Who Holds Your Lifeblood in His Hand? Daniel 5:23,30

Want to get in trouble with the Lord? To be on His bad list? Do like Belshazzar the king of Babylon:

‘You have not glorified the God who holds your lifeblood in His hand and who controls the whole course of your life.’

–That very night Belshazzar the king was killed” Daniel 5:23,30.

Gotta stay humble.

Why? Because of the characteristics of this amazing God we serve: He “holds your lifeblood in His hand,” and “controls the whole course of your life.”

Think about that. How can we be proud when we owe Him everything?

Gotta stay humble.

ΑΩ

PRIDE GOETH. Daniel 4:37.

I dreamed I walked alone in a green valley, distant brown hills all around me. Suddenly I heard an eerie howl. I froze. Was it a wolf? A jackal? No, it was worse: it was a man—a wild man, the most dangerous of all wild things. I ducked behind a scrubby bush.

The hairy man was running toward me. Sometimes he ran on two legs, sometimes on four, a brute animal. I looked for a better hiding place, but there was nothing. I picked up a brick-sized rock to protect myself. Then he stopped and sniffed the air. He smelled me. He looked at me. He howled and ran faster, looking behind him. Men were chasing him—important men, servants of some royal house. As the madman got closer, I raised my arm to throw the stone.

“Stop! He won’t hurt you!”

“Don’t hurt him!”

But I’d seen madmen before. One rock was not enough. But as he came within range, he stopped, fell to his knees, and began eating grass, cropping it off with his teeth like a cow. The naked man’s head was covered in a mat of black hair, and his waist-length beard dragged under him, caked in filth. His smell was indescribable. Years without clothing had rendered him as hairy as an animal, his skin alive and moving—infested with fleas and lice. Bugs were in his eyes, nose, and ears. He did not notice. His fingernails were yellow talons.

“Put down the stone. He lost his mind, but he won’t hurt you.”

“But who is he? Why do you care?”

“You mean you don’t know? He’s Nebuchadnezzar, the king of the world.”

When I woke, I read the rest of the story: after seven years, he looked to heaven, acknowledged God in his heart, his mind was restored, and he had this to say:

“Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and glorify the King of heaven, because all His works are true and His ways are just. He is able to humble those who walk in pride” Daniel 4:37.

Remember:

“God is OPPOSED to the proud, but gives GRACE to the humble” James 4:6. 

Do you want God opposed to you? Do you really think you can win? Humble yourself!

God, humble us when we walk in pride. May we praise, exalt, and glorify YOU only.

ΑΩ

THE FERAL KING. Daniel 4:34-37; James 4:10.

Have you ever gotten cocky? It’s easy to do. As king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar ruled the world. One day while telling himself how great his kingdom was, Nebuchadnezzar was struck with the mind of an animal and driven into the wilderness. His hair grew “like eagles feathers,” and his nails “like birds’ claws.” He ate grass like cattle and his body was drenched with dew.

The man became a feral king.

For seven years, the most regal, most “sophisticated” man on earth became an animal in the wilderness, a mad man without language or reason, a savage, untamed monster—a beast. What could be more humbling?

“But at the end of those days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity returned to me. Then I praised the Most High and glorified Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation…. My majesty and splendor returned to me…. My advisors and my nobles sought me out…. Now I praise, exalt, and glorify the King of Heaven, because all His works are true and His ways are just. HE IS ABLE TO HUMBLE THOSE WHO WALK IN PRIDE.” Daniel 4:34-37.

God humbled the greatest king, the most powerful man in the world. And what may look like seven wasted years is actually an act of great mercy. EVERYONE will be humbled, but most only when facing death and judgment, where every knee shall bow and every tongue confess. Nebuchadnezzar was blessed with humility while still on earth, where he had a chance to worship God and do some good. God was merciful: He showed him that without God, he was no better than an animal. The king’s whole life was changed when God humbled him.

