July 26, 2024

God intends to bring Israel together, though they're scattered worldwide. When they return to the promised land, they will bring their many children and remember the Lord. I think this portion of Zechariah is referring to when we are all gathered to Jesus at the end of time. Even though Israel has their own land now, they don't inhabit as much as the scripture says belongs to them because, in the end, that land wouldn't hold everyone who loves God, and we would be too numerous and would overflow the land. The promised land is much bigger than what is considered Israel now. What awaits us is the New Jerusalem, which has enough room to accommodate all of us. 

Early and late rain is mentioned, where early rain occurs in the fall during planting time, and later rain occurs in the spring when the crop starts to flourish. The latter rain fills the kernels of corn and wheat right before harvest. Are we getting close to harvest time? It seems like it, but we are still waiting for the latter rain to fill the kernels and for God to bring everyone to the threshing floor and burn the weeds that have been sown among us. What an amazing day that will be!

Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field. Zechariah 10:1

I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them. Zechariah 10:10

July 25, 2024

Zechariah 8 is a beautiful chapter. It begins with the promise of revenge against Israel’s enemies and the triumphs of God’s people. He proclaims that he will encamp around us for our protection, and no oppressor will pass through us anymore. We must remember that the Bible was written by many people from different times throughout history, but all had the help of the Holy Spirit. All of the pieces fit together like a puzzle. Keeping that in mind, the best part of this chapter is the prediction of the coming of the Messiah and His triumphant entry into Jerusalem on a donkey colt. You cannot get a clearer picture! We know from the gospel writers in the New Testament that, on what we now call Palm Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, and the people honored him by waving tree branches at him as he rode by. Even though Jesus is the King of kings, he positioned himself as lowly to show that he is a King for everyone, rich or poor. Jesus shall save his people, and we will be like the jewels of a crown and displayed like a flowing banner over the land. 

This verse may be my new favorite. It paints a beautiful picture of our position in Jesus. 

And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land. Zechariah 9:16

July 24, 2024

The word of the Lord came to Zechariah again, but this time, it would be about peace and prosperity in Jerusalem. After they were tormented and afflicted by other nations, God would have his vengeance upon those nations. The children would play in the streets, and happiness would abound because they felt safe. Men, women, and old people who were still full of life would also fill the streets. According to my commentary, this happened between the end of captivity and the time of Jesus. This portion of scripture gives us hope for our Christian nation that God would see the torment of our people and seek vengeance upon those who’ve caused it. I would love to see my grandchildren able to run the streets all day without fear and come home at dusk like their parents did. God loves us, and one way or another, whether here on earth or with Jesus in heaven, we will experience peace and tranquility. 

Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof. Zechariah 8:4-5

July 23, 2024

Zechariah not only prophesied, but he gave a good sermon. In chapter 7, he mentions fasting and praying and reprimands the people for fasting out of habit rather than doing it to honor God. It’s also a reminder not to say we are fasting for God when we know we are fasting to lose weight. Don’t let selfish ambition get in the way, and genuinely want to honor God with fasting and prayer. If you’re having trouble hearing God’s voice, you need to tune into his frequency, and fasting and praying are the ways to level up to that frequency.

The next portion of this sermon also deals with the heart. This one hit home with me! We know that God wants us to care for widows, orphans, and the poor and deal kindly with them, but did you know that we are not to imagine evil in our hearts towards our brothers (people you know or family)? You are not allowed to think terrible thoughts about your brother. Confession: when someone hurts me, especially when they hurt my family, my thoughts become vindictive against them. My anger causes my heart to devise a scheme to get them back. I may not act on those thoughts, but those thoughts are still sinful. Watch your thoughts, and I will work on mine.

And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. Zechariah 7:10

July 22, 2024

There are two visions in Zechariah 6. In the first portion, he has a vision of horses with chariots with the horses similar to the horses in Revelation. However, the second vision points to Jesus as the branch growing out of his place and building the temple. In the vision, people who still lived in Babylon came to visit, not to stay and help rebuild Jerusalem, but to bring silver and gold as their contribution. They must have been living in comfort in Babylon. In the vision, God told Zechariah to coronate and crown Joshua the high priest. The Joshua in this story is symbolic of Jesus, and Zechariah is therefore told to make two crowns, one of silver and one of gold, and crown him with both to symbolize that he was a priest in the order of Melchizedek, who was both king and priest. The silver represents a king, and the gold means a priest, which typifies the kingdom of the Messiah. Joshua would understand that he is a figure of the One to come.

Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest; And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: Zechariah 6:11-12

Significantly, the scripture says The Branch, Jesus, will build the temple of the LORD. We know from experience that Jesus is building His temple with people from around the world, including us. What a beautiful picture. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit of God and are built on the foundation of Jesus.

And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God. Zechariah 6:15

July 21, 2024

In Zechariah’s next vision, he saw a huge flying scroll that was unfurled. The scroll represents a curse that is extended to the whole earth, not just Israel. This curse is upon anyone who lies (swears falsely in the name of God) or steals, whether or not they are under the law of Moses. Those people who thought they would escape punishment for their sins because they were not Israelites were wrong. We have an unwritten law in our hearts and know the difference between good and evil. 

The angel then directed Zechariah to the vision of an ephah, a measuring utensil with a woman sitting in it and a lead weight on top of it and two winged women carrying it off. When you see a woman in a vision, she represents the church. This vision is harder to understand and was obscured so as not to discourage the Israelites from rebuilding the temple. It is thought that it eludes to them being disbursed throughout the world by the Romans after they crucified Jesus and terrorized the church. The vision said that the ephah would be set on a base in Shinar which is in Babylon. At this point, Israel was scattered. Their hearts were hardened and were lulled to sleep so they wouldn’t turn away from their wickedness to be healed. 

I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof. Zechariah 5:4

July 20, 2024

While the angel was speaking to Zechariah, he seemed tired and fell asleep because he had to awaken him. If we want to be a vessel for the word of God, we must overcome our flesh and wake up to the things of the spirit. Zechariah’s vision was of a golden candlestick with seven lamps, seven pipes for each of them, and a bowl for the oil that fed each of them; beside it were two olive trees. He asked the angel what it meant, and he said it represented the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, that the mountain of work he saw in front of him for rebuilding the temple was in God’s power, not his, and it would be brought down to rubble and that he would also finish what he had started.

Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. Zechariah 4:6-7

In his commentary, Matthew Henry says, “God will carry on and complete this work, as he had begun their deliverance from Babylon, not by external force, but by secret operations and internal influences upon the minds of men.” I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read this because a secret operation is going on to deliver the United States and the world that we know is coordinated by the hand of God. Little by little, the pieces will fall into place. 

For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth. Zechariah 4:10

Zechariah then asked about the olive trees. However, he had to ask twice because the angel didn’t answer him the first time. When praying, if you don’t get an answer the first time, ask again. He explained that they provided the oil that kept the candle fed and represented the anointed ones, in this case, Zerubbabel and Joshua. However, spiritually, it representsJesus and the Holy Spirit that feeds into the Father, who represents the Golden Candlestick.

July 19, 2024

Zechariah is now met with another vision: that of Joshua, the high priest, and Satan standing next to him, waiting to accuse him. This Joshua is a different one than most of us know from other Bible stories; he came out of captivity and presided over the other priest. In Zechariah’s vision, Joshua was dressed in filthy garments, which is believed to be because some of the priests under his command had taken wives while in Babylon and were considered a stain on the priesthood. Jesus, the angel of the LORD, who is another Joshua (savior), rebuked Satan, took away his filthy garments, and replaced them with clean clothes, removing his iniquity. Jesus called Joshua a firebrand because he snatched him out of the fire without quenching his flame and saved him from becoming the prey to Satan. 

And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by. Zechariah 3:6-7

A beautiful change happened when Jesus called us to Himself. Though we were clothed in filthy garments, Jesus saw our hearts and cleansed us of all unrighteousness, clothing us in the garments of the priesthood, just like Zechariah saw in his vision of Joshua. We are a people genuinely blessed by God.

I can feel the winds of change in the air. Can you feel it? Take a deep breath.  

July 18, 2024

Zechariah had a vision of an angel with a measuring line, a representation of Jesus. Another angel was there, and Zechariah asked him what he was doing. 

And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein: Zechariah 2:4

Jesus was making sure there was enough room for everyone. Then he called for everyone to come out of Babylon and return to their land because He was about to deal harshly with those who hurt his people, the apple of his eye. When God decides to recompense the wicked, we need to get out of the way so we are not affected by His wrath upon others. What’s more, we will get back everything the enemy has taken away.

And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. Revelation 18:4

I believe Zechariah 2 is a command for God’s people to leave Babylon and return to their true home. It also serves as a prophecy of the future, when God will call us out of this world to the New Jerusalem. The passage describes a city without walls, surrounded by fire, and most importantly, it promises that God will dwell among His people. What a glorious future awaits us! 

