Nebuchadnezzar’s Humiliation

Daniel 4:28–33
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Sadly, Nebuchadnezzar did not take the prophet’s advice to turn from his evil ways. It seems almost incredible that the king would refuse to heed Daniel’s pleading and yet that is exactly what happened. The heart of man has not changed since that historic event. With all the preaching of God’s Word today, men for the most part will not turn from their pride and self-will to Christ.

Nebuchadnezzar’s vision eventually happened just as predicted (v. 28). God in his grace gave an additional year before judgment came (v. 29). The king may have humbled himself at first, but he eventually became fatally prideful once again. One day when Nebuchadnezzar was strutting around his palace displaying arrogance and pride, he directly challenged God by taking all glory to himself (v. 30). Nebuchadnezzar had a lot to be proud of. He was victorious in battle to be sure, but perhaps his greatest accomplishments were in his building projects. Ancient Babylon would have truly been a wonder to behold. Imagine it: His palace with its famous hanging gardens; his city with its walls and gates; the Euphrates River running through the city; the ziggurat; iconography of all the gods of Babylon visible everywhere you looked. All of it either build or restored according to his will. “The king spoke, and said, is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?” (v. 30).

Immediately, before he had finished speaking, the proud king heard a voice from heaven. The words of the vision were repeated to him, and Nebuchadnezzar was reduced to the level of a beast (vv. 31-33). Minutes before his fall he wore the royal robes of a ruling monarch; then he was found crawling on all fours in an open field, eating grass like an ox. For seven years he lived like an animal. 

Application

It is easy for me to condemn Nebuchadnezzar for being boastful when I have actually been guilty of the same thing. Anything I am able to accomplish is because God has given me the ability to accomplish it.