… the Most High is sovereign over all the kingdoms of the earth
and gives them to anyone he wishes
and sets over them the lowliest of people.
Daniel 4:17 (NIVUK)

A dangerous place

Judging by what we hear or see in the daily news, the world feels like an increasingly dangerous place – although we would be wise to recognise that this may be a relatively western and modern perspective.

Other parts of the world have long felt dangerous.  For example, there has been a war in the Democratic Republic of Congo for the last thirty years that has seen 3-5 million people killed or starved to death and a further 4 million displaced.  And other times in history have felt equally if not more dangerous.  Europe did not feel very safe or secure in 1939 on the eve of world war.

It’s in this context that we do well to recall the vision given to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and conqueror of Judah, in which he’s told that “the most High is sovereign over all the kingdoms of the earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.”  This is a truth that world leaders need to hear, and is meant to lead them to humility and repentance – which is indeed what happens to Nebuchadnezzar, so that he declares that “[The Most High] does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of earth” (Daniel 4:35).  So let’s pray that the leaders of the world today come to see this truth for themselves.

It’s also a truth that God’s people need to hear, that our God, “the Most High,” is indeed “sovereign over all the kingdoms of the earth.”  The book of Daniel was written to encourage God’s people that even in exile their God – our God – is still the only God.  Let’s pray, then, that God’s people (and especially those in the most troubled lands) would know this truth deeply.

Nebuchadnezzar had previously had another dream, interpreted for him by Daniel, in which he learned that “the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people.  It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure for ever” (2:44).  This is of course God’s own kingdom, which we would see coming in the person of Jesus Christ.

So we can sing with confidence:

Though the nations rage, kingdoms rise and fall, there is still one King reigning over all.
So I will not fear for this truth remains: That my God is the Ancient of Days. 

Prayer

Your kingdom come, for yours is the kingdom, for ever.  Amen.

Yours warmly, in Christ,

Chris Hobbs (Senior Minister)