And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee. Zechariah 2:11

July 17, 2024

There must be a reason that God has had me covering everything up to Israel's release from Babylon over the last several books. I've had a couple of revelations through things that the Holy Spirit showed me during my walks on the beach. I thought the signs were about something personal. However, this morning, I realized that they may have had to deal with our country's release from captivity, that doors were opening, and that clarity was coming about our situation in the United States. God loves his people even though we are as filthy as dirty rags and sin against Him daily; he longs to comfort us and give us hope. The children of Israel were in captivity for seventy years for their sins against God. As the seventy years ended, God gave Zechariah visions of what would come. These visions came during the second year of King Darius, who sent them back home to repair the wall and rebuild the temple of God. 

In Zechariah 1, a man on a red horse, a depiction of Jesus, was hidden among the myrtles. He had been throughout the earth, and the angel wanted to know how much longer he was going to keep Israel in captivity. Jesus comforted him with His words. The angel told Zechariah to cry out and tell the people that God was jealous of Jerusalem, that he was angry with the nations oppressing them, and that his people would prosper once again. The last few verses of this first chapter show us the four horns of the nations that scattered God's people, and that revenge is coming through four carpenters. It is believed that the four carpenters were Zerubbabel and Joshua, Ezra, and Nehemiah, who worked diligently despite their opposition. 

Compare that to what we see today and the opposition to those of us who seek freedom from the tyranny of the current administration. There is a Mighty power controlling the outcome, and time will tell us that God is in control! Wait for it: it will surely come.

And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words. Zechariah 1:13

July 16, 2024

Though I may not have been given a complete understanding of all the details of this prophecy, I can encourage you with the words written by Daniel and the words spoken by Jesus. Antiochus was terrible and was a type of antichrist, a ruler that ravaged the nation of Israel. The tribulation will mimic the rule and reign of Antiochus but will be far worse. The antichrist will be very cunning and draw people to him where even the elect, Christ-followers, could be deceived. We should know that Jesus will come in the clouds like lightning, and all will see and know it’s him. Don’t allow yourself to be drawn away by anyone claiming that they are he. There are a lot of biblical events lining up that give us clues into the timing of his return, including signs in the stars and weather-related happenings. We are primed to see him return and are privileged to live in this time, even though it may be stressful to watch or endure. However, like Noah and his family, God removed them from the situation so they didn’t have to endure the devastation of drowning in the flood. I found information in some other historical writings that Noah and his family were not the only ones left who loved the Lord, but God had them quietly pass away before the devastation occurred. I expect that God will take us out so we also don’t have to endure. Time will tell. 

The vision in chapter twelve that Daniel was given was gorgeous! Daniel saw Jesus standing in the middle of the river with two angels, one standing on each side of the bank. He was standing on the water! Then what did Jesus do while physically here on earth? He walked on the water! He raised his hands in a promise that the revelations in this prophecy were trustworthy and true and gave the number of days that this would take place. Now is not the time to be shy about your faith and love for Jesus. Time is short, so share Him lavishly!

Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. Daniel 12:10

July 15, 2024

Antiochus Epiphanes, who I mentioned in the July 12th post for Daniel 8, the little horn that sprang up on the goat from one of the four horns, was vile and a destroyer of the people of God and desecrated the temple by placing his god, Jupiter Olympus, to replace God in the temple and took away the daily sacrifice. He removed all the gods from other religions and replaced them with the Egyptian gods. I covered the different characters in this prophecy in the July 12th devotional. Daniel 11 covers the details of the prophecy explained by Gabriel when he met with Daniel after hearing his prayer, which now we know in hindsight, came to play out as prophesied by Daniel. 

If you think things are bad now, imagine being an Israelite during the time of Antiochus and trying to follow God’s commands. He hung the children and took out the mothers who kept the practice of circumcision, and that’s just one example of his cruelty. 

When it came time for his end, no one would help him as Daniel had predicted when he said he would be broken without hands. 

And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. Daniel 11:45 

One thing I’ve noticed and something we should be grateful for is that God will sometimes help us by removing us and taking us into his glory. Don’t be afraid to die. Be more scared to live when cruelty abounds. Pray that we never have to see the day that we lose our freedom to worship God and honor Jesus. 

