[Study Aired December 6, 2021]

Dan 4:19  Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies. 
Dan 4:20  The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth; 
Dan 4:21  Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation: 
Dan 4:22  It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth. 
Dan 4:23  And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him; 
Dan 4:24  This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: 
Dan 4:25  That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 
Dan 4:26  And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule. 
Dan 4:27  Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity. 
Dan 4:28  All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. 
Dan 4:29  At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. 
Dan 4:30  The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? 
Dan 4:31  While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. 
Dan 4:32  And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 
Dan 4:33  The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws. 
Dan 4:34  And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: 
Dan 4:35  And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? 
Dan 4:36  At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. 
Dan 4:37  Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase. 

The previous study on the first part of Daniel Chapter 4 relates to the dream that Nebuchadnezzar had. We came to see that we are the tree that must be cut down because of our self-righteousness, signified by the tree’s height which reached the heavens and became a shade for all kinds of beasts. As indicated, being cut down means that we are going to be judged, and the result of this cutting down is to cause the beasts to leave the tree. In other words, our judgment brings about the dying of the beast within our old man.

Dan 4:14  He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:

Fortunately, our judgment does not destroy us. As a stump of a tree, we are given to grow again in the newness of the spirit.

Job 14:7  For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease. 
Job 14:8  Though its root grow old in the earth, and its stump die in the soil,
Job 14:9  yet at the scent of water it will bud and put out branches like a young plant. (ESV)

Isa 6:13  And though a tenth remain in it, it will be burned again, like a terebinth or an oak, whose stump remains when it is felled.” The holy seed is its stump. (ESV)

Today’s study focuses on coming to realize that we are beasts and the blessedness of this revelation.

Ecc 3:18  I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

Dan 4:19  Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.

The question is, “Why was Daniel astonied for one hour?” According to Strong, being astonied means being amazed or to wonder. We must remember that Daniel being amazed was because Nebuchadnezzar told him about his dream in which a very tall tree reaching the heavens with the beasts of the field dwelling in its shade and the birds of the heavens living in its branches was going to be cut down but not completely destroyed. As we indicated in the previous review, the tree represents us in our time in Babylon when the beast within, influenced by the devil, dominated us, and as a result we became worse off and needed to be judged signified by the cutting down of this tree. When we come to realize, through the scriptures, who we really are and that we need to be judged, we naturally become amazed of this revelation just as Daniel wondered for one hour. Being astonied means that our Lord had caught Daniel’s attention.

A similar reaction was shown by Moses when he wondered at the bush burning which was not being consumed. Again, the bush represents us, and the burning of the bush refers to our judgment. The bush burning and yet not being consumed means that our judgment will not destroy us. It is only our old man who is being put to death. It is the same as the tree being cut but the stump being left. Moses wondering at this sight means that the Lord had caught Moses’ attention.

Act 7:30  And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.
Act 7:31  When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him,
Act 7:32  Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.

These verses indicate that when our Lord gets our attention, by the revelation of who we are and the need to be judged, it is then that we begin to hear the voice of the Lord clearly.

In Daniel 4 verse 19, we are told that Daniel was amazed for one hour. The use of one hour in the scriptures usually relates to the fact that judgment is around the corner or it is being meted out speedily. The following scriptures are examples:

Rev 18:10  Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

Rev 18:17  For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,

Rev 18:19  And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

What we are being told in Daniel 4 verse 19 is that when we see who we really are and the fact that we are going to be judged, it means that our judgment is just around the corner. It is through this judgment that we get to hear the voice of the good shepherd.

Surprisingly, when Daniel heard the dream, his initial reaction was that the dream was for Nebuchadnezzar’s enemies. We all in our time in Babylon, thought that judgment was for others but not for us.

Dan 4:20  The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth; 
Dan 4:21  Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:
Dan 4:22  It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.

Here we are being shown that we are the beast as we see Daniel telling Nebuchadnezzar that the tree represents him. It is the same as the prophet Nathan telling David that the rich man in the parable which he told David was David.

