TUESDAY, APRIL 24
Daniel 4:10-18
Ephesians 1:1-23

“… hath put all things under
his feet, and gave him to be the
head over all things to the church.”

THE MOST HIGH IS RULER

Even without Daniel’s interpretation, Nebuchadnezzar must have sensed that divine judgment was imminent. The shocking contrast between the magnificent tree and the banded stump, to say nothing of the personalized judgment, “Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him …” (Dan 4:16) must have struck deep into the conscience of the king.

Even worse, Nebuchadnezzar heard that the Most High not only rules sovereignly “in the kingdom of men,” but “giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men” (Dan 4:17)! Many Christians are shocked to learn of this fact too. How can a holy, transcendent God endanger His reputation and pollute His character by raising up evil men to positions of political power in the world?

Mysterious though this may be, the alternative is infinitely worse; namely, that Satan, or chance, rather than God, is ultimately in charge of the affairs of mankind. Without in any way compromising His holy nature, our great and glorious God can actually make “the wrath of man” to “praise” Him (Ps 76:10), and to enable Joseph to say to his wicked brothers: “ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good …” (Gen 50:20).

Christians who have a deep knowledge of the Word of God gain tremendous comfort from inspired statements such as these. Nothing evil can touch them, nor even the world of mankind, apart from the sovereign control of our Lord. Hitler did not appear by chance; nor did Lenin and Stalin arise in Russia through Satanic strategy to the surprise and frustration of God! Let us be thankful to the core of our being: “… the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men …” (Dan 4:17), and He will rule forever!

THOUGHT: “Jesus shall reign where’er the sun does his successive journeys run; His kingdom spread from shore to shore, till moons shall wax and wane no more.” (Issac Watts)
PRAYER: Teach me, Lord, to surrender voluntarily and daily to Thy sovereign rule in my life.