BY BRUCE GREEN
OPINION — Who would you rather be: a prisoner of war or someone who occupies an important position of power and influence?
That doesn’t seem like much of a choice, does it? But what if I told you the prisoner of war is Daniel, and the person with power and influence is Nebuchadnezzar? That would change things, wouldn’t it? And we’d realize that there’s more to the question than we originally thought.
When we look at it from a deeper, more informed perspective, we realize the choice is between someone who has character and someone who is a character. Yet in our self-asserting, entertainment-driven culture, I’m sure there are many who would choose being a character over having character. To them, having more followers is of greater importance than practicing what is good, right and true. They fail to understand that who you are as a person is more important than any position of power or influence you might have.
Nebuchadnezzar seems to have belonged in that category. In Daniel 4, he has an exalted position, a kingdom of followers and power galore. But he does not have the one thing he really needs to make him right with God — humility. In fact, the king was hurting for humility.
Nebuchadnezzar has had two major, big-stage occasions where he has had the opportunity to learn about the true king (God Almighty) and correspondingly humble himself. In chapter 2, the king, who was sleepless in Babylon, had his mysterious and troubling dream explained to him through the power of God by his servant Daniel. Then in chapter 3, he witnessed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be miraculously delivered from a fiery furnace by the power of God. On both occasions, he was quick to humble himself and recognize God.
Unfortunately, it didn’t last.
Instead, he has to learn the hard way. That’s one of the consequences of being a prideful person. Even after Daniel reveals to him the meaning of his dream and counsels him to repent (v. 27), he fails to do so. Consequently, and in a show of His absolute power, God humbles Nebuchadnezzar by transforming him into something animalistic (v. 33). The king drops down in the created order of things (perhaps suggesting that pride dehumanizes us and makes us more like an animal than a human). This is too much for even Nebuchadnezzar, so after a period of time, he humbles himself by raising his eyes toward heaven. His humanity is restored, and he acknowledges and praises God (v. 34-37).
Whether you are a king or a prisoner of war the message is clear: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” (1 Peter 5:6)
Find more of Green’s writings at his website: a-taste-of-grace-with-bruce-green.com.