Has God ever humbled you? Does He need to? It is always easier to humble yourself than to wait for God to do it. Ask God to keep you humble. And then “humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will exalt you.” James 4:10.

ΑΩ

P.S. The drawing above is called ‘Nebuchadnezzar’ (detail) and is a colour print by the English poet, William Blake.

Names. Daniel 3:28-29.

People are funny about names. When I was a kid, I had a way of yelling the names of all my friends when they were almost beyond earshot. Sometimes I would lengthen the first syllable, sometimes the second.  If it was a one syllable name like Chris or Paul, I would convert it to a two syllable name: “Ka-RISSSS!” On our street when we weren’t screaming each other’s names, we were nick-naming them. Paul became “Puh-leener.” Dennis became “Denny-Lou,” and later just “Lou.” My name went from “Steven” to “Stevie-Lou,” to “Stevie-WonderBug” (a cartoon TV reference), and later “Big Steve.” I consider most nicknames endearing—people won’t toy with your name if they don’t like you.

But what’s this about using a name “in vain?” What does that mean—in vain? It means speaking the name for no reason. People do it all the time, tossing the word “God” into sentences in a manner that makes the name an adjective or even non-sensical. When God says in Exodus 20:7, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord Thy God in vain,” He is saying don’t toss His name around for no purpose. When you pray, you are saying God’s name for a reason. But when you use His name as an interjection—as a cuss or a “curse” word—you are speaking His name without purpose, or worse, with a purpose but a purpose that is against all that God stands for.  The most common way God’s name is slandered (abbreviated “G.D.”) is asking/commanding God to damn someone to hell.

Though Christians are by no means perfect at controlling their speech, few would try to defend such a statement. Yet I am not sure we take the third commandment as seriously as we should. Am I being legalistic? No. I live in grace.

But if we hope to shine a light for those in darkness, a loving reverence for God should permeate our lives.

King Nebuchadnezzar understood fame. Like a god, his name was on everyone’s lips. So when the king of Babylon was astonished at the way God saved three men from the fiery furnace, King Nebuchadnezzar did not command his people to worship Yahweh, but rather to never insult His Name.

“Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent His angel and rescued His servants who trusted in Him … Therefore, I issue a decree that anyone of any people, nation, or language who says anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be torn limb from limb and his house made a garbage dump. For there is no other god who is able to deliver like this” Daniel 3:28-29.

THE DEATH PENALTY? FOR WORDS??

This pagan king made it a capital crime for anyone to offend the name of God. Yet somehow, many of us who owe Jesus everything continue to slander His name carelessly.

Two ways to honor God’s name:

(1) Never use His name as an interjection, or for emphasis, or as a cuss word, and

(2) NEVER claim God spoke to you when you are not ABSOLUTELY SURE. If you could not stand before God’s throne and tell it to Him, don’t tell it to anyone else. Americans, perhaps taking our cue from TV preachers, have developed a bad habit of saying “God spoke to me” or “God led us” as a way to justify questionable decisions. It is one thing to say “I have prayed about this and I feel good about the decision,” but it is another to say, “God led me.”

Never, never, never say God did something, led something, spoke something, or birthed something that you are not absolutely 100% certain was God.

Such a reckless use of God’s name is worse than saying “G.D.” or almost anything else you might do with your mouth. For a Christian to recklessly make God the CAUSE behind some effect may be the greatest violation of the third commandment possible. Such a vain use of God’s name is worse than that of all the pagans out there tossing it around as a cuss word.

ΑΩ

DON’T SANITIZE THE BRUTALITY. Daniel 3:29.

I’m all for telling Bible stories to little ears. Children should hear about Adam and Eve, Noah’s Ark, the life of Moses, and more. But if G-Rated versions are all you know, the stories do not make sense. If you never grasp the evil of Noah’s day, you will think God was mean to punish the world with a flood.

