Reputed as Nothing - Daniel 4:35

In the book of Daniel, Daniel shared how King Nebuchadnezzar “was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws. And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up my eyes unto heaven, and my understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honored him that lives for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:”, and in chapter four and verse thirty-five of his book Daniel said, “all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing” where we read,

And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What are you doing?

The verse reads, “And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth:” Daniel began with the words, “and all the inhabitants” or “and each, every, the whole and everyone of the dwellers and abiders” “of the earth” which means “belonging to the region, territory and world” “are reputed as nothing” or “are thought and accounted as not one thing”: “and he does” which means “and he, the Supreme Deity Jehovah God, acts and performs” “according to his will” or “in keeping with his, Jehovah God’s, desire and wish” “in the army of heaven” which means “within the powerful and strong force within the sky, atmosphere and sidereal heaven where God dwells and other spiritual beings”, “and among the inhabitants of the earth” or “and in the midst and middle of the dwellers and abiders in the region, territory and world”. Daniel shared how King Nebuchadnezzar said every person in the world are reckoned and considered as “nothing” because Jehovah God performs in keeping with His desire as the powerful force in “heaven” and in the midst of the people in the world. 

The verse goes on to say, “and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What are you doing?” Daniel continued with the words, “and none can stay his hand” which means “and not one person is able strike, smite or hinder his, the Supreme Deity’s, power, might and authority”, “or say unto him” or “utter, declare, proclaim or ask him, the Supreme Deity”, “what are you doing” which means “what is it that you, the Supreme Deity, are performing”? Daniel shared how King Nebuchadnezzar said no one is able to hinder the Supreme Deity Jehovah God’s power and authority nor were they in a position to ask Him what He is performing.

When we think through the words in this verse, we discover through Daniel more of King Nebuchadnezzar’s declaration concerning Jehovah God. After making His boastful declaration and eating grass like an animal, King Nebuchadnezzar knew every person falls short of the glory of God. (See Romans 3:23) No one is able to stop the authority of the Supreme Deity, and it is useless to ask in an accusatory manner what He is “doing”. God is sovereign, and His ways are always correct. We are limited in our knowledge and wisdom, and because God is omniscient, He knows we need a “Savior” to rescue us from the penalty of death for our sins. When He sent Jesus into the world to be crucified for the sins of all mankind and resurrected from the grave after three days, He made the way for everyone who believes and trusts in Him as their personal “Savior and Lord” to be forgiven of their sins, granted everlasting life and empowered by His Holy Spirit to live in a manner that not only acknowledges Him, but also seeks to obey Him in every area of their lives. 

Next time Daniel shares how King Nebuchadnezzar says, “at the same time my reason returned unto me”, 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".