2Sa 12:1  And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.
2Sa 12:2  The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:
2Sa 12:3  But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.
2Sa 12:4  And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.
2Sa 12:5  And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:
2Sa 12:6  And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
2Sa 12:7  And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

In this parable Nathan told David, the emphasis was on the rich man, just like king Nebuchadnezzar being rich in the sense that he had grown strong, and his greatness reached the whole world. Spiritually, richness signifies self-righteousness or iniquity. This is made clear by David’s reaction against the rich man. He suggested that such a man must die. He thought he was righteous and would not do such a thing and did not consider that he was the rich man until Nathan revealed it to him.

Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

It is a great blessing of the Lord to cause us to come to know who we are and the fact that we need to be judged. Without this realization of who we are, it is impossible to know Christ.

Mar 10:24  And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
Mar 10:25  It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

The whole story of Jesus’ encounter with the rich young man was to bring out the point that we need to know ourselves as being the worst sinner. The rich man believed in his self-righteousness. Jesus telling him to go sell all he had to come and follow Him is another way of saying that the young man must be poor or must come to the realization that he is spiritually poor before salvation can be his.

Mar 10:17  And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
Mar 10:18  And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
Mar 10:19  Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
Mar 10:20  And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
Mar 10:21  Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
Mar 10:22  And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

The man going away is to let us know that it is impossible for those who consider themselves as righteous (rich) to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Dan 4:23  And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him; 
Dan 4:24  This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:
Dan 4:25  That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

As we have indicated, we are the tree stump that will receive the dew of heaven which is the word of the Lord that is able to make us grow again in Him. To eat grass like oxen is to let us know that we are beasts. The seven years of Nebuchadnezzar becoming a beast represents the complete time of our walk in Babylon when we come to realize that we are beasts.

Ecc 3:18  I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

In verse 23, the tree stump being bound with iron and brass means that we are dragged by the Lord to Himself. The stump must be left in the tender grass of the field so that it will get wet with the dew of heaven. This is to suggest that our Lord will plant us in the church of the first born or the New Jerusalem so we can be beneficiaries of what every joint supplies, which is the word of God. Remember that grass of the field positively represents the elect.

Zec 10:1  Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.

“Thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field” signifies that we are being sent as sheep in the midst of wolves. In other words, we shall suffer persecution and be hated by all men.

Mat 10:16  Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Mat 10:17  But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
Mat 10:18  And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.

Mat 24:9  Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.

The statement “Till thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdoms of men and giveth it to whomsoever he will” means that all Nebuchadnezzar was about to go through was for the express purpose of coming to know Christ and His ways. The whole process of cutting down of the tree with the remains of the tree stump in the midst of the tender grass of the field, the falling down of dew of heaven and the making of Nebuchadnezzar to eat grass like oxen are all for the objective of coming to know how Christ is intervening in the circumstances of humanity to select a few (vessels of mercy) in this age and to make the rest of humanity vessels of wrath. The purpose for this is that:

Rom 9:22  What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
Rom 9:23  And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

This purpose is repeated in the next verse as follows:

Dan 4:26  And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.

The heavens do rule in verse 26 is the same as saying that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men or that Christ is the source of every human endeavor. That is also to say that Christ, with all the heavenly and earthly resources, is in the process of transforming a few as marred clay into His image for the purpose of bringing in all humanity as His sons in the lake of fire age.

Gen 1:26  And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Gen 1:27  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

This process of transformation is also highlighted by the following:

Jer 18:1  The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
Jer 18:2  Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.
Jer 18:3  Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.
Jer 18:4  And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

The heavenly and earthly resources available to Christ, and to us as His Christ, are as follows:

Mat 28:18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

As verse 26 stated, Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom shall not be taken away from him after he comes to know that heaven rules in the affairs of men. This is to let us know that it is through this process of judgment that we ensure the kingdom of heaven will be ours.

2Pe 1:10  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
2Pe 1:11  For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

The question is, “What things must we do to ensure that the kingdom of heaven shall be ours as stated in 2 Peter 1:10?” The preceding verses show us what to do. In saying this, we are not declaring that salvation is through our effort. God who has called us will enable us.

2Pe 1:3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2Pe 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2Pe 1:5  And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
2Pe 1:6  And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
2Pe 1:7  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
2Pe 1:8  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:9  But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

All these qualities we need to ensure that our calling and election are established, are obtained through the process of judgment signified by the cutting down of the tree.

Dan 4:27  Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity. 

If we accept that we are beasts and that we are going to be judged in our lives for our sins, then we have come to a place where our sins, together with our iniquities, shall be broken off and replaced by His righteousness. We shall know the Lord’s mercies and will therefore, be able to show mercy to all humanity in the age to come.

Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
Rom 11:32  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

Dan 4:28  All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. 
Dan 4:29  At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. 
Dan 4:30  The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

The number twelve stands for the number of Christ. So, what these verses are telling us is that it is when Christ comes into our lives, our iniquity of self-righteousness becomes obvious. Nebuchadnezzar, priding himself that it is his effort or power that he has built a kingdom, is the same as saying that it is through our own self-righteousness that we shall inherit the kingdom of God. It is at this point that the Lord comes in with His brightness to reveal and to destroy the old man or the wicked within us.

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

Dan 4:31  While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. 
Dan 4:32  And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

In verse 31, its says that while the king was boasting about his effort in building the kingdom, the voice of the Lord fell from heaven. It is unusual to describe a voice as falling from heaven. This voice of the Lord is the same as the Lord himself. So, the voice of the Lord falling from heaven is the Lord coming down to us from heaven with the brightness of His coming, which is His words. The Lord coming to us is to judge us as indicated by the pronouncement of judgment by the Lord on Nebuchadnezzar.

Joh 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2  The same was in the beginning with God.

We have already indicated that the whole issue of Nebuchadnezzar being driven from men to become like a beast and to dwell with them for a period seven years is for the purpose of coming to know Christ and His ways. That is what it means when the scripture says that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men. The kingdom being given to whomsoever he will signifies that the kingdom of heaven is given as a gift, and therefore not obtained by our own efforts.

Rom 9:16  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

Dan 4:33  The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws. 

Hearing the voice of the Lord through His words that we are marred in the hands of the potter, and therefore need to be judged, means that our judgment is right at the corner!! It was when Nebuchadnezzar heard the voice of the Lord concerning his transformation into a beast that his judgment came at the same hour.

Rev 18:10  Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

Rev 18:17  For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,

Dan 4:34  And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: 

This verse is showing us the benefits of our fiery trials. In the first place, at the end of Nebuchadnezzar’s trials, he lifted up his eyes to heaven. Lifting his eyes to heaven is another way of saying that he has come to realize that his help comes from the Lord.

Psa 121:1  A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 
Psa 121:2  My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
Psa 121:3  He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

Our fiery trials also bring to us understanding as we see Nebuchadnezzar getting understanding through his trials. In the scriptures, getting understanding is the same as getting wisdom, and wisdom means the fear of the Lord. So, through our trials, we are given to know the fear of the Lord.

Job 38:36  Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?

Job 39:17  Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.

Pro 9:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Our fiery trials bring us to appreciate the wonderful works of the Lord regarding how He takes us through trials, delivers us from our trouble, and brings us into our safe haven.

Psa 107:8  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 
Psa 107:9  For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
Psa 107:10  Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
Psa 107:11  Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:
Psa 107:12  Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.
Psa 107:13  Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:14  He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
Psa 107:15  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Dan 4:35  And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

Verse 35 continues with the benefits of our trials. We come to realize that everything happening to us, and the world at large, is according to the counsel of God and that no one can resist His will.

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Rom 9:19  Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?

Dan 4:36  At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.

