Today’s Reading: Daniel 7, Revelation 13:1-10

Once more, we see evidence in the book of Daniel of how arrogance and pride can be destructive. Daniel had a dream during the first year of King Belshazzar’s reign and then again during his third year. These next two chapters reveal the dreams and then explain the meaning behind the dreams.

OUR FUTURE IS STRONG IN THE HANDS OF GOD!

Picture a powerful storm swirling around over a great sea with strong winds blowing in every direction. Out of the water came four huge beasts. The first beast was like a lion with eagles’ wings and a human mind, the second beast was like a large bear who was given the command to devour human flesh, and the third beast who was given great authority looked like a leopard with 4 wings and 4 heads.

Daniel described the fourth beast as terrifying, dreadful and very strong. It devoured its victims with its strong iron teeth and trampled them with its feet. It had 10 horns that represented kings but another small horn appeared as Daniel watched; it had human eyes and a mouth that boasted arrogantly. It was waging war against God’s holy people and defeating them until the Ancient One — the Holy One — came and judged in favor of His holy people (7:21-22).

I watched as thrones were put in place
and the Ancient One sat down to judge.
His clothing was as white as snow,
his hair like purest wool.
He sat on a fiery throne
with wheels of blazing fire,
and a river of fire was pouring out,
flowing from his presence.
Millions of angels ministered to him;
many millions stood to attend him.
Then the court began its session,
and the books were opened. – Daniel 7:9-10

Out of the four beasts that represented four nations, the only one that was immediately killed and destroyed by fire was the little horn whose speech was described as boastful. The other three lost their authority but were allowed to live a while longer (Daniel 7:11-12). It was as if the Ancient One sitting in judgment had heard enough and swiftly shut the mouth of the beast.

As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed. – Daniel 7:13-14

OUR FUTURE IS STRONG IN THE HANDS OF GOD!

It is difficult to understand how the end times will play out or what Daniel’s visions mean, but it is easy to understand that our God is powerful and that He has always been and will always be victorious. As God’s holy people, we can see that OUR FUTURE IS STRONG IN THE HANDS OF GOD. There is nothing to fear.

“But in the end, the holy people of the Most High will be given the kingdom, and they will rule forever and ever.” – Daniel 7:18

“But then the court will pass judgment, and all his power will be taken away and completely destroyed. Then the sovereignty, power, and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be given to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will last forever, and all rulers will serve and obey him.” – Daniel 7:26-27

OUR FUTURE IS STRONG IN THE HANDS OF GOD!

The future of those who bow to the authority of their Lord and Savior holds victory. But let us also remember that the future of those who are arrogant and proud is bleak. Those whose speech is boastful and who do whatever pleases them will be brought down and destroyed. There is only one God — the Most High, Omnipotent God — and our future is in His loving, yet just, hands.

When I was prosperous, I said, “Nothing can stop me now!”
Your favor, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain.
Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered. – Psalm 30:6-7

Father God, you are the one in whom we put our trust this morning; you are the one in whom our confidence lies. May we never become arrogant or prideful, losing sight of the source of our strength. May we never lose confidence in your power and presence, letting fear set in regarding our future or the future of our nation. May we know this morning without a doubt that our future is strong when we trust in you to be our rock and our fortress. Amen.

Today’s Reading: Daniel 6; Psalm 27

The Lord is my light and my salvation – so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?
When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.
Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident. – Psalm 27:1-3

If you can ignore the fact that he was in captivity, you can say that everything had gone right for Daniel. He went from being a Jewish captive to a member of the royal service to ruler over the whole province of Babylon, as well as chief over all King Nebuchadnezzar’s wise men. Under King Belshazzar’s reign, Daniel was made the third highest ruler in the kingdom and Darius the Mede appointed Daniel as one of three administrators over all the high officers. When Darius made plans to place Daniel over the entire empire, the other administrators decided they had had enough! They reacted with jealousy and found pleasure in the possibility of seeing something go wrong in Daniel’s life. Sadly, we see this same reaction play out today on the job, within families, and sometimes even in the church.

Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood, but jealousy is even more dangerous. – Proverbs 27:4

The plot to destroy Daniel struck where they knew it would affect him the most — the worship of his God. They stroked the pride of King Darius and tricked him into issuing a decree that no one could pray to any god except the king himself. Once more, someone placed in a leadership position and given authority over much allowed pride to take over, making a foolish decision based on his own wants and desires.