July 14, 2024

It took me a minute to dig through commentaries until I understood this chapter. I am learning as I go because it seems complicated. However, I found an understandable explanation in the Jamieson-Faucet-Brown commentary, which explains that Daniel 10 answered Daniel's prayer in Chapter 9 for the vision of the ram and the goat of Chapter 8. I would have put two and two together if I had read ahead. But being stubborn, I tried to understand one chapter at a time, which, in this circumstance, doesn't work. It shows that when studying the Bible, you may need to read the chapters before and after to see the whole picture.

After Daniel had fasted and prayed for 21 days to understand the vision from Chapter 8 about the ram and goat, the angel Gabriel visited him. The angel revealed that he had heard Daniel's prayer at the beginning of his fasting, but was delayed in a spiritual battle against the prince of Persia. 

But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Daniel 10:13

Through Gabriel, God reaffirmed His deep love for Daniel. This revelation is a testament to the personal and intimate relationship God shares with each of His beloved.

And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me. Daniel 10:19

The vision is explained in Daniel 11. 

The takeaway from Daniel 10 is that God hears our prayers, but we must be patient and wait for the answer. Leave your request with God; He hears you. Stand firm in your faith that He is just and fair and will answer you when the time is right. 

July 13, 2024

Knowing the seventy years of the desolation of Jerusalem was coming to an end, Daniel prayed for his people. He confessed the sins of wickedness and rebellion, and the people rejecting and transgressing God’s law. Daniel poured out his heart to God on behalf of the people and asked that his wrath be turned away from them. He asked that God hear his prayer, and while still praying, the angel Gabriel appeared to him and touched him. Although frightened, he knew who he was because he had appeared to him before. It was during the time that there would have been the evening sacrifice had the altar not been destroyed. Gabriel brought word to Daniel from God that he was deeply loved and gave him insight into his vision. He informed him that from the going out of the word to rebuild Jerusalem to the time of Jesus was seventy weeks of years. There is some confusion as to the exact time this took place. However, we know that within the seventy weeks of years, 490 years, Jesus came to save us and to completely do away with the need for sacrifices because his sacrifice was enough to satisfy the Father. Most of the “holy people” still do not believe he has already come and that Daniel’s answer to prayer has already been fulfilled.

The Lord hears your prayers and intercedes on your behalf just as he did Daniel. However, we should confess our sins, offer our praise and worship to the Holy One, and allow Him to work out the details. Pray for our country and the other countries of the world. We are all in great need and require divine intervention.

“Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. Daniel 9:24

July 12, 2024

Daniel had a vision of a ram with two horns, one higher than the other, and a goat with one horn between his eyes. The goat, though smaller, overpowered the ram. However, the horn broke off, and four more horns sprang up. Out of one of the horns, a smaller horn grew. The ram was the Medes and the Persians, with the Persians being the higher horn. The goat's big horn was none other than Alexander the Great. Antiochus was the small horn that came out of the four smaller horns after the big horn broke off. 

Alexander was quite accomplished, nearly ruling the entire world. He sat on his bed and cried because he had no other land to conquer. He died without heirs, and the kingdom was divided between four of his guards, who were represented by the four horns that sprang up on the head of the goat. Of those four, Antiochus represents the smaller horn that came from one of the horns. This describes the Roman Empire. He mistreated and scattered the holy people to the four winds. He set up his god, Jupiter Olympus, in the temple and stopped the daily sacrifices. Shortly after he did that, God gave him a disease of worms, which made him rot while still alive, and his stench was so foul that no one wanted to come near him. This disease lasted a while, and he tried to make amends with the holy people, but it was too late. Daniel had to close up this vision so the Persians wouldn’t become incensed by it and give the sacred people a hard time. 

A kingdom and its government will fail that rejects God and oppresses His people, especially if they replace God with their fake idols. The Almighty dearly loves us, and he will avenge us one way or another. Wait for it; it shall surely come! 

And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days. Daniel 8:26

July 11, 2024

Daniel had a dream similar to Nebuchadnezzar, only his contained four beasts. These beasts represent monarchs or monarchies. The first was a lion with wings, which represented the Chaldean monarchy. The second beast was like a bear and represented the Persian empire. The third beast was a leopard, representing the Grecian monarchy ruled by Alexander the Great. The fourth beast is a little more complicated to define; is it the Roman Empire, Syria, or someone else?  This beast had ten horns; three failed, and another one came up in their place. It had eyes like a man and a mouth that spoke eloquently. This last beast made war upon the saints and prevailed. Has this already happened? Are we in the midst of it, or has this yet happened? I have so many questions and a bit of anxiety over what may be coming. However, this beast will not prevail against Jesus, the Ancient of Days; he relieves my fear and anxiety, and I remain in perfect peace even with dreadful possibilities. We are not of this world, should have no fear of what man can do to our bodies but have dominion over our own lusts and corruptions, and have victory over Satan and his temptations. We win! Jesus covered all those sins. 

