| |
What do we make of these 7 years when King Neb lost his mind?
“There is, understandably, no preserved secular record of this; but Abydenus, a Greek historian, wrote in 268 BC that Nebuchadnezzar had been “possessed by some god” and that he had “immediately disappeared”. Some dismiss this account of Nebuchadnezzar’s madness as unhistorical; but there is no historical record of his governmental activity between 582 and 575; this silence is deafening, especially when we keep in mind how Near Eastern leaders liked to egotistically trumpet their achievements – and hide their embarrassments.”
Paul S. Gould
“Nebuchadnezzar was given the opportunity to humble himself, and he did not. Now God humbled him, and the experience was much more severe than it would have been had Nebuchadnezzar humbled himself.”
David Guzik
God allowed King Neb a full year to repent of his sin. After it didn’t happen, the king was casually admiring his great kingdom when the hammer came down from heaven. He lost his mind, going out among the lowly farm oxen to live for 7 years. Even the choice of animal was a means to bring him to humility. What’s so crazy about this story is that after his mind returns, and all is well again, he praises God and even worships him!
So, when we put this all together we can deduce a powerful truth. Pride steals worship from God and humility restores it. If we analyze our life and find that we lack meaningful worship, we probably have a pride issue. The term ‘worship’ I am referring to is not only singing songs to God on Sunday. Worship is valuing something or someone. It involves enjoyment and satisfaction over all other things.
King Neb worshiped his kingdom and himself. God’s love broke through with perspective.
“By the end of Dan 4:1-37, god Nebuchadnezzar knew which God was the true God. And when Nebuchadnezzar knew it, he wasn’t shy about telling people what he had learned – he was a true witness, giving testimony to God’s great works.”
David Guzik