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 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. But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him”, and in chapter five and verse twenty-one of his book Daniel told King Belshazzar how King Nebuchadnezzar, “was driven from the sons of men” where we read,
And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appoints over it whomsoever he will.
The verse reads, “And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses:” Daniel began with the words, “and he was driven” or “and he, Nebuchadnezzar, was cast away” “from the sons of men” which means “separate and apart from the offspring and progeny of human beings”; “and his heart” or “and his, Nebuchadnezzar’s, soul and mind” “was made like the beasts” which means “was fashioned and transformed similar and in likeness to animals”, “and his dwelling” or “and his, Nebuchadnezzar’s, habitation, abode and living place” “was with the wild asses” which means “existed among and in the midst of the untamed, undomesticated, feral, ferocious and savage donkeys”. Daniel shared how King Nebuchadnezzar was chased away from the offspring of people, and his soul and mind was fashioned similar to animals as he lived among savage donkeys.
The verse continues, “they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appoints over it whomsoever he will.” Daniel continued with the words, “they fed him with grass like oxen” which means “they, Nebuchadnezzar’s servants, nourished and cause him, Nebuchadnezzar, to eat herbage similar and in likeness to oxen”, “and his body” or “and his, Nebuchadnezzar’s, physical body” “was wet with the dew of heaven” which means “existed as moistened by the mist from the sky”; “till he knew” or “until such time that he, Nebuchadnezzar, was aware, understood and certified” “that the most high God” which means “that the highest Supreme Deity” “ruled in the kingdom of men” or “had mastery and authority within the realm belonging to human beings”, “and that he appoints over it” which means “and that he, the Supreme Deity, sets up, established and makes stand above and regarding the kingdom of men” “whomsoever he will” or “whatever person he, the Supreme Deity, desires and is pleased”. Daniel shared how the servants of Nebuchadnezzar provided hime with herbage like “oxen” eat, and his body continued to be moistened by the mist from the sky until such time that he understood that the Supreme Deity is the authority over all people and is able to choose whomever He desires to be their leader and ruler.
When we consider Daniel’s words in this verse, we discover how he continued to refer to the story of Belshazzar’s grandfather, Nebuchadnezzar’s, journey to becoming humble before Jehovah God. After going out of his mind, Nebuchadnezzar was chased away from his throne and people, lived like an animal with savage donkeys and was nourished with the herbage that “oxen” eat. Nebuchadnezzar’s body was continually wet because the mist from the sky fell on him, and it remained that way until he realized Jehovah God in “heaven” rules in the “kingdom of men”. God decides who will be in leadership positions and who will not. God is involved in the lives of people, and because He desires an intimate personal relationship with us, He sent His Son Jesus into the world to be crucified on the cross for our sins and raised from the grave after three days. When we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and equip us with His Holy Spirit so we remain close to Him and never need to live among the animals or be nourished with their food.
Next time Daniel shares how he tells King Belshazzar “you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart”, 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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