How can Daniel 11:36 inspire us to remain humble before God? Daniel 11 : 36 “Then the king will do as he pleases, exalting and magnifying himself above every god, and he will speak astonishing things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the indignation is finished, for what has been decreed will be accomplished.” Seeing the Contrast: Man’s Pride vs. God’s Plan • The king “does as he pleases,” while God’s decree still sets the boundary. • Self-exaltation leads him to “magnify himself above every god,” yet the true “God of gods” remains unrivaled. • His success is temporary—“until the indignation is finished.” God’s timetable prevails, not the king’s ambitions (cf. Psalm 75 : 6-7). Lessons for a Humble Heart • God allows pride for a season, but never for eternity. Knowing that keeps us from thinking any accomplishment is permanent or self-made (James 4 : 13-16). • Divine decrees overrule human intentions. Recognizing God’s sovereignty shrinks our ego and expands our reverence (Proverbs 19 : 21). • Speaking “astonishing things” against God invites judgment. Guarding our words is an act of humility (Matthew 12 : 36). • Success without submission is still failure in heaven’s courtroom (Luke 12 : 16-21). Practical Ways to Stay Low Before the Most High 1. Start every day acknowledging His rule: “Your kingdom come, Your will be done” (Matthew 6 : 10). 2. Celebrate victories as gifts, not trophies—credit the Giver aloud when others praise you (1 Corinthians 4 : 7). 3. Keep short accounts with God; confess pride the moment it surfaces (1 John 1 : 9). 4. Serve quietly in unnoticed tasks. Hidden service trains the heart to seek approval from God, not crowds (Colossians 3 : 23-24). 5. Meditate on prophetic passages like Daniel 11 to remember that even the mightiest rulers are footnotes in God’s story (Isaiah 40 : 23-24). A Final Thought to Carry If an arrogant king can advance only as long as God permits, how much more should we, tiny in comparison, walk softly under His mighty hand (1 Peter 5 : 6)? Let Daniel 11 : 36 remind us daily: every breath is borrowed, every accomplishment is allotted, and every knee—ours included—will bow to the God of gods. |
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