Psalm 148, 149, 150; Dan. 4:1-18; 1 Pet. 4:7-11; John 21:15-25
It would seem that this decree by Nebuchadnezzar was issued after the events described. There is quite a gap in time between chapter 3 and chapter 4, perhaps as many as seven years elapsed between these two chapters during which the dream and Daniel’s interpretation of it came to pass. Once again, the king has a dream that no one can interpret but Daniel and for that which the dream describes the king now gives thanks to the God of Daniel. While he may be impressed with the ability of Daniel’s God, certainly the belief never made its way to his heart for conversion to faith. This God may be all powerful and everlasting but Nebuchadnezzar certainly never became a true worshipper or follower of Yahweh.
Peter is restored and forgiven. He asserts his love for Jesus three times, the number of times he denied Jesus on the night of the trial. Peter is in earnest about his confession of love and is given the commission to feed the sheep. Shepherd wasn’t exactly a glamorous job and this is the work Jesus gives to Peter here but it was a job that required a great deal of trust, it was the job description Jesus chose for Himself in John 10. Peter is like most of us, he compares himself to others too much. He is given a prophetic word by Jesus that speaks of his demise and wants immediately to know whether this will be true for John as well. The Lord treats us as individuals and yet we have a preference for comparison, measuring our lot against others.
The end of all things is at hand. Do we truly believe that? Our lives might look a bit different if we took that belief seriously. We might be focused on the right things and not allow ourselves to be distracted by so many things that are inconsequential. We might focus more on people than things. We might care less about a great many things in life. We might make greater allowance for one another’s failings and foibles. We might be more concerned with righteousness in our lives and love in our relationships. We might be more Christ-centered and Christ-like. Believing that the end of all things is at hand might actually cause us to become the people He wants us to be and in that we might become even the people we would like to be. We might discover what is truly important and we might be more thankful people for all the blessings of this life, particularly the love the Lord has shown for us in the cross.
Alleluia, Alleluia
Give thanks to the risen Lord
Alleluia, alleluia, give praise to His name
Jesus is Lord of all the earth
He is the King of creation
Spread the good news o'er all the earth
Jesus has died and has risen
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