#DailyDevotion The Lord Has Told Us The Future. Don’t Fight It. Live According To It.
November 21st
Read Dan 2:1–23
Dan 2:8-11 The king answered and said, “I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm— (9) if you do not make the dream known to me, there is but one sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the times change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.” (10) The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on earth who can meet the king’s demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. (11) The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.” Dan 2:20-22 Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. (21) He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; (22) he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.
The king is pretty smart here. I’m not sure why he ever even listens to these guys if he knows they are just making stuff up. Perhaps their counsel is still pretty good on most days even if they are not able to tell the future from the stars or interpret signs, dreams, visions and wonders. But he is firm. If you can’t tell him the dream, off with your heads. Their reply is priceless, “There is not a man on earth who can meet the king’s demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean.” Well the Lord is about to prove them wrong.
The Lord plans on ingratiating Daniel to king Nebuchadnezzer. He sent the dream to the king in the first place. The Lord will now give the dream and the interpretation of that dream to the king through Daniel. For Daniel has been sent by the Lord to get the ear of the king and to protect and preserve his people.
Now we will look at the dream and its interpretation later but what we need to grasp from this is the Lord has told us what is to take place in the last days. We are living in those last days and have been since our Lord Jesus Christ has ascended into heaven. He, himself, has revealed through his apostle John what is to take place. We need not fear it. Many of the plagues and calamities that fall upon humanity will fall upon all people including Christians. But the spiritual plagues and calamities will not fall upon those who bear the name of Jesus in Baptism and who trust in Christ Jesus. We will go through trials, tribulations and even face death for the name of Jesus. He has told us as much. But we need not fear it. We know the outcome. We know our end. We know the Lord Jesus Christ has promised us a resurrection to eternal life and life with God in Christ. What can the world do to me? It is only temporary. But for those who do not repent and turn to Jesus, the plagues and calamities, spiritual and physical will remain with them eternally.
We know the interpretations of Daniel of the King’s dreams and the visions of Daniel have mostly come to pass with the expected accuracy. The meaning of them is from the Lord. That which has not happened yet will come to pass with same accuracy as the past. Let us place our hope in it.
Lord Jesus Christ, you always prepare your people for what is to come revealing it beforehand. Grant us your Spirit that we may be properly repentant unto eternal life. Amen.