January 12, 2022
PRAISE the LORD! Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Psalm 106:1
Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite. Psalm 147:5
It is not possible for our finite, limited minds to comprehend God’s greatness. Too often we wonder why He doesn’t use His mighty power to squelch evil. We can, however, gain at least a partial understanding, but first we must begin to recognize our own shortcomings and failures. In an “ah ha!” moment I will thank Him that the ground hasn’t opened up to swallow me. Truly, I have no idea of the mighty power it takes to exercise divine restraint!
A great story of redemption is found in the life of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. If he could be transformed by divine love, then our reason for hope and trust in the inexplicable wisdom of God is significantly bolstered, no? Of course, Nebuchadnezzar’s first recognition of the one, true God was met with his own rebellion, as shown in the verses at the end of Daniel 2 and the beginning of Daniel 3. At the end of Daniel 3, he was so impressed with God’s greatness that he issued a decree meant to silence anyone who dared to speak against God:
“Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.” Daniel 3:29
“Uhhh, Neb, that’s not quite how it works,” we might say. Be sure to compare his decree above with his pre-intro to God threat in 2:5. But our gracious Lord, full of mercy, provided a third challenge and warning; and after failing for the third time, the Lord set into motion that which was absolutely necessary to humble the arrogant king. The result was a dramatic alteration to the eternal destiny of the king, who was then privileged through the power of the Holy Spirit to write a chapter in the Bible. It is chapter four of the book of Daniel, which closes thus:
Now, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down. Daniel 4:37
The summary of the matter must include this incomprehensible fact: the most arrogant, most pagan king of the most godless nation on earth was won to God’s Kingdom over a period of extreme patience and longsuffering on the part of Almighty God. This means there is hope for the most unlikely person you can think of, even if it’s yourself. The love of God is demonstrated to us on many levels. Why not thank Him for His patience right now? And remember His patience was also displayed to the king through His servants: Daniel and his three friends.
A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:24-26