Scripture:
Daniel 2:31-38, 44-49
Thu, 16 March 2023

Kingdoms Rise and Kingdoms Fall

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about kingdoms?

Deeper Reflection
What will most easily and naturally get attention: a great statue of “extraordinary splendour” and “awesome appearance” or an ordinary stone? Obviously, the great statue. In speaking to Nebuchadnezzar in his dream, God chose “a stone” (v.34) to represent His Kingdom – “a kingdom which will never be destroyed” and “will itself endure forever” (vv.44). God’s choice of “a stone” reveals His ways of subversive wisdom.The statue and the stone show a contrast. The contrast confronts us with the issue of appearance and reality. In appearance, the stone looks ordinary, but not so in reality. The stone is “cut from a mountain, but not by human hands” (v.34, NLT), unlike the great statue that is designed by the human mind and built by human hands. Jesus, who embodies the Kingdom of God and is Himself the true King, came to earth as “Jesus of Nazareth” (Jn 1:45-46). And Nazareth was a town “considered totally insignificant”17 . By appearance, Jesus was “totally insignificant”. But Jesus is “that stone…on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust” (Lk 20:17-18), just like the stone that “struck” and “crushed” the human kingdoms of the statue “so that not a trace of them was found” (vv.34-35).In history, kings and kingdoms rise and fall. Kings rise because “the God of heaven has given” them “the kingdom, the power, the strength and the glory” (v.37). And God can easily and effortlessly “put an end to all” human kingdoms (v.44) and “all at the same time” (v.35). God’s people in exile can rest in this God.
17 Herman Ridderbos, The Gospel of John: A Theological Commentary (Eerdmans, 1997), 88
Application:

What changes do I need to make in my perspectives on the kingdoms of
the world?

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 Outreach/Missions/New Life leaders: To live by the values and power of God’s Kingdom
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self
 

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Sun, 31 December 2023

Sunday Journal

Past Week’s Review
  • What was my high point and my low point for the week?
  • What gave me life and what drained me?
  • How was the Spirit of God at work?
Reflect

What is one key thing that God said to me this week in light of what has happened?

Respond

What is one thing I need to do in light of what God is saying?
Commit in prayer.

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