DAY 21: THE RICHES OF GOD’S MERCY IN THE OLD TESTAMENT IV- NEBUCHADNEZZAR

 THE RHEMA WORD FOR TODAY

(A DAILY DEVOTIONAL WITH PREACHER SAM)

 

TOPIC: THE RICHES OF GOD’S MERCY IN THE OLD TESTAMENT IV- NEBUCHADNEZZAR

DATE: 21 SEPTEMBER, 2021

BIBLE READING: DANIEL 4:28-37

VERSE FOR MEDITATION: EXODUS 33:19 NLT

The LORD replied, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name, Yahweh, before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.”

 

Nebuchadnezzar, just like Samson, learned about the mercy of God in a hard way.

God does nothing on this earth without revealing His plans to His servants the prophets (Amos 3:7). Nothing happens just like that, though there are instances that some things would happen without the knowledge of God’s servants and friends. This is the sovereign act of God, and this cannot be questioned (Rom. 9:18-22). But in most cases, nothing happens just like that, there are people on earth that God share His secrets with. This is the mercy of God!

Before God destroyed the earth by flood, He made known His plans to Noah (Gen. 6:13). Before Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by fire, He made known His plans to Abraham (Gen. 18:17). And before Nebuchadnezzar was humiliated, God gave him the interpretation of his dreams through His servant; the prophet, Daniel (Dan. 4:4-27). The reason why God acts this way is because of the riches of His mercies to men.

The Scripture says, “The earth is the Lord’s…” (Ps. 24:1). And this earth, He has given it to us as a possession (Ps. 2:8; 115:16). That is why God must discuss with certain men that have become watchers before acting (Dan. 4:17 c.f. Amos 3:7). That is how rich is His mercy.

Even with that, Nebuchadnezzar still chose to learn the mercy of God through the hard way. Prophecies are sometimes given so that at least a man can arise in the place of prayer and avert evils. Hezekiah the King did that, he changed the prophecy in prayers. Abraham did, though he stopped at ten that was why Sodom was still destroyed. Nebuchadnezzar was told the interpretation of his dream, but he failed to act, that was why he was greatly humiliated. This is how rich is His mercy, not willing that any evil will befall us.

What Nebuchadnezzar could have enjoyed was the sovereign mercy of God, but he was so full of himself. Sometimes God by His own permissive will allow evil to befall on us, so that we could see the need for His mercy. But why learn through the hard way? Let mercy leads.

 

PRAYER: Dear God, if I had learnt of Your riches of Your mercies through the hard way, please I’m sorry. Let Your mercy lead again

 

DECLARATION: I HUMBLE MYSELF THIS DAY, SO THAT GOD’S RICH MERCY MAY LEAD.

 

JOURNEY THROUGH THE PAULINE’S EPISTLE: 1 THESSALONIANS 1-3