Daniel 4:17 says, “The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.”
This passage reminds us of why the LORD humbled Nebuchadnezzar…”that he may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.”
Do these words have any application to us?
First, let me be clear. Regardless of which of the two major candidates won early this morning we would get whatever God determined we needed. This glorious mystery of human responsibility and divine sovereignty just works the way the bible depicts it working. People making decisions and somehow God working his eternal play through that is mind-blowing yet a reality. The goal is not to understand that mystery here, just to state that nothing has taken Father by surprise this morning. God put Donal Trump in the White House. If you are a Christian you have to deal with that fact.
Second, Donald Trump is not there because he’s best or most qualified or the angry population’s choice. He’s there because he’s the lowliest of men according to Daniel 4:17. That’s clear in the text of Scripture and in his behavior.
Third, we are to know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men. Saints of the LORD, fret not. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense but trust him for his grace, behind a frowning providence he hides a smiling face (William Cowper). Trump is no conservative. He voted for John Kerry. He wanted W impeached. He believes W set up 9/11. He has never been pro-life. He’s an opportunist, and he parlayed people’s anger to his favor. That’s our President now. Many a Christian assisted in putting him there. There was no “win” in either candidate. However, God put him there. For judgment or for blessing we don’t know, but He put him there. Watch, pray for those in authority as we are told to do and continue to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and trust Father to supply our needs.
Finally, I challenge you to judge every politician by their character not their platform. We can never divorce character from platform. We will do what we value not what we say. Politicians “say” their platform to get people to vote for them. Still can’t believe people don’t get that. Republicans have been pandering to Evangelicals for years and Roe v. Wade is still in place. Judge Roberts is far from fulfilling conservative expectations. Pastors must have character in tact before serving the people of God (1 Timothy 3:1-7). Politicians must as well, or should by my humble estimation. Yet we keep electing the rabble that is set before us by the power brokers. If you wanted Clinton and you are disturbed that Trump won, why? She’s as bad if not worse than Trump. Can you really justify voting for her and being upset Trump won? Christians must begin making decisions based on right and wrong; honor and shame not pragmatism. We can’t continue to vote based on “my vote counting” in front of men while dishonoring God by what we approve. We must do what is right ethically and trust God or abstain from tarnishing our reputation by what we approve. We don’t get our “win” now. We get our “win” as the LORD himself descends from heaven with a shout and the voice and trumpet blast of the archangel with the saints gone on before in tow. Let’s live and make our decisions on that.
There is so much more that could be said, but that’s enough. Think on Daniel 4:17 and see if the Spirit would give you better insight that anything I’ve shared this morning.
God moves in a mysterious way his wonders to perform. He plants his footsteps in the sea and rides upon the storm. – William Cowper
Theology in the Dirt 