The Most High Ruleth by K. C. Russell

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jun 10, 1913

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 23.

“The Most High Ruleth”

By K. C. Russell

Following the miraculous deliverance of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fiery furnace, the king Nebuchadnezzar made a proclamation in which he exalted the name of God because of the wonders He had wrought in his behalf. Among the things to which the king made reference was the revealing and interpreting of the remarkable dream outlined in Daniel 2. He then proceeded to tell Daniel of another significant dream which had been given to him, concerning a tree which grew to enormous proportions and then was hewn down until nothing but the stump remained, and the heart of it was changed from a man's heart to that of a beast until seven times had passed over it. It appears that Daniel was astonished at the dream, but did not hesitate to interpret the same fearlessly, altho he well understood what it involved.

He proceeded to say that the tree represented the Babylonian kingdom, and that the king himself was signified by the heart which was transformed from a man's heart to that of a beast, which was to be driven into the field for a period of seven years.

The reason assigned by the Lord for these terrible judgments to befall Nebuchadnezzar and his kingdom was that he might learn “that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will;” and further, that he might demonstrate that he had forsaken sin, by showing mercy toward the poor.

Strange Heedlessness

In view of a warning of so serious a character, especially in the face of such signal manifestations of God's foreknowledge, it seems strange that Nebuchadnezzar would not take heed. But, alas, we read that at the expiration of one short year subsequent to this warning, he walked in the palace of his kingdom, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty!” Dan. 4:30. And scarcely had these proud and boastful words escaped his lips when a voice proceeded from heaven, saying to him, “The kingdom is departed from thee;” and he was further informed that the terrible judgment which had been revealed to him in the dream, and interpreted by the faithful Daniel, was to befall him, in order that he might learn the important lesson “that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will.”

After being bereft of his reason for a period of seven long years, and living as the beasts of the field, his mind was restored, and he blessed the Most High, and acknowledged that God's kingdom, and not his, was an everlasting one. He also recognized that no power could stay God's purpose; and further, that the Lord was able to abase the proud.

This remarkable lesson is left on record to teach all subsequent rulers the folly of pursuing a course contrary to God's will. Notwithstanding other terrible warnings of God to Nebuchadnezzar recorded in the Bible, rulers have ignored these lessons. We have but to scan the history of the three universal empires that succeeded that of Nebuchadnezzar, to observe how they too failed to learn the lesson that was taught Nebuchadnezzar,—“that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men.”

God Not Recognized

As one reviews the history of the great empires of the world, it is plainly to be seen that God was not recognized by them as the sovereign ruler. Had the rulers of the other three succeeding universal empires understood completely the fate of their kingdoms which was clearly and forcibly announced by the Lord through the prophet Ezekiel to the king Zedekiah, they would have escaped the terrible judgment and ruin that befell them. Eze. 21:25-27 says: “And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end, thus saith the Lord God; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.”

One of the most remarkable illustrations demonstrating that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men is recorded in the Second Psalm as follows: “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against His anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.” The foregoing language is a most remarkable prophetic outline of how the kings and rulers of earthly governments arrayed themselves against the God of heaven and the Saviour of mankind in their vain attempt to thwart the everlasting gospel by the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. How well this prediction of the psalmist David was fulfilled by the Roman government delivering Jesus into the hands of the Jews to be crucified by them!

He That Sitteth in the Heavens Shall Laugh

It is evident that the powers of earth felt confident that they had dealt the final blow to the plan of salvation in their assassination of the Son of God. But the psalmist continues, “He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision.” It would appear that this language was partially fulfilled, and in a most signal manner, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, while a Roman guard, consisting of one hundred stalwart Roman soldiers, were closely watching the tomb where He had been buried. “Shall laugh,” or in other words, shall confound their devices, beat down their pride, and utterly contemn their puny efforts to interrupt the plan of the Most High.

What greater lesson than this could the Lord give to teach earthly rulers that the Most High rules in the kingdoms of men? The great purpose of God in His dealings with kings and rulers is not only to teach them that He rules, but that they might obtain salvation; for we read in Ps. 2:10, 11: “Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.” When rulers or others refuse to be taught, and to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to fear the Most High, who rules among the children of men, they have reached the limit of God's forbearance and love, and the only alternative left is their destruction.

“Righteousness Exalteth a Nation”

This is one great lesson that stands paramount in God's dealings with both nations and men throughout the world's history. Truly the wise man has said in Prov. 14:34, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” The righteousness, however, that exalts a nation is voluntary, and not forced; for the moment that any government seeks to enforce righteousness by civil enactment, it sins, and such a course is a reproach instead of an honor to the nation.

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“The Most High Ruleth”

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Perhaps there is no nation in modern times that prides herself more than does the United States of America on her righteous government. But upon the authority of the infallible word of God, this country's limit will be reached when she repudiates the true principles that every civil government should maintain. Space will not permit the outlining of how this government is fast departing from the heaven-born principles upon which it was established, as voiced in the first amendment of the Constitution of the United States, which says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” This departure is to be brought about by the introduction of laws both state and federal which invade the natural rights of man, and which are destined in the last analysis to result in intolerance and persecution. When our nation takes this step, then she, like all nations that have preceded her, will have forgotten that the Most High rules in the kingdoms of men.

The great kingdom of Babylon, with her magnificent metropolis, in the height of her prosperity, felt her security; but in this lay her very danger. So it is with this government. The very time when she is enjoying the greatest prosperity, God's judgment will be visited, and her downfall will follow, if she turn her back on the principles upon which she was founded, by stepping out from her rightful sphere, which is that pertaining to things of a civil character, and assuming the place of the Most High, which has never been committed to earthly governments.