We are being told here that when we get reason or understanding, we shall inherit the promise which is the joy that is set before us. As we indicated earlier, getting understanding occurs through our fiery trials as we see Nebuchadnezzar’s reason or understanding returned to him together with the restoration of his kingdom after his ordeal as a beast of the field.

2Co 4:17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 
2Co 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Rom 8:18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Dan 4:37  Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

We cannot help but give praise and glory to our Lord for His wonderful work of salvation which He is doing in our midst. In the fullness of time, all humanity will give Him the glory and honor for all he has done for humanity!!

Rev 5:9  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
Rev 5:10  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Rev 5:11  And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
Rev 5:12  Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
Rev 5:13  And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

Last week’s study ended by saying:

“Next week we will look at part two of our study entitled “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name” where we will look further into the works that God has preordained for His people and how the works are the foundational experience that God is giving us so that we can be trained up in His service.”

These works are described in the first verse we will be looking at tonight in this manner – “O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep” – and they are connected to the training which God is working in the life of His children.

These two verses below also demonstrate that God will finish what He has started in His people through those foundational works or training we experience and also remind us that we can look confidently unto the Lord as He goes about finishing this work within the body of Christ, both to will and to do of our Father’s good pleasure.

Php 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Although it has become obvious to us that it is the Lord working all things according to the counsel of His own will, we are yet admonished to say ‘Lord willing’ we will do this or that as we enter into this holy city, new Jerusalem, which is above.

Jas 4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city [Jerusalem above], and continue there a year [one year, the day of the Lord], and buy and sell, and get gain:
Jas 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Jas 4:15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

Gal 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

If we approach our life with this attitude of saying “ye know not what shall be on the morrow” and “if the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that” it will be because the Lord is granting us the mindset (1Co 2:16, Isa 66:2) to be able to give an accounting of our own life even today as His sovereign hand determines all the times and seasons in our life, which we see described to some degree for us in this particular passage of Psalms 104.

Psa 104:19 He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.
Psa 104:20 Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.
Psa 104:21 The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.
Psa 104:22 The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.
Psa 104:23 Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.
Psa 104:24 O LORD, how manifold [Eph 3:10] are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.

This is “The glory of the LORD [that] shall endure for ever: The LORD shall rejoice in his works” of Psa 104:32, and He will bring all of His creation into this place of judgment in time; a judgment which we are experiencing today, God willing (1Pe 4:17)! The judgment upon God’s people today is why “Jerusalem which is above is free”, and it is His judgment in our life that directs us to that place of freedom and liberty in the spirit (2Co 3:17-18). This is all connected to our first verse we will be looking at tonight “O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep” .

The heavens also declare God’s glory both the physical without and the spiritual heavens within us (Psa 19:1). Outwardly it is true the heavens declare God’s glory, but those outward signs in the heavens keep the carnal Christian looking outwardly and not inwardly where the Lord is granting his people to be aware and affected by the reality of the hope of our calling in Christ, who is our hope of glory working within our heavens, changing us from glory to glory as we just read (Col 1:27). God is blessing His children with the mindset that Christ must be coming back to us today through the spirit of God that gives us a liberty which comes about by the power of the holy spirit and no other way (Zec 4:6, Heb 4:11). These are the great works which are under discussion.

Last week we looked at how judgment was the essential ingredient in the life of God’s people that separates us from the world that is looking at the outward signs in the heavens, and how those signs and wonders will, if it were possible, deceive the very elect, so we must not despise prophecy or the encouragement that God gives us through the manifold wisdom of the church seeing God deems this information we receive through each joint which supplies (Eph 4:16) the most important thing to have our eyes and ears on as we go forward and come to the end of this spiritually adulterous age (Mat 16:4, Ecc 7:26). If God keeps us in a brutish state and does not let us flourish beyond the flesh, then that will be His will, and we pray that the desire of our family will be to continue to press toward the mark of the high calling in Christ and that God would fill our souls with praise for the wonderful works that He is doing within the children of men, specifically His children today (Heb 6:3, Php 3:14). With that mindset, we won’t look outwardly for signs and become drunk on the wine of Babylon (Luk 12:45).

