Tags
1 Corinthians 10:31, 1 Corinthians 15:57-58, 1 John 2:15-17, Daniel 4:1-6, Daniel 4:19, Daniel 4:24-27, Daniel 4:29-33, Daniel 4:34-37, Do All to God's GLORY, Faithful Witness, Full of HIS GLORY, Humble the proud, Isaiah 6:1-3, Pride or humility, Psalm 104:31, Psalm 29:2-4
Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 21 Full Of HIS GLORY???
We’ve been considering Daniel and his friends and their love for God as well as their character before God and man. As I was considering this week, I heard a message on Isaiah chapter 6 when Isaiah saw “the Lord, high and lifted up”; and when we look up and draw near to God, we will see His glory as well. But the thing I want us to consider is in line with something I often say as I greet people’s question of “how are you”, I usually respond by saying, “I’m blessed beyond measure”; and sometimes when occasion presents itself, I am able to remind someone of another aspect of being blessed, as I share this, “We’re all blessed, we’re just not all paying attention!”
Isaiah was paying attention, and I’d like to share just a few verses from chapter 6 that tie in with what we’re looking at today.
“In the year that king Uzziah died
I saw also the Lord
sitting upon a throne,
high and lifted up,
and his train filled the temple.
2 Above it stood the seraphims…
…3 And one cried unto another, and said,
Holy, holy, holy,
is the LORD of hosts:
the whole earth is full of his glory.” Isaiah 6:1-2a & 3
All we have to do is look at the world by the help of The Spirit of God—the Holy Spirit that has been given to every believer. But the problem is most people are looking inward and toward other people rather than looking at The Creator of all things! Do we truly desire to see The Glory of God? Or are we satisfied with our “own point of view”?
“Give unto the LORD
the glory due unto his name;
worship the LORD
in the beauty of holiness.
3 The voice of the LORD
is upon the waters:
the God of glory thundereth:
the LORD is upon many waters.
4 The voice of the LORD is powerful;
the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.” Psalm 29:2-4
“The glory of the LORD
shall endure for ever:
the LORD shall rejoice
in his works.” Psalm 104:31
The question is, will we give him “the glory due unto his name”? Will we “worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness”? Nebuchadnezzar had seen the “glory of The Lord” in Daniel and his friends, but instead of looking at The God of glory, he took God’s glory and reveled in it for himself. But God knew how to humble this arrogant, ill-tempered king; and HE knows how to bring us to see truth if we ill but heed His Word and His work in our hearts and lives! Let’s consider Nebuchadnezzar’s experience with the Lord God Almighty of all creation. While we won’t go into detail of the dream and its meaning, we will look at the effect on this King of Babylon and see the difference in his testimony. May we learn to seek HIM in all we do!
“Nebuchadnezzar the king,
unto all people,
nations,
and languages,
that dwell in all the earth;
Peace be multiplied unto you.
2 I thought it good to shew
the signs
and wonders
that the high God
hath wrought toward me.
3 How great
are his signs!
and how mighty
are his wonders!
his kingdom
is an everlasting kingdom,
and his dominion
is from generation to generation.
4 I Nebuchadnezzar
was at rest in mine house,
and flourishing in my palace:
5 I saw a dream
which made me afraid,
and the thoughts upon my bed
and the visions of my head
troubled me.
6 Therefore made I a decree
to bring in all the wise men of Babylon
before me,
that they might make known unto me
the interpretation of the dream.” Daniel 4:1-6
Much like the encounter of chapter 2, Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that troubled him; hence he calls for his wise men who were unable to interpret his dream until Daniel came in and revealed the dream’s meaning to him. While we won’t take time in this lesson today to consider the dream in particular, I do want to make sure we understand the heart of Daniel; the young man who has been in service to this king for some time—still captive in a foreign land—yet a man of compassion and concern for his superior. Grasp the import of Daniel’s response to the king upon realizing the meaning of the dream.
“Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar,
was astonied for one hour,
and his thoughts troubled him.
The king spake, and said,
Belteshazzar, let not the dream,
or the interpretation there of,
trouble thee.
