February 16, 2016 - There are times when most men forget that they are only allowed to prosper by the goodness and grace of God.
Such was King Nebuchadnezzar. The forth chapter of Daniel deals with his failure to honor God and with the punishment from God for the consequences of his actions.
In Daniel 4:27; God sends a messenger to the king who tells him to heed God's advice, that he should; break off his sins by being righteous and his iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. That if he does so, God might lengthen his prosperity. The king had 12 months to change his ways, when he did not, God took his mind from him and made him crawl on all fours and eat grass with the cattle for 7 years. By the end of that time he had very long hair covering his body and his finger nails were as eagle's talons.
Daniel 4:34 shows that after 7 years Nebuchadnezzar looks to the sky and honors God and is restored to his former self. Finally, he saw the world in it's true light, understanding that God is sovereign and supreme over heaven and earth and there is none other than Him. We are confronted with 2 disputes over God today, the first being a moral issue; whether God or man's rule or will shall be done. The second intellectual, asking whether an intellectual and supreme God exercises continuous rule and providence in the world or whether all things happen according to either blind fate or the laws of nature.
Daniel 4:35 answers this saying that all the people of earth are reputed as nothing... So much for self worth or being overly proud of oneself.
Daniel 4:36 shows us that for honoring and praising God that Nebuchadnezzar had his entire kingdom reinstated to him with even more majesty being awarded to him than before. Finally, he saw the world as it really is and he then started trying to make certain that others found out about God and accepted Him as Lord and Savior too.
Daniel 4:37 gives God all praise and glory and offers a final word of warning to us all; "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of Heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride, He is able to put down."
Pay attention America to these final words of warning, the good king can certainly testify to the power of our Lord and we would all do well to heed his advice.
Please feel free to join us on Wednesday evening at 6:00PM at Spring Hill Baptist Church for our weekly Bible Study. Call 936-615-1427 for more information.
May the Lord bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you every day...