I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. Daniel 7:21-22

July 10, 2024

King Darius set up his government with princes and presidents, including Daniel, who was one of the three presidents of which he was the head. Darius most loved Daniel because he was fair in his business dealings and could be trusted. However, even to this day, if someone prospers over others, they have those who want to see them fail. In Daniel’s case, the presidents and princes devised a plan to take him down. Knowing that he prays and petitions God three times a day, they went before Darius and proposed that he put a moratorium on petitioning anyone other than him for thirty days. They told him that all had consented to this new law that couldn’t be undone once sealed by the king. He agreed to it, and no sooner than it was signed into law, they found Daniel on his knees, faithful in prayer to God. They seized him and sent him to the lion’s den. Darius couldn’t help him even though he tried. King Darius couldn’t sleep and refused to be consoled by music. He prayed and fasted before God on behalf of Daniel. That following day, King Darius hurried to the den, hopeful God had saved him. Much to his relief, he found him alive and unharmed by the lions. Daniel told him an angel of God closed the mouths of the lions. Because of their treachery, the other princes and presidents were thrown into the den along with their wives and children. 

This story is full of lessons of prayer, fasting, and faith. Daniel humbly prayed three times a day on his knees. Darius prayed and fasted on behalf of Daniel. Both had faith that God would deliver him, and He did! However, the one lesson I took away from this story, above the others, is to remain faithful to your duty to God through Jesus without fear of suffering, even if your life depends on following unscrupulous laws. What good is your life if you deny God or you are found guilty of cowardice?

Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. Daniel 6:21-22

July 9, 2024

Babylon is now under the kingship of Belshazzar, son of Evil-Merodach, and the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar. The Medes and Persians were waiting for the opportunity to overtake Babylon when Belshazzar decided to have a party. During the party, he called for the cups seized from the temple of God when the Israelites were taken captive. When they drank their wine from those cups, a hand appeared and wrote on the wall. Belshazzar quickly called for the astrologers to interpret the writing, but they failed. Then he called his queen-mother, and she suggested Daniel. She knew he was full of a spirit that wasn’t human. Belshazzar offered Daniel scarlet clothing, a chain of gold, and to become the third ruler in the kingdom if he could tell him the meaning of the writing on the wall. Daniel rejected his offer but told him the interpretation of the words. 

And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. Daniel 5:25-28

Belshazzar then clothed him as he promised. That night, Belshazzar was killed, and Darius the Median took over the kingdom. This timeline puts us squarely into the arms of the statue in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. 

Be very careful not to sully the sacred things dedicated to God. He doesn’t take kindly to that type of behavior. Nowadays, who or what is sacred to God? You and I. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit of God, who is not human. Make sure you treat your body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Him. 

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:1-2

July 8, 2024

After consulting the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and the soothsayers over another dream, Nebuchadnezzar finally remembered that Daniel could interpret his dream. He told him about his dream, and Daniel was stunned for an hour because he knew the implications. An angel, also called a watcher in the text, had come down, and the king had dreamed of a large tree that fed all the people, birds, and animals, and it was cut down with only the root remaining. His heart would change to a beast, he would eat grass, and seven years would pass until he proclaimed that God controls everything, including the kingdom of men and its rulers. Daniel knew the tree was the king and feared telling him. However, the king wanted to know whether good or bad, so Daniel interpreted the dream. A year passed, and Nebuchadnezzar forgot the dream and became arrogant, touting his power.

The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? While the word wasin the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. Daniel 4:30-31

God humbled him, and he lived as a beast in the pasture for seven years until he admitted that God was King of heaven. When he did, God restored his mind and his power, and he honored God.

This story serves as a stark warning against pride and the belief that our success is solely due to our own efforts. The truth is, no one succeeds unless God allows it. He will intervene, as he did with Nebuchadnezzar, to teach us a lesson if we fail to give Him the glory for our success. This inevitability of God's intervention should reassure us of His presence and control in our lives. We are nothing without God, and we must always humble ourselves before Him.