The latest in a series of false prophetic events is quickly closing in on us, and there is big internet buzz in the Christian world about the date September 23rd, 2017 as being the possible date when Christ will return (Mat 24:36). I could spend the next hour explaining the very detailed and thought out reasons why people believe this is possibly true, but I know that there is no benefit in pointing the body of Christ to signs in the physical heavens (Mat 16:3) when we know that the most important signs are to be determined within the body of Christ, within our own heavens, which is where the Lord commands us to be trimming our own lamps inwardly and not outwardly as the world will do by just trying to identify a date or a sign in the outward heavens. Such knowledge puffs us up and at best cleans the outside of the cup, which is all any of us can do without Christ convicting us of our own hidden sins of which when repented, lead us to have a Godly zeal that we need to trim our lamps and be made ready for Christ’s return inwardly as we die daily (2Co 7:11, Rev 19:7, Mat 16:2-4, Eph 5:17). If we take care of the inside of the cup (by God’s grace and faith), the outside will resolve the way it should. God willing, our focus will continue to be as Christ tells us it should be, not worrying about that which is outside ourselves but careful with that which comes out of our hearts (Mat 15:11).

The Lord is granting His people to be able to identify the man of perdition on the throne of our own hearts (2Th 2:8). And it is only by his destruction (the man of sin) that we can present our lives a living sacrifice that is being led by the spirit of God (Mat 25:7, Rom 8:14). This gift of repentance is all of the Lord, and the lack of oil the many called will come to see they have represents the love of many that will wax cold. It is something which God has ordained so that we all come to know that our sufficiency, our growth, our ability to overcome and endure until the end are all a gift of God (Mat 24:12, Mat 25:8, Rev 3:18). This is why we bless the Lord for this great and deep work of repentance which He is working within the bride of Christ.

God’s spirit enables us to be grafted into the body of Christ, which body is guided by that same spirit (1Co 12:4). Our calling is on the backs of the world’s unbelief, and we know that boasting is excluded by the law of faith, and we must pray that the Lord keeps us mindful of this miracle of faith which is described in great detail in regard to our calling in Romans 11. If not for His goodness leading us unto repentance, none of our lamps would be trimmed in the manner that we hopefully see our hearts being made ready through Christ who is the author and finisher of our faith (Heb 12:2). That process of preparing us for His return every day is God’s goodness being demonstrated to His people (Rom 2:4, 1Co 15:31). That is the main thrust of what is being said in Romans 11. We are who we are in history and where we are by the grace and faith of Jesus Christ alone (Eph 2:8). All that is within us wants to praise and thank God for this miracle of being worked with today.

The world looks to a day and points to that day like John the Baptist pointing to a physical Christ, and even if that were the day that Christ were to come back which I mentioned, the way the world trims their lamps and becomes prepared for the first resurrection, or the rapture as many Christians call it, is going to be contrasted by the way that the Lord is going to enable His people to “make herself ready” (Rev 19:7). That contrast is all about what the holy spirit can accomplish in the lives of those with whom He is working and has nothing to do with our might or power (Zec 4:6). Like the people who came to John in the physical wilderness after he spoke of the message of Christ, we see the parallel being drawn for us of how the world may hear the message of John but not be able to bring forth fruit meet (fit) for repentance because God has not granted them at this time to be able to do so (Mat 3:8, Rom 2:4).

