Scripture

“King Nebuchadnezzar, please accept my advice. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past and be merciful to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper.”

Observation

Daniel explains Nebuchadnezzar’s dream to him. At first, he was frightened by the dream’s meaning, but the king encouraged him to not be alarmed.

Daniel explains that the tree represents Nebuchadnezzar himself, who has prospered and grown very powerful. But the Lord will judge Nebuchadnezzar, and he will be driven from human society and live like a cow for seven years. But after this time, he will be restored to his position.

Twelve months later, while walking on the palace roof and admiring the city, he says out loud that this is all his own work. At this expression of pride, the judgement of God falls on him. He is driven out of the city and eats grass for seven years. At the end of that time, his sanity is restored, and he returns to the throne. Nebuchadnezzar honours the Lord who is truly ruler over all things.

Application

Daniel’s desperate plea to King Nebuchadnezzar applies to every person – “Stop sinning and do what is right.”

Nebuchadnezzar was judged dramatically for the sin of pride, which is actually at the root of all the other sins. We think that we are more entitled than other people, more important or more talented. These attitudes undermine relationships and can lead to more extreme sins, even murder.

It is not always the things that we are not good at that trip us up, but often the things that we excel at.

Pride can make us delusional as it did with Nebuchadnezzar. He did not build a city. Thousands of others did the work. How often do people make claims about their achievements that are, at best, shared with others or completely dependent on other people?

Pride comes before a fall, so let’s repent of it before it trips us up.

Prayer

Lord, please forgive my pride. Bring conviction to me and teach me the path of humility. Amen.