The King Spoke
The King Spoke
The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? (Daniel 4:30)
What overflowing pride came spewing forth from the mouth of King Nebuchadnezzar! He clamored, taking all credit for his great earthly kingdom. He boasted it was he who had engineered and built this empire. All accomplished in his own strength and power. The kingdom reverberated forth, uplifting his glory and honor.
God succinctly interrupted the king’s ego:
“While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. (Daniel4:31-32)
God spoke to King Nebuchadnezzar with resounding authority, squashing his alter ego and his control of this earthly kingdom came crashing down to an abrupt end. The earthly king was subject to the power and authority of the heavenly King, God, who rightly stripped his earthly ruling authority away.
Not only did King Nebuchadnezzar lose his reign but in short order he also lost his mind. He became as an animal or creature moving about upon the ground like an oxen without any human capabilities or reason.
“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. And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: “ (Daniel 4:33-34)
The Bible is not crystal clear on how long he remained as an animal without any human mental facilities. It does state at the end of his days, in old age; he lifted his eyes up to look upon heaven. The moment he chose to look upon heaven and acknowledge who God is, and his own detrimental physical and mental state, spiritual understanding came upon him. Nebuchadnezzar chose to honor God.
King Nebuchadnezzar found salvation in God near the end of his earthly life. Just like the thief on the cross would do on Calvary, as death stood near, he opened up the door to his heart.
For Further Contemplation:
What about the door to your own heart? Is it open for the King of Kings to permeate every crack and crevice or is it bound with chains and shuttered up tightly as you wallow around in mud? Many today are in utter misery physically, emotionally, and mentally.
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23
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