Steadfast, Immovable, Abounding

This is the second installment in my series of posts entitled: “180°: lives turned around by God’s grace.”

When I think of rich, formidable, non-Israelite kings in the Bible, Nebuchadnezzar is one of the first names that comes to mind. He was the king of Babylon while it was the most powerful empire in the world. Not surprisingly, the power and wealth went straight to his head. In Daniel 4 (which is at least partly written by Nebuchadnezzar himself) we learn what happens to those who put themselves in God’s place. Verse 30 says: “‘The king reflected and said, ‘Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?’” Wow. That is quite a statement. But honestly, haven’t we all thought something similar at some point? Maybe we didn’t become obsessed with our own power (given that none of us rule half the known world). But maybe it was something else. “I’ve achieved this because I work harder than anyone else. I just deserve it.” “Most people aren’t as nice to other people as I am. I must be a really good person.” “I’m the only one who knows what I’m doing. They should give me the responsibility.” Sound familiar? We’ve all probably had moments where we’ve forgotten that apart from God, we have nothing to brag of. It is He who has blessed us with anything we have worth celebrating.

While Nebuchadnezzar is still speaking, God’s judgement (which he had been warned of) is finally fulfilled. His sovereignty and reason are both taken from him and he is “driven away from mankind” to behave like a wild animal in the wilderness. God is teaching Nebuchadnezzar an important lesson. Everything we have – even our reason and intellect – has been given by God and can be taken by Him at any moment. The moment we start believing that we have single-handedly created anything good in our lives is the moment we tell God He is useless.

In verses 34 and 35, we read, “But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward 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. All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, but He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and no one can ward off His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’” I love the phrase “raised my eyes toward heaven.” When we put ourselves in God’s place, we can see nothing above us. If we believe in a god who is our equal, then we do not believe in the one true God. To see God as truly big we must see ourselves as truly small. C. S. Lewis says in Mere Christianity, “In God you come up against something which is in every respect immeasurably superior to yourself. Unless you know God as that – and therefore, know yourself as nothing in comparison – you do not know God at all.”

We also see that Nebuchadnezzar’s reason returns to him when he turns to God. The world seems to think that faith requires a rejection of intellectual thinking—that to believe in God, you must stifle your brain. But it is God who makes intellect possible in the first place. Any glimmerings of intelligence human beings possess are only subtle, imperfect reflections of the unfathomable brilliance of the God who created the universe. As Job finally admits in Job 42:2-3, “‘I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. “Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?” Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.’”

Within this story, Nebuchadnezzar transforms from an egotistical, self-centered individual whose every action brings glory to himself to a humbled servant, glorifying the Lord for His power and greatness. In verse 37, he says, “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride.” We weren’t created to serve ourselves, chase after worldly success, seek power over others, or fulfill the world’s standard of greatness. We were created to glorify the King of heaven, the One who is worthy of worship and praise. Yet we don’t worship Him as a distant being whom we cannot approach. Leaving His glory behind, He became one of us to save us from ourselves. If Jesus, the King of glory, humbled Himself for our sake, how could we not humble ourselves in His glorious presence?

Who has given counsel to the Lord?

Who can question any of His words?

Who can teach the One who knows all things?

Who can fathom all His wondrous deeds?

Behold our God, seated on His throne,

Come, let us adore Him.

Behold our King, nothing can compare,

Come, let us adore Him.

Sovereign Grace Music