5-12-14. Daniel 4:28-37. UNTIL YOU ACKNOWLEDGE GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY-my devotional

Daniel 4:28-37                                      Kevin E. Jesmer                                    5-12-14

“ 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” (34)

Dear Lord God in heaven. Thank you for this day that I could learn of you and from your word. I come to you, seeking to learn many spiritual lessons through this passage. Please teach me and mature me in faith. I thank you and I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Part 1: A Proud King Is Humbled (28-33).

Verses 28-33, “All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” 31 While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, 32 and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” 33 Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws.”

Nebuchadnezzar became very proud. When he boasted of his own power and glory, his dream was fulfilled exactly. He was driven away from people to eat grass like an animal for seven years–until he acknowledged that God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men.

This kind of pride is a destructive force that has the capacity to drive even the most powerful people to live like they are out of their minds.. The king would not recover for seven periods of time, until he became humble and acknowledged that the “the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.”  

There is such pride in the hearts of people. Think about it. What do we have that has not been given to us? We have a great temptation to say, “I did this”, “I made it happen”, “It is because of my superior intellect…my skills…my experience.”  Achievements become about me and not about God. We try to steal the glory from God and shine it upon ourselves. This kind of pride is dangerous because it keeps us from knowing God. It creates a wall between us and God, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. This pride keeps us from learning from God for it makes us think that we are the experts. This pride makes us unable to live up to our purpose as human beings, for is it not our purpose in life to glorify God. But you cannot glorify God if you are stealing all of his glory for us. That is why God deals so strongly with false pride. It is like a spiritual poison.

The king needed to change. He was in a position of authority. The eyes of the whole empire were upon him. If he lived in his false pride, with no consequences, then people would think that is the way to live. His example would deceive the people. God had to show the entire the proper way to go, through the king’s example. We are all, in some way, in positions of influence. How are we going to influence people around us? Are we going to get them to rob God of his glory and erect walls of pride, or are we going to show the way of humble faith

This king was in a wretched condition. He looked like a total madman. And whose fault was it? It was because of his own false pride and ego. He was trying to gain the whole world but he lost his own soul. He would spend seven periods of time in this suffering due to his own self imposed ruin. Sometimes we are our own worse enemies. That is why we need a Savior.

Part 2: I Raised My Eyes Toward Heaven (34-37).

Verses 34-37, “ 34 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?” 36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.”

We can see the end results of all the things that God allowed the king to experience. He was a totally changed man. The king confessed, “When I raised my eyes toward heaven, my sanity was restored.” He praised the God of heaven and acknowledged that everything he does is right. When he humbled himself, his throne was restored, and he became greater than before. He deeply learned some powerful spiritual lessons.

Let’s see what he learned about the Lord,’

1.  God is the Most High,

2.  praised and honor him who lives forever,

3.  his dominion is an everlasting dominion

4.  his kingdom endures from generation to generation.

5.  he does according to his will among the host of heaven  and among the inhabitants of the

earth.

6. none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”

7. The king learned that he should bless God and praise and honor him.

Wow! There are so many lessons that he learned through his times of sufferings. He came to know God more personally. He came to know the nature of the kingdom of God. He also discovered the purpose of his life. It is true that it is through times of suffering that we come to learn the most about God. It was through the 5 years or persecution in my early Christian years, five years of studying nursing, 20 years of raising kids, the 12 years of heading up a house church, the inner turmoil of 13 years of depression, the many relational struggles.…all of these times actually blessed me so much. For it is in these times that I came to learn the most about my Lord Jesus. I can submit to his lordship, trust sovereign rule and live for his glory. I can also rejoice that I have become a citizen of the everlasting kingdom of God, by God’s grace.

The king was completely restored after he made it through this difficult spiritual training. Look at verse 37, “At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me.”   Let’s face it, if we remain in Jesus, there is blessing to be had. I am not talking about money, I am talking about God raising you up in this world so that you can continually glorify Christ in this world. If he led us to it…he will lead us through it. There is fruit born in the midst of suffering and fruit born in our lives as God leads us through the suffering to next season in our lives. The king in this passage experienced it and we too can experience it. Just remain in Jesus. John 15:4-5 reads, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

Prayer: “Lord, keep me from destructive human pride. Help me to remain in you and live humbly for your glory.”

One Word: God humbles the proud.