Day 3: Over all kingdoms
The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He will (Proverbs 21:1 - ESV).
Heavenly Father, You are the Lord Most High, the great King above all the earth. You reign over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne… the kings of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted (Psalm 47:2, 8-9).
The great king Nebuchadnezzar learned through a difficult, humbling experience the truth he had been given in a dream, ‘the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people’ (Daniel 4:17). And the Lord Jesus Himself told Pilate who gave His crucifixion order, “You would have no power over Me if it were not given to you from above” (John 19:11).
Lord, You change times and seasons; You depose kings and raise up others (Daniel 2:21). You accomplish Your purpose no matter the stratagems, maneuvers, and contrivances of human rule. The advance of Your great design transcends the wreckage of corruption, injustice, greed and oppression. The thunder of Your power rises above the din of violence, unrest, war and strife.
Through centuries of human government, the world has suffered long. Lives have been torn apart, and hearts have been crushed under the woes of sin and strife. The Lord Jesus described times set on the human calendar that would be characterized by wars and rumors of wars—times when nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom (Mark 13:7-8). And yet He left the reassuring words, Do not be alarmed (Mark 13:7).
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, we await the time when You will usher in a government and peace that will know no end—a time when You will establish and uphold Your kingdom with justice and righteousness... forever (Isaiah 9:6-7). We do not know Your divine timetable (Mark 13:32). But in every age, You instruct us, Be on guard! Be alert! Watch! And You have left us each with our assigned task (Mark 13:33-34, 37).
In these days we face times that often seem strange and difficult—we see events that often appear to be ominous. Fill our hearts with hope and trust, knowing that whatever the hour, Your unseen hand is accomplishing what You desire, achieving what You purpose. Teach us to look to You as You guide the course of history to the time when the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed... but... will... endure forever (Daniel 2:44).
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