But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down AS USUAL in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, JUST AS HE HAD ALWAYS DONE, giving thanks to his God. Then the officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help. – Daniel 6:10-11

DANIEL PRAYED TO GOD, JUST AS HE HAD ALWAYS DONE.

When he received word of the king’s decree, Daniel went to his knees to pray to God for protection. He was not praying because he was now in a difficult situation and needed rescuing; he prayed just as he had always done. Three times a day, without fail, Daniel took the time to direct all of his attention to the God he had given first place in his life. And let’s not miss the initial focus of Daniel’s prayer — thanksgiving. Daniel started by giving thanks to God before he asked for God’s help.

Daniel had faithfully developed a habit or life pattern of spending time in prayer, which is what made him the kind of man we have been studying. Spending time daily in God’s presence resulted in God’s presence dwelling daily within Daniel, giving him strength and wisdom. Today was no different.

DANIEL TRUSTED IN GOD, JUST AS HE HAD ALWAYS DONE.

As a result of his decree, King Darius had no choice but to follow through with the punishment as declared in the new law — Daniel must be thrown into the den of lions. The king was deeply troubled and spent the night fasting for the protection of his faithful servant, Daniel.

Was Daniel scared? Did he question his decision to pray JUST AS HE HAD ALWAYS DONE, with the windows wide open? I choose to believe that Daniel reacted the same way his friends Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did. I choose to believe that Daniel trusted in God to save him, but also loved God enough to say, “But even if He doesn’t…”

The next morning, the king hurried to the lion’s den and called out, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?”

Daniel answered, “Long live the king! My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.” – Daniel 6:20-22

DANIEL GAVE PRAISE TO GOD, JUST AS HE HAD ALWAYS DONE.

As a result of Daniel’s faithfulness and his testimony of how God had rescued him from what seemed an impossible situation, God was glorified and given the praise. I pray those around us can see that we serve God faithfully and that we trust in Him through all situations, good and bad. This kind of faithfulness starts in our quiet times with the Lord. It is in the intimate moments with God that He takes us deeper in our relationship with Him and draws us closer to Him, creating fellowship and oneness with Him.

“The lasting value of our public service for God is measured by the depth of the intimacy of our private times of fellowship and oneness with Him” – Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest. Chambers’ words bring conviction this morning, but they also inspire me. Oh how I long to go deeper.

Here me as I pray, O Lord.
Be merciful and answer me!
My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” – Psalm 27:7-8

I have no idea what you are going through right now, but I pray that the depth of your daily private times of fellowship and oneness with God give you the strength of faith to trust in Him. I pray you believe that He can rescue you just as He rescued Daniel. I pray He will strengthen your faith and give you the courage to say — I know my God is able to rescue me from all of this but, even if He doesn’t, I choose to trust in Him, be grateful for Him, and spend time daily praying to Him.

Today’s Reading: Daniel 5, Psalm 93

Common people are as worthless as a puff of wind,
and the powerful are not what they appear to be.
If you weigh them on the scales, together they are lighter than a breath of air. – Psalm 62:9

Have you stepped on the scale lately? It is one of my least favorite things to do yet I find myself doing it every day. Like it or not, the number on the scale is the reality I am facing and the need to make improvements in my daily habits is evident. I have been weighed on a balance and the truth is speaking louder than my denial.

The days of you being in control are numbered (Mene), you have been weighed (Tekel) on the balances and you have not measured up. Your kingdom has been divided (Parsin) and given to someone else. This is the writing on the wall – God’s message to the next King of Babylon, Belshazzar.

King Belshazzar knew Babylonian history. He knew that King Nebuchadnezzar’s heart and mind had been puffed up with arrogance and that he was brought down from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. Knowing all of this, King Belshazzar still did not humble himself but instead proudly defied God by drinking from the cups brought to Babylon from the Temple in Jerusalem (Daniel 5:20-23).

“You have not honored the God who gives you the breath of life and controls your destiny! So God has sent this hand to write this message. This is the message that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, and PARSIN.” – Daniel 5:23b-25

THE DAYS OF YOU BEING IN CONTROL ARE NUMBERED.

The king knew better. He knew what could happen if he put himself and what he wanted above the Most High God. He knew and yet he chose to build his own kingdom instead of honoring God. How often are we found guilty of the same thing? If we were weighed on a balance would we measure up? When we choose our own way and do our own thing and hope that God will bless our plans, we are fooling ourselves. The days of us being in control of our own life are numbered and the blessings God has poured out on our life can easily be taken away and given to someone else.

But when the queen mother heard what was happening, she hurried to the banquet hall. She said to Belshazzar, “Long live the king! Don’t be so pale and frightened. There is a man in your kingdom who has within him the spirit of the holy gods. During Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, this man was found to have insight, understanding, and wisdom like that of the gods. Your predecessor, the king – your predecessor, King Nebuchadnezzar – made him chief over all the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and fortune-tellers of Babylon. This man Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, has exceptional ability and is filled with divine knowledge and understanding. He can interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means.” – Daniel 5:10-12

YOU HAVE BEEN WEIGHED ON THE BALANCES AND YOU HAVE NOT MEASURED UP.

The queen mother was not a believer and yet she saw the difference in Daniel. She knew that Daniel had a holy spirit within him that set him apart from others. Each day we are surrounded by unbelievers and we have the opportunity to let them see something different in us that cannot be found in the hearts of the world – they can see Jesus! They can sense the power of the Holy Spirit actively at work in our lives.

That night King Belshazzar was killed and a new king took his place, King Darius. Just as the writing on the wall foretold, Belshazzar’s days were numbered and his kingdom was divided.

YOUR KINGDOM HAS BEEN DIVIDED AND GIVEN TO SOMEONE ELSE.

Darius the Mede decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces, and he appointed a high officer to rule over each province. The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the high officers and protect the king’s interests. Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire.

Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy. – Daniel 6:1-4

Daniel: insight, understanding, wisdom, exceptional ability, filled with divine knowledge and understanding, ability to interpret and solve difficult problems, capable, faithful, always responsible and completely trustworthy. Wow, what a description! When weighed by others, Daniel was found to be all of these things. When weighed by God, Daniel was found to be humble and faithful, and God’s blessings increased in his life.

IF WE WERE WEIGHED ON A BALANCE, WOULD WE MEASURE UP?

If left to our own ability and strength, probably not. But Daniel had something we have even more access to – a Holy Spirit. It is not a matter of trying harder and hoping to be something extraordinary, it is a matter of humbling ourselves before God and allowing Him to fill us with Himself so that He can be exactly who He is and we can become just what He created us to be.

Lord, I pray that others can see the evidence of your presence in our lives. I pray that you will be glorified in all that we say and do so that those around us will grow in their faith. As we step on the scale this morning, we pray that our value will be measured by the fruit of your Spirit living within us.

Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness. – Psalm 145:3

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 40-48

Ezekiel chapter 10 speaks of a vision Ezekiel had of God’s presence leaving the Temple and going into the wilderness. What a huge loss for Jerusalem. They had forsaken their God and were now experiencing life without His daily protection and provision. Babylon had attacked Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple, which sat in ruins in the middle of the city. The pride of God’s people was now nothing more than a pile of rubble.

BUT WHEN IT SEEMS ALL IS LOST, GOD HAS A WAY OF RESTORING HOPE INTO OUR LIVES.

Chapter 40 begins a detailed description of another vision of Ezekiel’s. In this vision, God took hold of Ezekiel and placed him on a very high mountain where he could see what appeared to be a city. As God brought him closer, he saw a man whose face shone like bronze standing beside the entrance. The man was holding a linen measuring cord and a measuring rod.

The man began to measure the wall that surrounded the Temple area, and then he measured each gateway to the Temple. He measured the outer courtyard, each room in the Temple and then the inner courtyard. The details of the Temple were slowly being revealed as the man took time to show Ezekiel the exact measurements of each element of the building. After measuring the inside of the Temple, the man led Ezekiel out to measure the entire perimeter. The area was 875 feet on each side and had a wall around it to separate what was holy from what was common. Listen to Ezekiel’s description of what happened next.

Suddenly, the glory of the God of Israel appeared from the east. The sound of his coming was like the roar of the rushing waters, and the whole landscape shone with his glory…I fell face down on the ground. And the glory of the Lord came into the Temple through the east gateway.

Then the Spirit took me up and brought me into the inner courtyard, and the glory of the Lord filled the Temple. And I heard someone speaking to me from within the Temple, while the man who had been measuring stood beside me. The Lord said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place where I will rest my feet. I will live here forever among the people of Israel…” – Ezekiel 43:2-7

Ezekiel was given instructions to describe this vision to God’s people, to remind them of how they had defiled His name. He was to give them the details and let them study God’s plan closely. This Temple would be different from the place of worship they had built. God would not be defiled in this holy place for the basic law of this Temple would be absolute holiness (43:12). Only those who have fully surrendered themselves to the Lord will worship there and God’s chosen priests will be given the responsibility to teach the people the difference between what is holy and what is common, and between what is ceremonially clean and unclean (44:23).

