RENOUNCE YOUR SINS

Passage: Daniel 4:19-27

Key verse: 27

NIV

Daniel Interprets the Dream

19 Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified(A) him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you.”(B)

Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! 20 The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, 21 with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the wild animals, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds(C)— 22 Your Majesty, you are that tree!(D) You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth.(E)

23 “Your Majesty saw a holy one,(F) a messenger, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live with the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.’(G)

24 “This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree(H) the Most High has issued against my lord the king: 25 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched(I) with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High(J) is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.(K) 26 The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots(L) means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules.(M) 27 Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed.(N) It may be that then your prosperity(O) will continue.(P)”

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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ESV

Daniel Interprets the Second Dream

19 Then Daniel, whose name was (A)Belteshazzar, was (B)dismayed for a while, and (C)his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, “Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, (D)may the dream be for those who hate you (E)and its interpretation for your enemies! 20 (F)The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth, 21 (G)whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived— 22 (H)it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. (I)Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, (J)and your dominion to the ends of the earth. 23 And because the king saw (K)a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, (L)‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till (M)seven periods of time pass over him,’ 24 this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, 25 (N)that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made (O)to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and (P)seven periods of time shall pass over you, till (Q)you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. 26 And as it was commanded (R)to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules. 27 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by (S)practicing righteousness, (T)and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, (U)that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.”

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Daniel was distressed about telling the king the bad news and tactfully said how he wished that the dream applied to Nebuchadnezzar’s enemies. Then, Daniel explained that the amazing tree in the dream applied to the king and his empire. He was the greatest on earth. But he would be cut down, live with the animals eating grass, and not restored until he confessed that God in Heaven is Most High. This nightmare would be Nebuchadnezzar’s future unless he accepted Daniel’s advice to renounce his sins and be kind to the oppressed. His empire reached to the ends of the earth. He had great authority to bring about justice to the poor and weak. But as long as he clung to his sins, he would blind himself to injustice and be found guilty by God. So, God gave Nebuchadnezzar this dream and Daniel as his adviser to give him an opportunity to repent and use his vast power for good.

We are easily the same. Success deprives us of the ability to keenly see our own weaknesses, especially our arrogant pride, indifference, loss of perspective, and powerlessness to do what is right. Let’s also hear God’s word to renounce our sins!

Prayer: Father, thank you for warning me to repent. Help me to hear your words today and humble myself. Grant me your Holy Spirit to repent and do what is right (Jn 16:8).

One Word: Renounce your sins