Every Bible story is like that: there may be a G-rated version for family audiences, but a sophisticated reader must make the effort to understand the wickedness of the Bible’s bad guys. If you miss the evil, you will miss the power of God’s heroic rescue.

One evil we are spared in the US is cruel and unusual punishments. To be drawn and quartered was to have ropes tied to your arms and legs, each one harnessed to a draft horse. When men whip the four horses they run in four different directions, tearing arms and legs from the torso of the suffering victim. Nebuchadnezzar enjoyed having people “torn limb from limb.” He destroyed their houses. He ordered the slaughter of his advisors by the hundreds. He built an eight-story statue of gold and commanded the world to worship it, and if any refused, he had a furnace prepared to roast them.

Then when Nebuchadnezzar saw God’s miraculous deliverance of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, he issued another harsh decree:

“Anyone … who says anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be torn limb from limb and his house made a garbage dump. For there is no other god who is able to deliver like this” Daniel 3:29.

With a rule like that on the books, no one would speak the Lord’s name in vain. Isn’t it sad that Americans, history’s most blessed people, are not afraid to speak the Lord’s name in vain? Even Christians sometimes treat God’s name like something common and worthless.

God, help us grasp the evil of Your enemies, teach us to revere your name, and to live lives that honor our Savior.

ΑΩ

THE REVEALER OF MYSTERIES. Daniel 2:27-28.

God took Nebuchadnezzar to school. He let the King of Babylon take Israelites captive, but God immediately began to reveal things about Himself to the pagan king. The first thing God showed him was that He was a different kind of God from Babylon’s idols.

The king had a bad dream and woke up looking for someone to interpret it. But he did not just want an interpretation, the way Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream. Nebuchadnezzar told his wise men they had to first tell him what he dreamed—and then interpret it. They begged him to tell his dream, but the king refused, and said he would have them all killed if they could not tell him the dream. Just as the execution was about to happen, Daniel spoke up.

“No wise man, medium, priest, or astrologer can do what you asked. But there is a God in Heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has let King Nebuchadnezzar know what will happen in the last days.” Daniel 2:27-28.

Daniel went on to provide both the dream and the interpretation, and everyone was amazed. When he finished, the king said, “Your God is indeed God of gods, Lord of kings, and a Revealer of Mysteries, because you were able to reveal this mystery.” Daniel 2:47.

Was that hard for God? Was it a challenge? Not at all. God knows EVERYTHING. He has all the answers. Do you have questions? Do you have choices in front of you, a fork in the road? Do you have questions about our culture or politics and need answers?

Go to the REVEALER OF MYSTERIES. Remind Him that that is His name, and beg Him to reveal the truth to you. Insist that He show you His will, His truth, His plan. And wait on the Lord. Be willing to DO NOTHING while you wait. Sometimes you have to be still and let the Lord work out His timing. Beg for answers from the Revealer of Mysteries, and be patient while you wait for Him to speak to you.

ΑΩ

*The pic above is from the website lifehopeandtruth.com


One of God’s Most Interesting Names. Daniel 2:47

Ever wonder what the future holds?

God is “the Revealer of Mysteries.”

The king said to Daniel, ‘Your God is indeed God of gods, Lord of kings, and the Revealer of Mysteries, because you were able to reveal this mystery…’ Daniel 2:47.

Do you need answers? Claim this Name for God. Use it in your prayers. Remind Him that He is the ‘Revealer of Mysteries,’ and that’s why you are asking Him to reveal this one….    

ΑΩ

CAN YOU IMAGINE A MEAL FIT FOR A KING? Daniel 1:8-17; 2 Chronicles 16:9.

When Daniel was taken captive into Babylon, he determined NOT to defile himself with the “royal food and wine.” You know the story: the servant was afraid he’d be killed if Daniel and the other Jews lost weight. Daniel said, “Give us vegetables for ten days, then check. If we look poorly, we’ll eat the king’s food.” But after ten days, they looked good, so the vegan diet continued. 

