I am often humbled when I see a sunrise or a sunset and all the beautiful colors that God uses when He is painting the sky.
This morning I was reading in Daniel and as part of my reading I read Daniel capter 4.
In this chapter we see the story recorded of how God pronounced His divine judgment upon Nebuchadnezzar because of his arrogance and pride.
Beginning in verse 9, we hear Nebuchadnezzar relating the vision (or dream) that he had seen while asleep on his bed. He tells Daniel the dream and then in verse 18 he asks Daniel to declare to him the meaning or interpretation of the dream.
Daniel is somewhat “Dumb-founded” and “Befuddled” by the dream, the Bible says that “… his thoughts troubled him….” in verse 19. Daniel then begins to tell the meaning of all that Nebuchadnezzar had seen.
In verse 25, we see the first indicator of what Nebuchadnezzar had to look forward to for the next 7 years! Daniel told him he would become a Beast and be driven out of the palace to live in the field, eat grass and to be that way, out of his own control and under God’s complete and total judgment for that whole time.
Daniel did not tell Nebuchadnezzar that there was a possibility of the Lord changing His mind, or giving him another option, God brought judgment and that was all He offered.
In verse 30, Nebuchadnezzar is puffed up and full of Pride about his kingdom that “HE” has built! How great it is and no one could ever take it away!
“WRONG”!!!!!
Verse 31, God tells him “… The kingdom is departed from thee.”
Beginning in verse 9, we hear Nebuchadnezzar relating the vision (or dream) that he had seen while asleep on his bed. He tells Daniel the dream and then in verse 18 he asks Daniel to declare to him the meaning or interpretation of the dream.
Daniel is somewhat “Dumb-founded” and “Befuddled” by the dream, the Bible says that “… his thoughts troubled him….” in verse 19. Daniel then begins to tell the meaning of all that Nebuchadnezzar had seen.
In verse 25, we see the first indicator of what Nebuchadnezzar had to look forward to for the next 7 years! Daniel told him he would become a Beast and be driven out of the palace to live in the field, eat grass and to be that way, out of his own control and under God’s complete and total judgment for that whole time.
Daniel did not tell Nebuchadnezzar that there was a possibility of the Lord changing His mind, or giving him another option, God brought judgment and that was all He offered.
In verse 30, Nebuchadnezzar is puffed up and full of Pride about his kingdom that “HE” has built! How great it is and no one could ever take it away!
“WRONG”!!!!!
Verse 31, God tells him “… The kingdom is departed from thee.”
In verse 32, right in the middle of the verse, the voice from heaven told him that he would be this way "... until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will."
Then we see that verse 33 starts out with these words: "The same hour was the thing fulfilled...". This statement says it all! Here we see that God WILL DO EXACTLY WHAT HE SAYS HE WILL DO!
Oh Christian, why won't we learn this? Why do we think that "God is Dead"? You know, sometimes it seems to me that 99% of professing Christians have no real idea that god actually exists! Do you know why I say this?? It is because of the way 99% of professing Christians LIVE ON A DAILY BASIS!
Nebuchadnezzar was not so different from you and I today! Oh, many folks think he was different, but just look at his life. He was filled with "Pride" (*verse 30 again!). His stinking pride caused God to have to rip his kindom away from him and even kick him out of his own palace.
He was in the field and in the woods living for 7 years as an animal! Some may laugh and say: "Preacher, God would never do that to us today!" I wouldn't be so foolish as to say that He wouldn't! I believe that He most assuredly could if He wanted to!
I said it before and I'll say it again, "WE" (Modern Day Christian's) have no real fear of a Righteous, Holy God!
Look at this chapter on your own today, read what happened to Nebuchadnezzar, then see the "Result" of God's judgement in his life.
THE RESULT
- Nebuchadnezzar now "KNEW" that God will ALWAYS keep His word!
- When his understanding returned to him, what did he do first? He Blessed, Praised and Honored God!
- The end result was that he was restored as king in his kingdom, but he was totally different from who he was before. Now we see him in verse 37, he is different... No Self! No Pride! No Arrogance! Again, he is seen Praising, Extoling ( To lift up; to esteem; to praise.), and Honoring and giving Glory to God, which is exactly where it belongs!
Thank you for listening to my heart on this, I really feel that I gained a lot from this particular story. I ask that God keep making me what He needs and wants me to be.
Have a great Day!
Brother Dunn