When we look outside of ourselves to find Christ and try to identify through the signs and wonders of the heavens where and when Christ will return [be it through other false prophets or signs and wonders (Mat 24:24, Deu 18:22, Deu 13:2-3, Jer 28:9)], even though the wisdom may conclude in some actual results like the wise men who prophesied of Christ’s birth, or John the baptist who pointed to Christ, or Herod of whom it is said “according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men” showing us that it was possible to approximate when Christ’s physical birth would come about, regardless of all that (Mat 2:16, Rom 1:20, this is what will always remain needful Rom 12:1-2). Knowing the day or season when Christ is going to return does not convert anyone’s heart, and even if you are 100% convinced that he is going to return on some specific date or season (Mat 24:36), you or I or anyone else cannot change our character one iota to be that much more pleasing before God so that we can escape His wrath and be found in that blessed and holy first resurrection. However, we are told to be stedfast and be watchful and awake always and know that the generation that is going through much suffering and tribulation are the ones who will rule and reign under Christ (Luk 21:36, 1Co 15:58, Psa 51:10, 2Ti 2:12).

The events of the world around us are like a tree that is bearing a certain bad fruit that Christ says does indicate that His return is more imminent (Mat 7:16, Mat 24:6, 2Ti 3:2), but Christ also tells us to look at the parable of the fig tree which does bring forth good fruit and points to a season or harvest with which we are to identify by that fruit on the vine relationship that we have with one another in Christ (1Pe 3:8). That relationship remains the definition of what eternal life is (Joh 17:3), and it is the remnant of God who are blessed to hear and see these things today (Mat 24:32, Rom 11:5, Isa 10:21, Rev 1:3). These are the deep works of God that are being accomplished within His people through the anointing which they have been given.

1Pe 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

With Christ, the hope of glory, within us (Col 1:27) we can be settled with the fact that God is the one who is working all things, including the strong delusion that will keep the world looking outward as opposed to looking inwardly at the life of Christ being formed within us (Luk 17:21). Everyone who has this hope within them purifies himself (1Jn 3:3-5, Joh 17:17).

Christ tells us there will be signs in the heavens, and there will be physical signs in the earth, and they are all needful for the body of Christ to see and identify as something that admonishes us to be stedfast and holy and striving for the prize of the mark of the high calling in Christ (Heb 12:1-2, Rom 12:1).

On the one hand, those signs will affect the Christian world to behave in a certain way, and in the lives of God’s people, it will help confirm that we are of the generation which has no confidence in the flesh (Php 3:3). Knowing we have no ability to stop or start any of these promised signs in the heaven or earth, which are happening to signify to us, amongst other things, that the time is at hand for judgment for God’s people (1Pe 4:17), the Lord is granting us this incredible honour of having our robes washed by the blood of the Lamb today (Rev 7:14, Act 14:22, Rev 22:14).

When we see ourselves as the ones with the spotted garment who hopelessly, helplessly cannot change the spots of this leopard except by the grace and faith of Christ, we can then judge righteous judgment, not just because of what we see, but because we are not judging any matter only after the appearance (signs and wonders) but committing those things we see unto a faithful Creator as Christ did which resulted in Him saying His judgment was true (Mat 22:11, Jer 13:23, Joh 7:24, Joh 8:16).

Our confession of what all flesh is and how we have no confidence in it, which included Christ’s own flesh (2Co 5:16), is what the world will come to finally see one day was the modus operandi of our Great Father, and eventually no flesh will glory in His sight. When we operate in our flesh, we are glorying in our flesh, but when we are granted to go from glory to glory and do all things to the glory of God and say “God willing we will do this or that” (1Co 10:31, 1Co 10:16), God is glorified by those works which He does within us (1Co 1:29).

As we look at this study, I pray we are encouraged to see that the Lord has called us and granted us to have humble and contrite hearts (Mat 22:14, Isa 66:2) that will often be broken and bruised as Christ’s heart was (Isa 53:3, 1Jn 4:17). It is through that much tribulation that we will be able to overcome the natural conceit that would continue to form in our hearts (grow and flourish like grass) because of the knowledge and understanding that God has given us of His awe-inspiring master plan (Rom 11:25, 1Co 8:1). It is becoming more and more confirming to know that, like Joseph, we will be plenty bruised by the end of it all (Act 14:22), and like Joseph we will also have that honour and blessing of being able to feed and clothe our family and bring them into this loving relationship that we are so blessed and honoured to share today as His children (1Jn 3:1).