Belteshazzar answered and said,
My lord,
the dream be to them that hate thee,
and the interpretation thereof
to thine enemies.” Daniel 4:19
Daniel knew that the interpretation meant judgment for the king, and the interpretation would be difficult. But we see two things here (two main things for our purposes) Daniel’s compassion toward King Nebuchadnezzar, and the integrity of a man whom Nebuchadnezzar trusted to speak truth. What do others think about us? Do they trust us (can they trust us) to speak the truth even when it is difficult or even seemingly hurtful to those to whom we minister? Also, Daniel had the courage to call the king to repentance and to trust to God’s mercy and grace!
“This is the interpretation, O king,
and this is the decree
of the most High,
which is come upon
my lord the king:
25 That they shall drive thee from men,
and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts
of the field,
and they shall make thee to eat grass
as oxen,
and they shall wet thee
with the dew of heaven,
and seven times shall pass over thee,
till thou know
that the most High ruleth
in the kingdom of men,
and giveth it
to whomsoever he will.
26 And whereas they commanded
to leave the stump of the tree roots;
thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee,
after that thou shalt have known
that the heavens do rule.
27 Wherefore, O king,
let my counsel be acceptable unto thee,
and break off thy sins
by righteousness,
and thine iniquities
by shewing mercy to the poor;
if it may be a lengthening
of thy tranquillity.” Daniel 4:24-27
God’s judgment was pronounced on Nebuchadnezzar to bring him to see and recognize “the whole earth is full of his glory”—to know Daniel’s God for himself. Let’s go back to Nebuchadnezzar’s response to God’s prophecy—much like our responses to God sometimes—caught up in “self” not God!
“At the end of twelve months
he walked in the palace
of the kingdom of Babylon.
30 The king spake, and said,
Is not this great Babylon,
that I have built
for the house of the kingdom
by the might of my power,
and for the honour of my majesty?
31 While the word was in the king’s mouth,
there fell a voice from heaven, saying,
O king Nebuchadnezzar,
to thee it is spoken;
The kingdom is departed
from thee.
32 And they shall drive thee
from men,
and thy dwelling shall be
with the beasts of the field:
they shall make thee
to eat grass as oxen,
and seven times
shall pass over thee,
until thou know
that the most High ruleth
in the kingdom of men,
and giveth it to
whomsoever he will.
33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled
upon Nebuchadnezzar:
and he was driven from men,
and did eat grass as oxen,
and his body was wet
with the dew of heaven,
till his hairs were grown
like eagles’ feathers,
and his nails
like birds’ claws.” Daniel 4:29-33
God’s judgment fell, and fulfilled its time, and by the King’s own testimony HE saw and acknowledged the God of heaven.
“And at the end of the days
I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes
unto heaven,
and mine understanding
returned unto me,
and I blessed the most High,
and I praised and honoured him
that liveth for ever,
whose dominion
is an everlasting dominion,
and his kingdom is from generation
to generation:
35 And all the inhabitants of the earth
are reputed as nothing:
and he doeth according
to his will in the army of heaven,
and among the inhabitants of the earth:
and none can stay his hand,
or say unto him, What doest thou?
36 At the same time my reason
returned unto me;
and for the glory of my kingdom,
mine honour and brightness
returned unto me;
and my counsellors and my lords
sought unto me;
and I was established
in my kingdom,
and excellent majesty
was added unto me.
37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar
praise
and extol
and honour
the King of heaven,
all whose works are truth,
and his ways
judgment:
and those that walk in pride
he is able to abase.” Daniel 4:34-37
So, my question for us today is, “Are we full of the glory of God—do we live with the “beauty of holiness”? Or are we settling for the passing ‘glory’ of the world? It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test.
“Love not the world,
neither the things
that are in the world.
If any man love the world,
the love of the Father
is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world,
the lust of the flesh,
and the lust of the eyes,
and the pride of life,
is not of the Father,
but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away,
and the lust thereof:
but he that doeth the will of God
abideth for ever.” 1 John 2: 15-17
I pray that God will draw each of us near to HIS heart, that we might see HIS glory, and reflect HIS glory in all we do.
“But thanks be to God,
which giveth us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye
stedfast,
unmoveable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord,
forasmuch as ye know that your labour
is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:57-58
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink,
or whatsoever ye do,
do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
Amen!!!