Tests and Trials may lead on to greater Things. Daniel 4:36
Daniel chapter 4 ends with a prayer that cost a great king, Nebuchadnezzar, seven years of his life and kingship!
It all began with a Dream(1) that troubled the king. Daniel(2), whose name means God(El) is my judge, was brought to tell the king it’s meaning. Daniel was greatly perplexed by the dream, but eventually told the Babylonian King that it was a Decree(3) from heaven about his future, unless he repented;
27 Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.’
However, twelve months later, while on the roof of his palace, the king made a boastful Declaration(4) and ‘while the words were still on his lips a voice from heaven spoke the Decree over him’. Nebuchadnezzar was ‘was Driven(5) away from people and ate grass like cattle. His body was drenched with the Dew(6) of heaven’ until seven times/years had passed. At that time ‘he raised his eyes to heaven and praised the Most High; I honoured and glorified Him who lives forever’.
His Dominion(now there’s a word for today after the election) is an eternal Dominion(7);
his kingdom endures from generation to generation.
35 All the peoples of the earth
are regarded as nothing.
He Does(8) as he pleases
with the powers of heaven(NB, NOT JUST EARTH)
and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand
or say to him: ‘What have you done?’
That prayer cost the ruler of one of the greatest kingdoms on earth seven years of his life – a powerful lesson in humility. Maybe some of the trials we’ve gone through aren’t as tough as we thought?
His sanity and his kingdom were restored to him AND HE BECAME EVEN GREATER THAN BEFORE. Once he’d learnt true humility God knew He could trust him and blessed him.
37 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.
God’s authority is being challenged today on many fronts but this pagan king said, ‘everything He Does is right and all His ways are just’. A man who paid such a high price as Nebuchadnezzar, may have something worth listening to today.
God bless and keep you all.