There was a stream flowing east from beneath the door of the Temple and passing to the right of the altar. The man measured the stream as he led Ezekiel into the waters. The water came to Ezekiel’s ankles, then to his knees. As they walked across the stream the water went from Ezekiel’s waist until it was too deep to walk across.

“Have you been watching, son of man?” – Ezekiel 47:6

Ezekiel noticed that there were trees growing on both sides of the river. The man revealed to Ezekiel that the water was flowing into the valley of the Dead Sea, healing the salty waters so that fish would abound and waters would be fresh for the first time. Someday fishermen will stand along the shores of the Dead Sea casting their nets into the water.

“Fruit trees of all kinds will grow along both sides of the river. The leaves of these trees will never turn brown and fall, and there will always be fruit on their branches. There will be a new crop every month, for they are watered by the river flowing from the Temple. The fruit will be for food and the leaves for healing.” – Ezekiel 47:12

As Ezekiel described the vision to God’s people with the detailed description of what the Temple would one day be again, HOPE WAS RESTORED. God wanted them to see what was ahead for all those who choose to be faithful to Him. One day there will be a magnificent Temple in which God will dwell and His people will worship. Blessings will flow from this place of praise and adoration. Water will flow from this Temple as it gives life to those who stand at its riverbanks and provides healing to all who step into the waters.

“And from that day the name of the city will be ‘The Lord Is There.’” – Ezekiel 48:35b

WHEN GOD IS PRESENT, SINS ARE FORGIVEN AND HOPE IS RESTORED.

Do you believe that with your whole heart? Are you standing in confidence of this truth today? We can enjoy the flow of His healing waters and find roots along the riverbank to grow in our knowledge of Him. He is the God of restoration and redemption; He is creating a place of absolute holiness. What a beautiful message of hope for us to cling to this morning!

Today’s Reading: Daniel 4, Psalm 107

The number of captives taken to Babylon in the 17th year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign was 3,023. Then in Nebuchadnezzar’s 18th year he took 832 more. In Nebuchadnezzar’s 23rd year he sent Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, who took 745 more – a total of 4,600 captives in all. – Jeremiah 52:28-30

Consider this context of the people of Judah being carried into exile, and let’s go back to the book of Daniel. Three of the young men living in exile were told they would be thrown into the fire if they did not bow down and worship the gold statue King Nebuchadnezzar had made. Even though they were captives in this foreign land, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego stood strong in their faith.

“O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. BUT EVEN IF HE DOESN’T, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” – Daniel 3:16-18

BUT EVEN IF HE DOESN’T

What an amazing example of trusting God. When life is difficult and there is nothing we can do to change the demands around us, our best option is to trust God. We can proclaim our belief that God will take care of us, yet be willing to cling to our faith even if He does not move the way we want Him to.

I admit I have had to overcome the tendency to solve my own problems. I had to let go of my need to manipulate and control a situation and let Him be Lord, saying — I know that the God I serve is able to save and rescue me by His power but, EVEN IF HE DOESN’T, I will trust Him. Daily I have to let go of the reins and trust in the God who reigns.

King Nebuchadnezzar had a similar lesson to learn, again through the interpretation of a dream: A large tree was growing very tall and strong, reaching high into the heavens for the whole world to see. It had fresh green leaves, was loaded with fruit, and offered shade to wild animals and a home for the birds nestled in its branches. This tree was large enough to feed all the people.

But then a holy messenger came down from heaven shouting, “Cut down the tree and lop off its branches! Shake off its leaves and scatter its fruit! Chase the wild animals from its shade and the birds from its branches. But leave the stump and the roots in the ground…For seven periods of time, let him have the mind of a wild animal instead of the mind of a human.” – Daniel 4:14-16

Although he was frightened by the meaning, Daniel interpreted the dream and advised the king to stop sinning and do what was right — to break from his wicked past and be merciful to the poor. Daniel was a refugee. He had been taken from his home into captivity and then taken away from his family to be assigned to the royal service of King Nebuchadnezzar, a very selfish and evil man. Interpreting this dream took courage and the kind of faith that says — I believe my God will rescue me…

BUT EVEN IF HE DOESN’T

The dream got the king’s attention but his attitude remained the same. His pride was stronger than his faith: “Look at this great city of Babylon! By MY OWN mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendor” (Daniel 4:30).

