“Break off your sins.”

Daniel 4:23-27, And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time pass over him,’ this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules. Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.”

Daniel is disturbed as he has to bring this interpretation to the king, that the tree that is about to be destroyed is the king himself! In his own mind, he is sovereign; in his kingdom he answers to no one. How easy it is for a person to be convince of his own invincibility and perfection when he is living in prosperity. Will the king listen to Daniel’s advice and break off his sins? Are the areas of my own life that I have rationalized the presence of sin that need to be brought before His throne of grace, that I might receive mercy in my own time of need?

Open our eyes to any areas of sin that need to come under Your saving grace; cleanse these areas by the blood of Jesus!

ESV Lectionary