Sovereignty
Read Daniel 1.1-2
“The Lord delivered Jehoiakim into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God ..’” (Dan.1.2)
The exile was a traumatic experience for the people of God, a painful wake-up call to the consequences of sin in their communal life: God’s sovereign dealings with His people are sometimes painful and perplexing, but they’re never without purpose.
What comfort is there in knowing that even in the most painful circumstances it’s the Lord who is pulling the strings?
The newspaper headlines would have spoken of the activity of Babylon’s king, but the Bible provides the informative subtext: to what extent do you ensure your perspective is framed by an awareness of the sovereignty of God?
Prayer: Lord, sometimes the headlines today are distressing and painful to read: in this digital age keep me from sticking with mere sound-bytes – help me to hear Your Word.