Two words in scripture passage above and below speaks of reverence to God. The words are dreadful and terrible. Two words in the english language that speak of only reverence but something not necessarily nice. To speak of God in such manner is speaking of God's power and wrath. We often talk of God being loving and he is to children of obedience to him and those that love him. We see Christ as a giver, and man being a taker to the point that when it comes to having it their way they crucified Jesus. No one is perfect, and God does not expect perfection from his people, but he requires loyalty and respect. Notice I said his people. His people are not those who strive in disobedience to his will or way. Both Daniel and Nehemiah worked for the king of their time period. Yet what we find is Daniel and Nehemiah words of reverence seem almost disrespectful in a way. Yet it commands a type of reverence for God. Those words speaks of judgment and wrath. Daniel and Nehemiah both knew God was a God that kept his promise of both mercy and grace to his people, and yet he also carried out punishment to his children of disobedience.

Daniel and Nehemiah lived at time where God's grace was seen only in individual lives and not necessarily in a national presence. God's grace flurishes when we follow God's truth and mercy. I think of a book called the Hiding Place, the book taking place during World War II. I remember the story of how Corrie and Betsy smuggle their one Bible in to the concentration camp, only to find grace within the pages of the book during the worse trial of their life. Our hope is seen during trials of feeling secure in God's grace, despite our situation. Yet one might find they are enslaved to their environment and situation. Just because a person is in a difficult place in life it does not give one a right not to revere God. Daniel and Nehemiah word choice is depiction of the God's wrath, but they too understood the hope of children of obedience. Do not choose sin, despite your circumstance. Choose God's way this very hour and in the days of head and your life will be blessed abundantly. The nation might be in exile or sin, but God's people must continue to choose God's way, which is always best.

Dear Heavenly Father thank you for your grace and mercy to your children of obedience, despite the nation that surrounds them. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study for Devotion:

Nehemiah 1:5-11 KJV
5 And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:
6 Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.
7 We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses.
8 Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:
9 But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.
10 Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.
11 O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.