While these words were still in his mouth, a voice called down from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, this message is for you! You are no longer ruler of this kingdom. You will be driven from human society. You will live in the fields with the wild animals, and you will eat grass like a cow. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.” – Daniel 4:31-32

The king reigning over God’s people during their 70 years of exile was now experiencing his own exile of 7 years. When his sanity returned and he was given back the throne, his attitude had changed. “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of heaven. All his acts are just and true, and he is able to humble the proud” (Daniel 4:37). He had learned the hard way that God was in control and he was not, a lesson I have had to daily learn.

Lord, I have so many questions about the future, but I choose to once again give you the reins. I want nothing more than for you to be in charge. No matter what I face, I want to be able to say with confidence that YOU ARE ABLE. Reveal any pride in my life and replace it with humility. Help me to let go and trust YOU – the God who reigns! Lord, give me the strength in every situation to say…

BUT EVEN IF HE DOESN’T

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were right to trust God. In anger, King Nebuchadnezzar did throw them into the furnace, which he had heated seven times hotter than usual. But as the king looked into the fire, he saw four men walking around – unbound and unharmed! He called for the young Hebrews to come out of the fire and they did.

The fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke! – Daniel 3:27b

That is what our God is capable of. He can rescue us and chances are He will rescue us. BUT EVEN IF HE DOESN’T, are you willing to serve Him? Are you willing to trust Him even if there is a furnace ahead for you? Even if you don’t know how things will turn out in the end, are you willing to say with confidence that He is Lord? Will you let go of the reins and trust in the God who reigns?

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 25:27-30, Jeremiah 52:31-34

In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the year Awel-Marduk became king of Babylon, he released Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison. He did this on the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month. He spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat of honor higher than those of the other kings who were with him in Babylon. So Jehoiachin put aside his prison clothes and for the rest of his life ate regularly at the king’s table. Day by day the king gave Jehoiachin a regular allowance as long as he lived. – 2 Kings 25:27-30

HE PUT ASIDE HIS PRISON CLOTHES.

After 37 years of being imprisoned, God gave Jehoiachin favor with the new king of Babylon. I love the symbolism of Jehoiachin taking off his prison clothes in order to sit at the king’s table. The weight of the chains was gone, and he was experiencing some level of freedom and luxury once again. But what if Jehoiachin had continued to wear his prison clothes while feasting at the king’s table? What if he continued to identify with his old life instead of embracing this new opportunity?

So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. – Galatians 5:1

How often do we find freedom in an area of our life, only to turn around and find ourselves slaves to something else? How often do we remain cloaked in the identity of our past instead of allowing the identity of Christ to be reflected in us? We are no longer prisoners to our sinful nature; we are not obligated to sin.

We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. – Romans 6:6-11

PUT ASIDE YOUR PRISON CLOTHES.

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! – 2 Corinthians 5:17

Father God, we thank you for the freedom that is available to us because you were willing to give your Son as a sacrifice for our sins. We are grateful for the opportunity today to cast off our prison clothes — to stop identifying with our sin and to no longer allow our shame to define who we are. We are a new creation in you, and so we come to your table as a child of God — redeemed, restored, renewed, and ready to be used by you today. Amen.

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 25:1-26, Jeremiah 51:1-52:1-30, Psalm 79

So on January 15, during the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon led his entire army against Jerusalem. They surrounded the city and built siege ramps against its walls. Jerusalem was kept under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah’s reign. – 2 Kings 25:1-2

It had been two and a half years of terror. Those who were still in the city had been hiding behind the protection of the walls of Jerusalem. The famine within the city had become severe and there was nothing left to eat. A section of the wall finally succumbed to the siege and collapsed. The city was surrounded by Babylonians; there was no hope for survival.

The king and his soldiers decided to make a run for it. They waited until nightfall and escaped out of a gate behind the king’s garden, but the king was quickly captured. The Babylonians pronounced judgment on King Zedekiah, and made him watch as they slaughtered his sons. Then they gouged out his eyes so that the last image he would ever see would be the painful death of his family and the destruction of his city. They bound him in chains and led him to Babylon.

So this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I will bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of those who hear about it will tingle with horror. – 2 Kings 21:12

TERROR. FAMINE. CHAINS. NO HOPE OF SURVIVAL.

