Scripture:
Psalm 59:5-9; 67:3-4; Joel 3:9-12
Wed, 25 January 2023

Judge of the Nations

Observation:

In what ways do these verses reveal the LORD as “Judge of the nations”?

Deeper Reflection
The Lord is the impartial Judge of every nation (v.5; Psa 67:4). Both Israel and her enemies were chastised by God’s hand, and suffered the punishment of His judgment. Other nations were used as instruments in God’s hand, to mete out His discipline upon them.For her persistent unfaithfulness and refusal to repent from sin (particularly idolatry), God chastised the nation of Israel, His favoured nation (1 Chron 5:25-26; 9:1). Shockingly, God used Israel’s enemy nations as his chosen instruments to exact punishment on her. Assyria captured the Northern Kingdom of Israel and deported her people in 722 B.C. (2 Kin 15:29), while the Southern Kingdom of Judah fell to Babylon and her people were exiled in 586 B.C. (2 Kin 25:1-21).Nevertheless, because they were excessively cruel towards Israel even as they executed God’s judgment, God also chastised Israel’s enemy nations (Joel 3:9-12; cf. Isa 2:4). Joel 3:12 depicts the Lord seated on His heavenly throne, exercising righteous judgment, “disposing of enemy nations by defeating them in war or by any means He chooses.”22And the Lord who judged Israel also delivered His people, as promised, after 70 years in exile. God used another pagan nation, Persia, as His instrument to release Israel from captivity. God chose Cyrus, the pagan king of Persia, to “fulfil all [His] purpose”, and even more astoundingly, called him “my shepherd” (Isa 44:28) and “His anointed…to subdue nations before him” (Isa 45:1)! Through Cyrus’ decree, the divine Judge of the nations freed the Jews to return to Jerusalem and avenged God’s wrath on the unbelieving nations.23
22 Douglas Stuart, Hosea-Jonah, vol. 31, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1987), 269. 23 John A. Martin, “Isaiah,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 1099.
Application:

How does the LORD being “Judge of the nations” affect my personal discipleship?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for leaders
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for Singapore: That Singaporeans would acknowledge God’s divine sovereignty over our land
  • Pray for self
 

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Scripture:
Daniel 5:7-17
Wed, 31 May 2023

Answering God’s Call in Vocation

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about Daniel?

Deeper Reflection
Daniel did not choose to serve Babylonian kings in Babylon. It was circumstances – a national crisis of his country – that compelled Daniel to be where he was and doing what he was doing. Daniel did not have the privilege, opportunity or freedom to pursue a career of his own desire. However, it was out of these adverse circumstances, that Daniel discovered God’s call for him: To serve God through serving Babylonian kings. And God gave him the specific competency to fulfil God’s call (Dan 1:17). After Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar about his dream and the interpretation, he was “promoted” to be “ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon” (Dan 2:48).When Belshazzar gathered his wise men to interpret for him the inscription on the wall, Daniel was not among them. Daniel was not unknown to Belshazzar.59 He knew him as “one of the exiles from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah” and “appointed him chief ” over all the wise men of Babylon (vv.11-12). It was only when the queen mentioned Daniel to him, that Belshazzar called for him (vv.10-11). Belshazzar “deliberately ignored Daniel”60 . Daniel was sidelined. How do you respond to being sidelined? For Daniel, he felt secure. Daniel was secure because he had no ambition to climb the corporate ladder. He had no interest in rewards and promotion. Daniel said to Belshazzar, “Keep your gifts for yourself or give your rewards to someone else” (vv.16-17). But Daniel interpreted the inscription for Belshazzar. Daniel was answering God’s call for him.
59 Ernest C. Lucas, 131 60 Ernest C. Lucas, 131
Application:

What positive attitudes do I need to cultivate in my workplace?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for leaders
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for the Generations: To view their vocation as answering God’s call for their lives
  • Pray for self
 

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