God Removes and Establishes Kings
Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Daniel 2:17-30. In Daniel 2, King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream while he was sleeping, but when he woke up he couldn’t remember the dream. He asked the Chaldeans, who were considered to be the wisest men in the land, to reveal his dream and interpret it for him. The king was so angry they couldn’t do as he requested that he threatened to destroy all the wise men in Babylon.
Daniel questioned Arioch, the king’s captain, why the king was so anxious to destroy all the wise men. Arioch told Daniel about the king’s dream. Daniel went to his house and told his companions about the problem. He asked them to pray about the situation with him. Daniel was afraid they would be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
Daniel was a wise man. He understood the importance of seeking God’s wisdom as well. My point of sharing this story is not so much the story, but Daniel’s response to God answering his prayer in verses 20-23. Daniel praises God for his wisdom and might. He acknowledges God for changing the times and seasons. Daniel says it is God who establishes and removes kings. It is God who gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those of understanding. He reveals deep and secret things to the people of God who seek His face. He is very much aware of the evil and darkness in this world even though He is the light of the world.
As we reflect on history and the leaders that have been in control throughout the ages we must remember that God plays a role in the events of this world. Even during biblical times we can see where God directed the paths of different leaders. He blessed the people when there were leaders who followed His will. He also caused leaders to be overthrown when they were disobedient to Him.
We have our part to play in electing government officials, but God also directs in the lives of people and the affairs of this world. We need to seek God’s face concerning the events of this world. We need to pray for our leaders and our countries and ask God to lead, guide, and direct in them.
Even in democratic countries we may not always get our way in the election of government officials, but at least we have the right to vote our convictions. Then, once the election is done, we need to accept the candidates that the election process has revealed to be the people’s choice. We need to pray for them and do our part as citizens to support them in their duties as leaders of our country.
Daily Bible Reading:
Daniel 2:17-30
17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:
18 That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
23 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter.
24 Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation.
25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation.
26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?
27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;
28 But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;
29 As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.
30 But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.
Things to think about:
- What was the king’s dilemma?
- Who came to the king’s rescue?
- Who did Daniel seek in answering the king’s problem?
- What did Daniel have to say about God?
- Who did Daniel give credit to for his wisdom?
- What did we learn from this lesson about God’s role in establishing and removing leaders?
Prayer of the Day:
Dear Heavenly Father,
We thank You for this Scripture. We thank You for Daniel and his love for You. We thank You that You are the one who gives wisdom to the wise and understanding to those of knowledge. We thank You that You establish and remove leaders of this world, even today. We pray that You would help us to understand our part as citizens to support and pray for our leaders. Help us to be the kind of citizens that You would be proud of. Help us to do our part to make our countries great. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
This is an excerpt from Christians Response to Government.
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Featured Book:
Christians Response to Government
by Deborah H. Bateman
Christians Response to Government is a Daily Bible Reading Study by Deborah H. Bateman. It is Book 32 in the Daily Bible Reading Series. Deborah wrote this book in response to the events surrounding the 2016 United States Presidential election. This book was born as she searched her own heart to try to determine how to respond in this election. She searched the Scriptures to see what God had to say about what our response as Christians should be to government and decided to share what she discovered with you. Hopefully this book enlightens you and helps you to know how to respond in a godly way to the powers that be. Remember to check out the other books in the Daily Bible Reading Series by Deborah H. Bateman.
Christians Response to Government contains ten Daily Bible Reading Lessons. Each lesson contains a brief commentary by the author, the Daily Bible Reading Scriptures, a few questions for contemplation and discussion, which the author calls “Things to think about,” and a Prayer of the Day.
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Deborah
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