Daniel was a man of high esteem through whom God influenced the kingdoms of Babylon, Medes, and Persia; and through whom prophetic decrees were revealed for the rise and fall of nations, even to these last days 2500 years later.
Are we men and women of esteemed regard by God?
2 Kings 3:13-14
Now Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What do I have to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and to the prophets of your mother.” And the king of Israel said to him, “No, for the LORD has called these three kings together to give them into the hand of Moab.” Elisha said, “As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look at you nor see you.
This is the question we must ask ourselves here: Will God give regard to your descendants, your neighbour, and your nation on account of His esteemed regard for you?
Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, was a descendant of David, and he did right in the eyes of the Lord. Hence, God has regard for him, and for David’s sake.
Jehoram, the king of Israel, was the son of Ahab, and he did evil in the sight of the Lord, just like his father did (albeit slightly less). Thus, God had no regard for him, except when he was in the esteemed presence of Jehoshaphat.
So, what can we learn from here?
Firstly, we must walk before God in such a way that God will have esteemed regard for us on account of our stature before God.
Secondly, we must walk before God in such a way that God will have esteemed regard for our natural descendants because of our heritage in them, just like David to Jehoshaphat.
Thirdly, we must walk before God in such a way that God will not only have esteemed regard for our natural descendants, but also for our spiritual children, just like Elijah to Elisha, because of our legacy in them.
2 Kings 3:11-12
But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not a prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of the LORD by him?” And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.” Jehoshaphat said, “The word of the LORD is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.
Elisha stood before God in the prophetic mantle of Elijah, and carried a double portion of Elijah’s spirit, because he walked in the legacy of his spiritual father. Through Elijah’s spiritual son, the destinies of four kingdoms (Judah, Israel, Edom, and Moab) were impacted.
Therefore, we must walk before God in such a way that the voice of God will be heard, and the prophetic decrees of God will be executed, through us and through generations who come after us.
Fourthly, if the church is of the spiritual order of the Jesus Christ, who is the Lion of Judah, order of Melchizedek, Head of the church, and King of the Kingdom of God, then we must walk before God in such a way that God will have esteemed regard for the church in the midst of the nations on account of His glorious workmanship made perfect in us. Nations will come to its light, and kings to the brightness of its rising, as God glorifies His glorious house built with glorious living stones.
Fifthly, we must walk before God in such a way that God will have regard for the nations on account of His covenant with us.
Genesis 18:16-19
Then the men rose up from there, and looked down toward Sodom; and Abraham was walking with them to send them off. The LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, since Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed? For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.”
If we keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, we will walk in the same covenant that God made with Abraham. Thus, in us, all the nations of the earth will be blessed. In other words, the destinies of nations are in our jurisdiction and authority, just like the destiny of Sodom was in the jurisdiction and authority of Abraham.
Will God negotiate the destiny of your nation with you, just as He did with Abraham concerning Sodom (Genesis 18:20-33), on account of His esteemed regard for you in the covenant?
Will God bless your nation through you and on account of you?
Friends, it is not just about God, but it is also about us – the church who is His covenant partner and chosen instrument in the nations – in whom and through whom all the families and nations of the earth will be blessed.
Are we men and women who do what is right in the sight of God and, hence, are highly esteemed by God?
Are we a holy nation of God’s own possession in whom all the nations of the earth will be blessed?
Back to Bible Study & Devotional Blog
Leave a Reply