At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. Daniel 4:34 (NIV)
Here we are on the cusp of a new year, a new beginning, and a fresh start. Many people will be celebrating tonight as we usher in exchanging the old for the new. There are those who sit back and reflect on the past year, and they can wonder, Where did it go? and What do I have to show for it? And, yet there are others who sit back and marvel at what they have accomplished.
The story captured in the Book of Daniel is a story that each of us should want to know and remember as we set our sites, paths, hopes, and goals for this upcoming year.
Nebuchadnezzar was a world leader of the Babylonian empire who conquered many different kingdoms. As he did this, he would steal the peoples valuables and add it to his personal wealth. He would allow each of these conquered nations to continue to worship the false gods that they had chosen as a way to appease them. This all changed when he conquered Judah. You see God had allowed this king to conquer all these kingdoms, including His chosen people because they, too, had turned their backs on the real God, and had chosen false pagan gods to worship instead.
All that Nebuchadnezzar cared about was amassing more wealth, and power, and growing his personal empire. He worshiped his lifestyle, and his possessions more than God. So God sent him dreams showing him the future, and how these things would be taken away because of this, unless he changed.
You see, God demands exclusive worship; He does not want to be in competition with the attention that we give to the things that we posses, or the job that we have. And this was the case with Nebuchadnezzar, as the king was not willing to humble himself and admit that it was God who made him, but that would change. The King was warned by dreams given by God and interpreted by a young prophet named Daniel. And even though he acknowledged that Daniels God was in fact the true God, he continued to focus his attention on his own accomplishments, and credited only himself for achieving them.
Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?
The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven, This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes.
Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like cattle. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird (See Daniel 4:29-36).
And so for seven years this once mighty king roamed around like a crazy, insane person. God had clearly warned him of the dangers in his pride, and then allowed him to live through seven years of insanity before restoring him to the throne.
Maybe we dont rule over kingdoms, but this lesson should be clear to us. When we shift our attentions to our own lives, to what we want, to what weve accomplished, and to how much we have, we are unable to see what God has done, and how He is working within our lives.
Maybe we wont literally walk around insane and homeless for 7-years, but will we really be any different than Nebuchadnezzar if we are still be running around like a chicken with our head cut off, crazily chasing false security, hope and happiness through worldly possessions and meaningless relationships.
We should learn from history, and those who have made mistakes, so we dont make the same ones. Nebuchadnezzars mistakes are our valuable knowledge. Wisdom is the ability to take knowledge and apply it to our lives. Gods Word is full of His knowledge and it will be a guide for those who seek to know the proper way in life.
What is it about us human beings that keep us from taking someone elses painful experiences and learning from them? I suggest it is pride, and ignorance, that we can somehow continue to make the same mistakes and hope for a different outcome.
Nebuchadnezzar learned the hard way, and he had this to say about it:
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble. Daniel 4:37 (NIV)
When you reflect on this year, and set forth for the new one, I would like to encourage you to think about what God has done for you, and then what you will do as a result of this. Then make a New Years resolution that will have purpose and meaning.
STUDY QUESITON: What was King Nebuchadnezzars response once he knew who God really was, as recorded in Daniel 4:34?
PERSONAL INVENTORY: Are you willing to acknowledge and worship God first and foremost?
APPLICATION: Seek a meaningful relationship with God today, and make it your New Years resolution to read His Word daily.
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