and defiled the house of the Lord which He had consecrated in Jerusalem.”
“Therefore He brought against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their …, and had no compassion on…., they burned the house of God, broke down the wall of Jerusalem, burned all …. And those who escaped from the sword he carried away to Babylon, where they became servants to him and his sons until the rule of the kingdom of Persia.”
Ignoring the Word of the Lord is as rebelling against God and has HUGE Painful consequences in life, and after the body dies. Why would people choose to do evil in God’s sight? Is there any place where God cannot see? No!
Their evil was killing their babies, adultery, homosexuality, lying, idolatry, and more. Today many in my nation do these sins. They vote to make their sins governmentally lawful. They ignore the Laws of God and rebel against Him. God sends His people to exemplify and proclaim God’s Word, but my fellow citizens also “mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets”. Therefore what should I expect? War on my nation’s soil? A loss of my nation’s treasures, culture, comforts, infrastructure, safety and economy? Captivity of some sort? What would make me think we would be treated any differently? God doesn’t change. #1
Daniel 1 “Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself….”
The king sought to assimilate the young men into his pagan culture. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah refused so to live for the King of the universe by God’s Laws. Because of their choices to honor God, God honored them:
“As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served before the king. In all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm.”
When you know and live God’s Word of Truth, you are wiser and better equipped than
those who do not.
Daniel 2 Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was so troubled that his sleep left him. …The king said, “My decision is firm: … tell me the dream and its interpretation.”
Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to his companions that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret…Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
Daniel answered in the presence of the king, “The secret which the king has demanded, … cannot declare to the king. But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and… Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these: … “This is the dream. … the interpretation of it. … The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.”
Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, …and said, “Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.” Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and …”
Lord Jesus Christ, You have given me abundant gifts, numerous and varied. I seek Your counsel and empowerment for You to live through me so that others may know You more clearly, intimately and worship You, the only True God.
The Vision Reveals the Eternal Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ –
“You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image …the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth….And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; and it shall stand forever. Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, … will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.”
Jesus Christ is the Great Cornerstone!! The King of kings and Lord of lords! ! #2
Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” Revelation 11:15
Imagery –
What causes history? Choices by man and God with the effects of God and man. It is like a dance between two partners. God leads and man must follow. Two sets of dancers demonstrate the extremes:
1- The dance is graceful, gliding in sweet partnership, enjoyed by both because of close communication between the bodies. The leader leads clearly while protecting the partner and the follower submits with joy.
2- The dance is clumsy, awkward, destructive and painful with toes being stepped on and the partner falling down. The leader leads well but the partner rejects moving in the same direction. (In a movie it would look quite comical. In Realty it is an Atrocity.)
Two partners, God and man. God is the leader and partner man must follow in step.
Bible Insights –
Crystal (PsalmThirty4)
Sixty-six books in a year 