Bible in a Year Series - Day #258 - This post is part of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the Bible. Click here to learn more. You are most welcome to join along at any time.
Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Daniel 4-6.
I am stopped in my tracks every time I encounter this narrative. For weeks we have been reading how God had raised up a king in Babylon to bring his judgment upon Israel and the known world.
Now that God has achieved his purposes, we see him turning his attention to King Nebuchadnezzar. God has haunted this proud man with dreams that only Daniel can interpret, and God's message through the lips of Nebuchadnezzar is clear: "...those who walk in pride he is able to humble". (Daniel 4:38b).
And what's more, look at this from Nebuchadnezzar:
"At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever,
for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;
35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
and he does according to his will among the host of heaven
and among the inhabitants of the earth;
and none can stay his hand
or say to him, “What have you done?” (Daniel 4:34-35)
I guess, at the end of the day, Nebuchadnezzar's life lesson is also my own. As I look back at the events of the last few years of my life, I too find myself greatly thankful to God for slaying my pride.
I too, because of my business successes, found myself doing some internal prideful strutting. Certainly I wasn't as difficult a case as Nebuchadnezzar, but heavenly discipline was required nonetheless.
As I look back, not that my "glory" has been reestablished yet, I find myself deeply thankful that God cared enough to single me out and put me back on track.
Even if God decides to never reestablish, the fact that I can clearly see and know that he has orchestrated the last few years of my life is enough for me.
Nothing compares to the beauty of Messiah.