King Nebuchadnezzar and his officials came to Jerusalem to celebrate their victory. They set fire to the Temple, the palace, and all of the houses in Jerusalem. If a building was important, it came down. The army continued to pull down the wall around Jerusalem until there was very little left to what was once a magnificent city. It had been the place where families came to offer their sacrifices and celebrate the religious festivals. The Temple had been the pride of the people — the place where the God of Israel dwelled among His creation.

Everything made of gold, silver, or bronze was carried away by the Babylonians, as were the remaining residents of Jerusalem. Only a small group of the poorest people in the land were left to tend to the vineyards and fields. The last of the priests and leaders were brought before the king of Babylon and executed.

O God, pagan nations have conquered your land,
your special possession.
They have defiled your holy Temple
and made Jerusalem a heap of ruins.
They have left the bodies of your servants
as food for the birds of heaven.
The flesh of your godly ones
has become food for the wild animals.
Blood has flowed like water all around Jerusalem;
no one is left to bury the dead.
We are mocked by our neighbors,
an object of scorn and derision to those around us.
O Lord, how long will you be angry with us? Forever?
How long will your jealousy burn like fire? – Psalm 79:1-5

So the Lord brought disaster on Jerusalem and Judah, just as He said He would. It was their darkest day. He used Babylon to fulfill His judgment but this was not a means of blessing Babylon, a country that worshiped idols instead of surrendering to the one true God. God did not allow the destruction of Jerusalem because He is a God who abandons His people. No, they were His own special possession and He punished them in order to draw them back to Him. It was in order to bring dry bones to life that He allowed His people and their city to hit rock bottom, showing that He is still in charge.

Sharpen the arrows! Lift up the shields!
For the Lord has inspired the kings of the Medes to march against Babylon and destroy her.
This is his vengeance against those who desecrated his Temple. – Jeremiah 51:11

God promised to avenge His people; He vowed to punish Babylon with all her idols. Just as Babylon brutally killed the people of Israel and other nations throughout the world, so her people would be killed (51:49). The Lord gives punishment justly; He always repays in full (51:56).

As his last message, Jeremiah wrote down everything that would happen to Babylon on a scroll. He handed the scroll to Seraiah and told him to read it aloud when they arrived in Babylon. Then he instructed him to tie a stone to the scroll and throw it into the Euphrates River as a symbol of how the Babylonaians would one day sink, never to rise again (51:59-64).

JUSTICE. PRESERVATION. HOPE FOR A BETTER DAY.

The Lord made the earth by his power, and he preserves it by his wisdom.
With his own understanding he stretched out the heavens.
When he speaks in the thunder, the heavens roar with rain.
He causes the clouds to rise over the earth.
He sends the lightning with the rain and releases the wind from his storehouses. – Jeremiah 51:15-16

Even in the midst of the darkest days in Israel’s history, the Lord was promising that they would receive justice. God was showing Himself even while they were receiving the consequences of their sin. He was giving them hope for a day that was yet to come. The battle was not over and victory would be the Lord’s, just as it had been throughout the history of God’s people.

Perhaps you are experiencing your own captivity. Perhaps you are not where you want to be and longing for a promise from the Lord. You look back and long for what used to be; you look forward and ache for what could be. Can I encourage you to keep your eyes on the Lord and trust Him to bring you through this season? There is a better day ahead. You are His special possession and He loves you more than you can even imagine. On your darkest day, may God give you the faith to press on to something better, and may He give you hope for your future.

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29:11

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 36-39, Jeremiah 45-49

The Lord took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley with bones. He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out. – Ezekiel 37:1-2

Can you picture this — a valley covered in old dry bones? What the Israelites probably pictured was the prophecy of Jeremiah just a few years before this:

“So beware,” says the Lord, “when that garbage dump will no longer be called Topheth or the valley of Ben-Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter. They will bury the bodies in Topheth until there is no more room for them. The bodies of my people will be food for the vultures and wild animals, and no one will be left to scare them away…Their bones will not be gathered up again or buried but will be scattered on the ground like manure…” – Jeremiah 7:32-8:2

What a horrifying picture. God was using this imagery to represent the people of Israel. By now Jerusalem had been destroyed and all of God’s people had been scattered. The Jews feared they would never be a nation again — that the people of Israel would slowly fade away and die.

Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, ‘We have become old, dry bones – all hope is gone. Our nation is finished.’ Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to RISE AGAIN. Then I will BRING YOU BACK to the land of Israel. When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the Lord. I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and RETURN HOME to your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the Lord has spoken!’” – Ezekiel 37:11-14

As angry as God was with the unfaithfulness of His prodigal children, He still heard their cries and wanted to give them HOPE. He spoke to his people through the prophet Ezekiel concerning the dry bones.

“Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life.” – Ezekiel 37:4-7

As Ezekiel watched, that is exactly what happened to the valley of dry bones — They all came to life and stood up on their feet — a great army (37:10b). Praise God! The people already knew with confidence that God COULD extend grace to them, forgive them and breathe life back into their nation. The question was whether or not He WOULD. They needed to hear that He was not completely abandoning them in their sin but that there was indeed hope for their future (Jer. 29:11).

And that is the God we serve! There are times when God allows us to experience the full consequences of our sins. We reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7-8). But the God we serve is also a loving God who does not give up on us — HE BREATHES NEW LIFE INTO US through the blood of Jesus. There are also times in our lives when God allows us to suffer from illnesses, disease or tragedies.

WE KNOW WE SERVE A GOD WHO CAN HEAL AND MAKE EVERYTHING BETTER, BUT WE FIND OURSELVES WATCHING AND WAITING TO SEE IF HE WILL.

Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil – the commander of the powers of the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is SO rich in mercy, and he loved us SO much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) – Ephesians 2:1-5

Let’s praise God along with the psalmist David and make this our prayer today:
No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.
My body rests in safety.
For you will NOT leave my soul among the dead
Or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.
You will show me the joy of your presence and
The pleasures of living with you forever. – Psalm 16:9-11

I am so thankful for a Father who never gives up on His prodigal children. I praise Him for being a God of grace and love who shows us the joy of His presence and leads us back into the fold.

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 32-35, Psalm 23, Jeremiah 50

“You are my flock, the sheep of my pasture. You are my people and I am your God. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken.” – Ezekiel 34:31

I find great comfort in the imagery that God is my shepherd, caring for me and watching over me each day. The analogy of the sheep and their dependence on the shepherd is used over and over again in the Bible. Of course, we could be a little insulted because of the lack of intelligence of sheep, yet we find ourselves agreeing with the fact that alone we are lost, unprotected and most definitely in need of a shepherd.

WE ARE ALL LOST SHEEP IN NEED OF A SHEPHERD.

My people have been lost sheep.
Their shepherds have led them astray
and turned them loose in the mountains.
They have lost their way
and can’t remember how to get back to the sheepfold. – Jeremiah 50:6

In Ezekiel, the Lord expressed anger with the leaders of Israel who were supposed to be “shepherding” the flock. “You abandoned my flock and left them to be attacked by every wild animal. And though you were my shepherds, you didn’t search for my sheep when they were lost. You took care of yourselves and left the sheep to starve” (Ezekiel 34:8).

Jesus expressed this same frustration with the leaders of Israel during His time on earth: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock. The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep” (John 10:11-15).

This is what the Good Shepherd has to say about how He will care for his sheep after their time of exile in Babylon: “I myself will search and find my sheep. I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day. I will bring them back home to their own land of Israel from among the peoples and nations. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel and by the rivers and in all the places where people live. Yes, I will give them good pastureland on the high hills of Israel. There they will lie down in pleasant places and feed in the lush pastures of the hills. I myself will tend my sheep and give them a place to lie down in peace, says the Sovereign Lord. I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again. I will bandage the injured and strengthen the weak” (Ezekiel 34:11-16).

THE LORD IS OUR GOOD SHEPHERD, SEARCHING FOR US IN ORDER TO BRING US SAFELY HOME.

Oh, how our Heavenly Father loves all of His sheep! He takes care of His flock, individually caring for each and every lamb. He doesn’t give up on the lost but actively draws them to Himself and heals them from their time away from the flock. This is what Jesus had to say about our Good Shepherd:

“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.” – Matthew 18:12-14

He cares more about the one who has wandered off into sin than for the one who has remained with the flock. We should be hurt by that, shouldn’t we? Oh, the sin of self-righteousness that trips us up over and over again. The prophet Isaiah clears this one right up for us: “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD. HE KNOWS ME AND I KNOW HIM.

Let’s join the psalmist David in this prayer, recognizing that God is OUR Shepherd:
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name sake.
Even though I walk through the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
For you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. – Psalm 23

We have so many reasons to praise and worship our Heavenly Father today. Let us enter into His presence with thankful hearts for our Good Shepherd, recognizing that we were once lost and now we are found! God so loved each of us that he laid the iniquity of us all on Jesus so that we could experience freedom in Christ. Praise be to God!

