0824. Nebuchadnezzar

Nebuchadnezzar

"The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws" (Dan_4:33).

Nebuchadnezzar stands before us as a type of the humility that confesses the supremacy of God. The same three steps will be observed as in the last consideration.

1. Nebuchadnezzar's pride. Nebuchadnezzar was king over the first world empire. He was a mighty king, and he had a mighty empire. The Word of God describes Nebuchadnezzar as the head of gold. The kingdoms which followed him were inferior to his.

The capital city of the Babylonian empire was famous far and wide. The mighty walls, the brazen gates, the hanging gardens, and the wonderful buildings all gave witness to a might and power that would do honor to the twentieth century.

Nebuchadnezzar, while walking in the palace of his kingdom, overwhelmed with pride and self-glory, said, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and the honour of my majesty?"

Thus did the king exalt himself and magnify his own prowess.

2. Nebuchadnezzar's humiliation. It is true that he who exalteth himself shall be abased. No sooner had the words of the monarch's boast left his lips than there fell a voice from Heaven saying, "Oh King Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee." Then was Nebuchadnezzar driven from men. He ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven; his hair became grown like eagle's feathers, and for seven years he wandered, debased, demented, defamed.

3. Nebuchadnezzar's exaltation. At the end of seven years Nebuchadnezzar was restored. Then he made his confession. He said, "I blessed the most High, and I praised and honored Him that liveth forever." Of himself he said, "All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing, * * none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest Thou?" Thus did Nebuchadnezzar bestow honor upon the King of Heaven. He had learned that those who walk in pride God will abase, and that those who humble themselves God will exalt (see Dem. 4:37, l. c.).

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR