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1 Chronicles 8:29-9:1; Daniel 4:1-37; Ezekiel 40:1-37<\/strong><\/span> Daniel chapter 4 is an incredible chapter today!\u00a0 There is a lot going on in this one.\u00a0 We open up this chapter with King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon giving praise to God as verses 2 & 3 tell us: \u201cI want you all to know about the miraculous signs and wonders the Most High God has performed for me.\u00a0 How great are his signs, how powerful his wonders! His kingdom will last forever, his rule through all generations.\u201d <\/em>Does this sound like the Nebuchadnezzar we\u2019ve come to know?\u00a0 We\u2019ll, we must read on as he tells us how he got to the point of praising God like this\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n Nebuchadnezzar\u2019s dream of the tree in this chapter is relatively straightforward, as is the interpretation that Daniel gives.\u00a0 One intriguing verse to me was verse 27 where Daniel pleads with Nebuchadnezzar to repent to avoid what will happen per the dream \u2013 \u201cO King Nebuchadnezzar, please listen to me. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past by being merciful to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Do you think Nebuchadnezzar listened to Daniel?\u00a0 What if Daniel was telling us to do this same thing this very day?\u00a0 Would we listen?\u00a0 Will we stop sinning and do what is right?\u00a0 Will we be merciful to the poor?\u00a0 Below is a portrait by Guy Rowe of Nebuchadnezzar\u2019s dream of the tree: <\/span><\/p>\n We see the sin of pride bring down Nebuchadnezzar in verse 30 as follows \u2013 \u201cJust look at this great city of Babylon! I, by my own mighty power, have built this beautiful city as my royal residence and as an expression of my royal splendor.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Are their times in our life where we boast of what we have \u201cdone\u201d or \u201ccreated\u201d by our \u201cown mighty power\u201d?\u00a0 Good idea\u2026. ?<\/span><\/p>\n In this chapter today Nebuchadnezzar becomes Gollum from the Lord of the Rings!\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 Yes, I did hear someone teach on this chapter recently and he placed up on screen a picture of Gollum from Lord of the Rings and suggested this is what happened to Nebuchadnezzar essentially in verse 33 \u2013 \u201cThat very same hour the prophecy was fulfilled, and Nebuchadnezzar was driven from human society. He ate grass like a cow, and he was drenched with the dew of heaven. He lived this way until his hair was as long as eagles\u2019 feathers and his nails were like birds\u2019 claws.\u201d <\/em>Can you see how sin can drive us to basic animal instincts? Like Gollum?\u00a0 Do you see how godly wisdom can save us from becoming like animals?\u00a0 Like Gollum?\u00a0 Pride seems to be a very tempting sin for all of us \u2013 and not a good one to pursue \u2013 as Nebuchadnezzar tells us himself in verse 37 -\u201cNow I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of heaven. All his acts are just and true, and he is able to humble those who are proud.\u201d<\/em> Do you believe this to be true?\u00a0 Below is an image of Gollum\u2026 and perhaps Nebuchadnezzar for seven years?<\/span><\/p>\n Verse 36 also stands out to me in this chapter only because it reminds me of the end of the book of Job \u2013 \u201cWhen my sanity returned to me, so did my honor and glory and kingdom. My advisers and officers sought me out, and I was reestablished as head of my kingdom, with even greater honor than before.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 \u00a0A reminder that God gives and takes away \u2013 and can give again\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n Ezekiel chapter 40 is very interesting!\u00a0 It begins the vision and description of what many call \u201cEzekiel\u2019s Temple.\u201d\u00a0 Essentially, this temple has not been built.\u00a0 Some say that this temple will be built in the future \u2013 during Christ\u2019s millennial reign.\u00a0 Some say it\u2019s a heavenly temple.\u00a0 \u00a0Some say it was the vision for the temple that should have been built during Ezra\u2019s days in 517 B.C., but was not.\u00a0 It is fascinating to look at various theories on the various temples.\u00a0 An interesting look at a potential scale model of Ezekiel\u2019s temple and it\u2019s history <\/span>is at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video: <\/strong>Today\u2019s readings reminded me of Santcus Real\u2019s awesome song \u201cLead Me:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \n
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