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 29-31, Jeremiah 43-44, Psalm 118

There once was a tree, a strong and beautiful cedar tree. Its branches cast their shade across the forest, and the top of the tree was high enough to stand strong among the clouds. Deep springs provided water for the tree, helping it to grow tall and luxuriant. Water also flowed around the tree, providing for all of the nearby trees. This tree was taller than all the other trees and its branches were longer and thicker than all the others.

THE TREE WAS TALL AND STRONG BECAUSE OF THE WATER AT ITS ROOTS.

Birds would build their nests in the branches of the tree and its protective shade gave the wild animals a place to give birth. The greatest nations of the world lived in the shadow of this grand and beautiful tree. Because its roots went deep into the abundant water supply, the tree remained strong and beautiful with wide-spreading branches.

“No other cedar in the garden of God
could rival it.
No cypress had branches to equal it;
no plane tree had boughs to compare.
No tree in the garden of God
came close to it in beauty.
Because I made this tree so beautiful,
and gave it such magnificent foliage,
it was the envy of all the other trees of Eden,
the garden of God.” – Ezekiel 31:8-9

THE TREE WAS BEAUTIFUL AND ITS LEAVES WERE MAGNIFICENT BECAUSE GOD MADE IT SO.

But the tree became proud of its beauty and it boasted of its strength. It set itself above all other trees and ignored the role of its water supply. So the God of Eden handed the tree over to a mighty nation, allowing it to be destroyed because of its wickedness. The foreign army cut the tree down and left it on the ground where it fell. Its branches were scattered across both mountains and valleys. Those who lived in the shadow of the lush branches went away and left the tree lying on the ground. And here is the lesson: Let no tree find pride in its own prosperity, even if it is higher than the clouds and watered from the depths. All trees are doomed to die, just like everything and everyone else on earth.

“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When Assyria went down to the grave, I made the deep springs mourn. I stopped its rivers and dried up its abundant water. I clothed Lebanon in black and caused the trees of the field to wilt. I made the nations shake with fear at the sound of its fall, for I sent it down to the grave with all the others who descend to the pit. And all the other proud trees of Eden, the most beautiful and the best of Lebanon, the ones whose roots went deep into the water, took comfort to find it there with them in the depths of the earth. Its allies, too, were all destroyed and had passed away. They had gone down to the grave—all those nations that had lived in its shade.” – Ezekiel 31:15-17

THE TREE WAS BROUGHT DOWN SO THAT IT COULD NO LONGER PROVIDE SAFETY TO OTHERS.

“O Egypt, to which of the trees of Eden will you compare your strength and glory? You, too, will be brought down to the depths with all these other nations. You will lie there among the outcasts who have died by the sword. This will be the fate of Pharaoh and all his hordes. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!” – Ezekiel 31:18

The Lord sent a message to Judah through the prophet Jeremiah telling the people not to run to Egypt for safety. But the people refused to obey the voice of the Lord and went to Egypt anyhow. They thought they could escape the Lord’s punishment; they believed they could be rescued by earthly strength and beauty, but they could not.

“Therefore, this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: I am determined to destroy every one of you! I will take this remnant of Judah—those who were determined to come here and live in Egypt—and I will consume them. They will fall here in Egypt, killed by war and famine. All will die, from the least to the greatest. They will be an object of damnation, horror, cursing, and mockery. I will punish them in Egypt just as I punished them in Jerusalem, by war, famine, and disease. Of that remnant who fled to Egypt, hoping someday to return to Judah, there will be no survivors. Even though they long to return home, only a handful will do so.” – Jeremiah 44:11-14

Heavenly Father, we ask you to forgive us of our rebellion. We have placed our confidence in others rather than in your authority and power. We live among a generation that has taken pride in our own abilities, and we have demanded the independence to make our own decisions. Forgive us for the arrogance with which we ignore your call to holiness. Bring us to our knees so that we can recognize that you are the source of everything good in our lives. Strengthen our roots and spread wide our branches so that we can be used to lead others to you. We submit to your purposes and your plan this morning. We ask that you make something beautiful out of our surrender and obedience. Amen.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people. – Psalm 118:8

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord
and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat
or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green,
and they never stop producing fruit.” – Jeremiah 17:7-8