The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 12 June 2020 – Daniel Interprets A Dream
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TOPIC: Daniel Interprets A Dream
READ: DANIEL 4:19-30 (NKJV)
- Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for a time, and his thoughts troubled him. [So] the king spoke, and said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation trouble you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, [may] the dream concern those who hate you, and its interpretation concern your enemies!
- The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong, whose height reached to the heavens and which [could be seen] by all the earth,
- whose leaves [were] lovely and its fruit abundant, in which [was] food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and in whose branches the birds of the heaven had their home —
- it [is] you, O king, who have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, and your dominion to the end of the earth.
- And inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the earth, [bound] with a band of iron and bronze in the tender grass of the field; let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let him graze with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him’;
- this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king:
- They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.
- And inasmuch as they gave the command to leave the stump [and] roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that Heaven rules.
- Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by [being] righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to [the] poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.”
- All [this] came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.
- At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon.
- The king spoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?”
THE MESSAGE:
King Nebuchadnezzar had a terrifying dream. He was disturbed and needed an interpretation of the dream, so Daniel was called to interpret it. After hearing the description of the dream, Daniel was visibly troubled because he saw what lay ahead of the king. He tactfully prepared the king for the bad news by saying that he wished the dream applied to the king’s enemies and not to the king. Daniel had a great personal concern for the king and wanted him to know the true and living God.
From the passage, we learn that God alone is sovereign and will not permit mortals to usurp His throne or take credit for His works. We are but creatures, and God is the Creator; we are only subjects, but He is the King of kings. When human beings refuse to submit themselves to God as creatures made in His image, they put themselves in grave danger of descending to the level of animals. Again, we need people like Daniel in our nation that will tell the ‘kings’ the truth as it is.
PRAYER: Help us to know the truth, say it and stand by it, Oh Lord!
