The Next Chapter – Nov. 2020

The US elections of 2020 have brought much joy and pain, depending on what side of the political fence one finds him or herself. President Trump has been a polarizing figure over the past four years and he continues to do so in the November elections. Just when we thought it was over it seems to continue to develop into another story.

President Trump has had a busy past four years as the forty-fifth president of the United States and he has worked hard to fulfill the promises that he ran on four years ago. He has had tremendous success in accomplishing many of the goals that he set out to accomplish including being a voice to the voiceless by being the first sitting US president to attend the Pro-Life Rally in Washington DC in January of 2020.

Despite his checkered past, President Trump has fulfilled one of the most conservative presidencies in US history. President Trump has prided himself in being a president who stands up for religious liberty and he has faithfully stood with the Christians of America and around the world through his words and actions as he has generously reached out his hand to Muslim nations and has been a good friend to the Jewish State of Israel. President Trump has even followed through with his promise to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and has faithfully stood with Israel throughout these past four years. This list of accomplishments is only the tip of the iceberg and for this reason it is difficult to understand the supposed victory of the other side, Joe Biden.

In preparation for an upcoming series of teachings on the book of Daniel, I was recently reading through Daniel and had to pause when I came to chapter four as I considered the situated that took place 2600 years ago and compared it with what is taking place in the present day. In Daniel chapter four, Nebuchadnezzar was the ruler of Babylon and the ruler of the world at that time. He had accomplished a great deal in his lifetime and had built a large empire. God used Nebuchadnezzar to discipline Jerusalem and the people of Judah and Nebuchadnezzar exiled thousands of the Jewish people to his kingdom in Babylon. Through various situations, Nebuchadnezzar encountered Daniel and some of his friends and, as a result, he had come to respect the God of the exiles from Judah. 

The Accommodating King

In one well-known example, after trying to execute Daniel’s three friends in the fiery furnace when they would not worship his statute, Nebuchadnezzar was so impressed with how their God delivered them from the flames that he decided to make a new law protecting the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego:

Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and rescued His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king’s command, and surrendered their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or population of any language that speaks anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego shall be torn limb from limb and their houses made a rubbish heap, because there is no other god who is able to save in this way.” Then the king made Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego prosperous in the province of Babylon. – Daniel 3:28-30

We also read how Nebuchadnezzar made sure that these three men prospered in his kingdom. Nebuchadnezzar is seen to support these former prisoners in his kingdom and gave them great honor and protection, including the worship of their God. 

As I contemplate the life of President Trump, I am reminded that he has also become a leader of a powerful nation that has great influence over the world. President Trump is very friendly to both Christians and Jews and has made laws to protect those who fear the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. President Trump has also done a great deal to promote the people of God in positions of power and influence in the US government. There is one more area, however, that both President Trump and Nebuchadnezzar seem to have in common, they both like to applaud themselves.

This is where chapter four particularly caught my attention last Wednesday, the day after the US elections, as I was reading it. In Daniel chapter four it is written that Nebuchadnezzar had a dream and was troubled by his dream. None of his counselors could help him understand his dream until Daniel came into the king’s presence. King Nebuchadnezzar related the dream to Daniel and Daniel was troubled by what he heard as he understood what the dream meant. 

In brief, the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar was one of a great tree that was very large and fruitful extending over the known world. The tree provided shade, food, and protection for the creatures of the earth. An angel descended and ordered the tree to be cut down, leaving only its stump with a band of iron around it. The angel also ordered that seven times would pass over him until he acknowledged that the Most High is ruler of all mankind. 

Daniel explained to King Nebuchadnezzar that the tree represented him and his great standing in the world. Daniel also pleaded with King Nebuchadnezzar to repent of his sins and in order to prolong his reign and prevent this dream from coming true, however, the dream was fulfilled. One year later, King Nebuchadnezzar was walking about his kingdom and admiring the vast empire he had built when a voice came from heaven declaring judgment on King Nebuchadnezzar for seven periods of time until he recognized the Most High as the true ruler of the world. 

King Nebuchadnezzar was driven away from his kingdom and civilization for seven periods of time until all was fulfilled and he acknowledged his rightful place in this world while worshiping the true God of heaven and earth. We then read this wonderful ending in Daniel chapter four:

“But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever; For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are of no account, but He does according to His will among the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth; and no one can fend off His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’ At that time my reason returned to me. And my majesty and splendor were restored to me for the honor of my kingdom, and my state counselors and my nobles began seeking me out; so I was reestablished in my sovereignty, and surpassing greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just; and He is able to humble those who walk in pride.” – Daniel 4:34-37

King Nebuchadnezzar was a changed man and worshipped the God of heaven as he recognized God’s sovereignty over the affairs of this world and over his position as king.

The Transformed King

Formerly King Nebuchadnezzar knew about the God of heaven and had friends who believed in this God but Nebuchadnezzar did not really know God. King Nebuchadnezzar made laws in favor of the people of God but he had his own gods. King Nebuchadnezzar was also formerly so consumed with his own accomplishments that he failed to recognize that his power and position were only possible because of the God of heaven. It was only in his humility that King Nebuchadnezzar bowed his knee to God and worshipped Him. It was only after this that his power and position were restored as before.

I believe that President Trump needs to have a Daniel chapter four experience. President Trump needs to not only believe that there is a God and make lots of good laws for the people of God but he needs to recognize that it is only the God of heaven who appoints men in their places of power. President Trump needs to come to know the God of heaven in a real and personal manner. 

The Next Chapter

In this time of great humility when the authority of President Trump has been challenged and seemingly lost, my prayer is that President Trump would acknowledge the God of heaven in a real and personal way, worshiping Him alone. If President Trump must pass through seven periods of time before his authority is restored, I hope it will be seven weeks and not seven months or seven years. Either way, I hope and pray that President Trump will come out on the other side praising the God of heaven and that his position of authority will be restored for another four years. President Trump needs to move from being a Daniel chapter three leader to a Daniel chapter four leader. I’m looking forward to the next chapter!