Psa 92:5 O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.
Psa 92:6 A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this.
Psa 92:7 When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever:
Psa 92:8 But thou, LORD, art most high for evermore.
Psa 92:9 For, lo, thine enemies, O LORD, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.
Psa 92:10 But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.

Psa 92:5 O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.

Wow, what a loaded statement! Do we have an eternity to describe “how great are thy works?” Actually, yes, we do, and that is the joy of God’s kingdom that is set before us into which all humanity will enter, each man in his order (Mat 25:23, 1Co 15:23).

That kingdom is within today, and the spirit of Christ within us searches out “thy thoughts [that] are very deep” within that kingdom. This motivates us and inspires us even as we look through a glass darkly at what has been promised to all of humanity who will in time “love him”.

1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
1Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

1Co 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Psa 92:6 A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this.

A brutish man is what we are when we try to force our way into the kingdom of God as it is written in Matthew 11. When we hear with our own ears, or try to enter into the kingdom of God in a very physical way as described in the introduction of this study, the Lord is showing us in moments like that, that our righteousness does not exceed that of the pharisees, and that only He can give us the ability to stop being that brutish man or fool who does not understand the will of the Lord, which is to not try to enter into the kingdom some other way.

Mat 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
Mat 11:13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
Mat 11:14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
Mat 11:15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Eph 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

Joh 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

A brutish man like we described last week, is someone who hears the thunder but does not see the lightning, so to speak (Mar 3:17, Act 9:7, Joh 12:28-29), meaning we hear something, but we don’t hear the voice of the true Shepherd who must destroy that brutish man by the brightness of His coming into our heavens (2Th 2:8, Mat 24:27). That is the brutish state out of which God is taking his people by giving us the much needed ointment for our eyes and ears (Rev 3:18).

A brute in God’s eyes is just someone who is not mortifying the deeds of his or her own flesh (Gal 2:20) or not seeing the need to mortify the deeds of our flesh in order to be able to take up our cross, which symbolizes the works that we are to be careful to maintain in this life (Rom 8:13, Mat 16:24, 1Jn 4:8, Col 3:16, Eph 3:17, 1Co 13:2, 1Jn 3:17, Tit 3:8).

Psa 92:7 When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever:

God’s mercy will prevail in cutting down our persistent flesh that continues to “spring as the grass” until it doesn’t. These following verses demonstrate the need for His grace which chastens us so that eventually the servant abideth not in the house for ever and “shall be destroyed for ever”.

Joh 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Joh 8:35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Rom 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

Psa 92:8 But thou, LORD, art most high for evermore.

The LORD does not change, and therefore we are not destroyed spiritually (Mal 3:6). Our flesh will be destroyed and won’t inherit the kingdom, but God’s plan of salvation will stand, and all men will be saved through their own fiery experience (1Pe 4:12, 1Co 15:22, 1Co 3:15).

God never changes, Christ never changes, and our Father will always be in an elevated place as will Christ who is described in these verses.

1Co 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
1Co 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
1Co 15:27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.
1Co 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

Psa 92:9 For, lo, thine enemies, O LORD, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.

Our enemies are primarily within us, and so we read:

1Co 15:25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

Another way of saying this same verse would be found here:

Mat 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Psa 92:10 But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.

After all, the Lord’s enemies within us perish after we have been ground to powder and humbled under His mighty hand. After all the chaff is burnt up with unquenchable fire, then the LORD will exalt his people and saviours will come up on mount Zion.

1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: [trying to puff us up]

Mat 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Oba 1:21 And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S.

Next week, ‘Lord willing’, we will look at the third part of our study entitled “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name” where the significance of this title is connected to the verses that speak about the praise and thankfulness that God is causing to flourish within His people who are being redeemed from the earth.

Psa 92:11 Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine enemies, and mine ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me.
Psa 92:12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Psa 92:13 Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.
Psa 92:14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;
Psa 92:15 To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.