In the book of Daniel, Daniel shared how Belshazzar was greatly troubled because he saw a hand writing on the wall, and when his wise men were not able to tell him what the writing said or meant, he called for Daniel who said, “O you king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honor”, and in chapter five and verse nineteen of his book, Daniel told King Belshazzar, “all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him” where we read,
And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.
The verse reads, “And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him:” Daniel began with the words, “and for the majesty” or “and on behalf of the magnitude and greatness” “that he gave him” which means “that he, the Supreme Deity granted, bestowed and assigned to him, Nebuchadnezzar”, “all people” or “each, every, the whole and everyone of the human beings”, “nations” which means “people groups and tribes”, “and languages” or “and tongues and speeches”, “trembled and feared before him” which means “quaked and were afraid in front and in the presence of him, Nebuchadnezzar”. Daniel shared how every one of the “people, nations and tongues” quaked and were afraid of Nebuchadnezzar because of the greatness the Supreme Deity Jehovah God bestowed upon him.
The verse continues, “whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.” Daniel added the words, “whom he would he slew” which means “whatever person he, Nebuchadnezzar, desired to kill and destroy, he did”; “and whom he would he kept alive” or “and whatever person he, Nebuchadnezzar, desired to allow to live, he allowed them”; “and whom he would set up” which means “and whatever person he, Nebuchadnezzar, extolled and lifted up, he lifted them up”; “and whom he would he put down” or “and whatever person he, Nebuchadnezzar, abased, subdued and humbled, he subdued”. Daniel shared how Belshazzar’s grandfather was given the absolute power by Jehovah God to kill whoever he desired, keep alive whoever he desired, lift up whoever he desired and subdue whoever he desired.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Daniel how Belshazzar’s grandfather Nebuchadnezzar had absolute power among people and nations. He basically did whatever he desired, and if he wanted to kill someone, he did. If he wanted to allow someone to live, they did, and if he wanted to raised a person up or put them down, he did. God gave him this power and authority, and because God also humbled him later, this served as a good basis for Belshazzar to consider. God gives gifts and power to whomever He wills, and He gave us the gift of His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of everyone and was raised from the dead after three days. When we surrender our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us who will distribute gifts to us to use in His Kingdom according to His perfect will and purpose.
Next time Daniel shares how he tells King Belshazzar what happened to King Nebuchadnezzar, “when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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