The King Of Heaven

DANIEL 4

American poet and playwright Arlington Robinson (1869–1935) won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry on three occasions and was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature four times. Robinson used to spend his summers at the MacDowell Colony near Peterborough, New Hampshire. Arriving at breakfast one morning, he found the writer Nancy Byrd Turner and a new member of the colony already seated at his table. "This is Mr. Robinson," said Turner to her companion.

"Robinson! Not E.A. Robinson -- not the Mr. Robinson?" gushed the other woman.

There followed a long, uncomfortable pause, then Robinson replied, "A Mr. Robinson." (Today in the Word)

King Nebuchadnezzar was the greatest and most powerful of the Babylonian kings. He was the oldest son of Nabopolassar, the founder of the Neo-Babylonian, or Chaldean, dynasty of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and carried the people of Judah into captivity in Babylon. Ruling for 43 years, Nebuchadnezzar was the longest-reigning king of the Babylonian dynasty. (Wikipedia)

What are we to guard against when we are at the top of the world, to be the top dog, the top of the heap? How are we to prevent pride from taking over our lives? Why is it more proper and preferable to acknowledge ourselves as a subordinate, a steward and a servant of God?

Be Transformed by Difficulties

1 King Nebuchadnezzar, To the peoples, nations and men of every language, who live in all the world: May you prosper greatly! 2 It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me. 3 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation. 4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented and prosperous. 5 I had a dream that made me afraid. As I was lying in my bed, the images and visions that passed through my mind terrified me. 6 So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me. 7 When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me. 8 Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream. (He is called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.) 9 I said, "Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me. 10 These are the visions I saw while lying in my bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous. 11 The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. 12 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the beasts of the field found shelter, and the birds of the air lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed. 13 "In the visions I saw while lying in my bed, I looked, and there before me was a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven. 14 He called in a loud voice: 'Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches. 15 But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field. "'Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. 16 Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times pass by for him. 17 "'The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men.' 18 "This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you."

I’m a big fan of animals on Youtube in their show of force and fortitude. Do you know who’s undefeated in the forest or jungle? Not the lion who fears the elephant. Not the elephant who fears the rat. Not the crocodile who fears the cheetah. Not the eagle who fears the tree-climbing bear who climbs up the tree for its eggs. Not the bear who fears noise. Some of the fearless animal and insects are, surprisingly, the mosquito, the hornet, the tarantula spider, the honey badger, marten and the wolverine.