But why the veganism? Jews had always eaten lamb, beef, mutton, milk, poultry, and eggs. But the king of Babylon’s food was too rich. What does that mean? More salt, more fat, more carbs, more sugar, more protein—and probably many ingredients, flavorings, and spices that were not allowed under kosher law.

In other words, ‘a meal fit for a king’ would probably be today’s basic American restaurant food. Think about it: any king from history would be blown away by the abundant choices at Luby’s, or even the Golden Corral, or by the quality and quantity of delicious, healthy (though fattening) food at places like Saltgrass, Red Lobster, Chili’s, or the Olive Garden.

Today’s restaurants would amaze even the pickiest royal palates of the past. And Daniel would probably refuse to eat in any of them. Seriously.

And why did the diet work in ten days? It was probably lack of acne and their good complexion—that’s the fastest thing to change.

Eating “clean” can do wonders for your skin.

But there’s more. God blessed them: “God [also] gave these four young men knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom.” Daniel 1:17. That is, God chose to bless Daniel for his obedience. It’s not just about food. When we determine to honor God with our choices, He will bless us in many areas. When you eat right, He will bless your health, complexion, or weight. But when you obey Him, He will also bless your mind with wisdom and understanding. God is looking for people to bless—and He loves to bless those who are determined to obey Him.

“His eye roams to and fro about the earth seeking to support those whose hearts are truly His.” 2 Chronicles 16:9.

If you crave God’s blessings, make up your mind to obey Him. Plant good seeds, and remember that the harvest comes later.

ΑΩ

A Back-to-School Bible Verse and Prayer. Daniel 1:7

God gave these four young men knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom. Daniel 1:7 (Speaking of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego).

Pray for that.

Pray that God would give you “knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom.” Because God can give it!

Have a great year!

ΑΩ

Just Compensation. Ezekiel 45:10.

My job is to buy real estate for the government. We pay property owners a fair price and often a bit more. The law requires the government to pay market value, as determined by an appraisal.  Generally, people are pleased knowing that the underground pipeline will not present too much inconvenience, and the money often comes at a good time.

However, property owners who grew up in other countries are sometimes uncomfortable with this process. One family from Chechnya was convinced I was trying to steal from them. How could I convince them that the United States does not operate like Soviet Russia? I have had similar problems with property owners from around the globe.  Many are accustomed to being pushed around by their governments back home, and no matter how kind I am—when a man shows up on behalf of the state, it can be like a flashback to the trauma they left behind.  One or two have become almost violently afraid, as though we planned to take their land, pay them nothing, knock down their house, let the dogs loose, and more.

Do you know what makes America different from places like Chechnya? The Bible. Although many European nations had Bibles, the New World offered a fresh start, and somehow when people came here, the values of honesty, transparency, and government accountability took root in ways they have in very few other nations. (Of course, the USA is filled with liars, cheats, and hypocrites—don’t get me wrong. But for whatever reason, the American public is able to insist on a higher level than most of honesty and accountability in the marketplace and in government.)

God scolded the kings of Israel for not treating people fairly.

“You have gone too far, princes of Israel! Put away violence and oppression and do what is just and right. Put an end to your evictions of my people … You must have honest scales, an honest dry measure, and an honest liquid measure” Ezekiel 45:9-10.

Scales were used in every transaction: merchants would weigh the grain being purchased, and then weigh the silver being used to pay for it. But scales could be rigged to overvalue the grain purchased and undervalue the money paid, forcing consumers to pay more. (This has been a problem in our world when gas stations manipulate gas pumps so that they over-measure the fuel delivered, forcing consumers to pay the same amount for less fuel.) Sellers, princes, gas station owners—you may think you will get away with it. But God sees and God will judge.

Do you operate just scales? Do you treat people fairly, both buyers and sellers? Are you honest in all your dealings, 2 Kings 12:15?

God sees and God will judge.

HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY.

ΑΩ