THE LORD SPOKE (December 01)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Daniel 4

Nebuchadnezzar was corrupted by his vanity (vs. 4-27) but then he was corrected through insanity (vs. 28-33). Here’s a breakdown of the chapter:

1. Nebuchadnezzar’s Proclamation (vs. 1)
2. Nebuchadnezzar’s Praise (vs. 2-3)
3. Nebuchadnezzar’s Prosperity (vs. 4-8)
4. Nebuchadnezzar’s Privilege (vs. 9-12)
5. Nebuchadnezzar’s Pride (vs. 13-18)
6. Nebuchadnezzar’s Presumption (vs. 19-22)
7. Nebuchadnezzar’s Punishment (vs. 23-27)
8. Nebuchadnezzar’s Punishment Delayed (vs. 28-30)
9. Nebuchadnezzar’s Punishment Delivered (vs. 31-33)

Finally (vs. 34), he...

• Looked Up - “raised his eyes toward heaven”
• Woke Up - his “sanity was restored”
• Spoke Up - he “praised the Most High”

The grace of God was demonstrated...

1. in giving the dream at all
2. in providing a prophet like Daniel to interpret it
3. in the prophetic warning to repent
4. in spite of the rejection of the warning
5. in the humbling of Nebuchadnezzar (I Pet. 5:5-7)

Conclusion: (five thoughts about God’s discipline for you to consider)

1. He’s God and you’re not.
2. God’s discipline lasts until we learn the lessons He wants to teach us.
3. God’s discipline has the purpose of our restoration.
4. God’s discipline is not spiteful - it comes at the time and in the dose that we need.
5. God’s discipline is not something you want to experience. Better is to obey.

Proverbs 1

How do you “acquire a disciplined and prudent life” (Prov. 1:3)? A good starting place is right here in this book. These proverbs were written for exactly that purpose.

What does discipline have to offer? A little farther into the book (Prov. 6:23), Solomon will tell us that it is the “way to life”. Because it brings correction, it sets a proper course and helps to keep us on track. Discipline in one area of life helps us to develop discipline in other areas. Contrariwise, indiscipline in one area can encourage it in others. That’s why we teach our children to make their beds in the morning. It sets a pattern throughout the day. That’s why the Army concentrates on discipline - it breeds character.

What happens to those who ignore or turn away from godly discipline? “Fools” are they who do so (Prov. 1:7). They will be easily enticed by sin (Prov. 1:10) and will be overtaken by calamity (Prov. 1:26). Disaster will sweep over them and they will ultimately be destroyed (Prov. 1:27,32). But it is God’s grace that leads us “to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age” (Tit. 2:11-12).

One of His most excellent means of doing so is this book of proverbs - collected wisdom to show us the paths of life.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done;
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father’s full giving has only begun.
His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power has no boundary known unto men;
For our of His infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

Annie Johnson Flint