Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning and even among fools she lets
herself be known. ~Proverbs 14:33
At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified Him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion. His kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as He pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back His hand or say to Him: “What have You done.” At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. 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. ~Daniel 4:34-37
I hope you’re familiar with the awesome story recounted in Daniel 4. Just in case, allow me to recount it for you in a few sentences. You may recall that Daniel was carried off to Babylon, from Israel, as a teenager, by king Nebuchadnezzar, as part of Nebuchadnezzar’s plan to build the Babylonian empire. Daniel, along with three of his friends, rose to prominence in the empire, as God provided.
As the Babylonian empire conquered more and more peoples, Nebuchadnezzar himself became more confident, powerful, and arrogant. In Daniel 3, we remember the statue that Nebuchadnezzar had raised in his own honor that Daniel’s three friends refused to worship, which didn’t sit well with Nebuchadnezzar, causing him to have them thrown into the fiery furnace. At the end of this event, Nebuchadnezzar proclaimed the supremacy of God, but that recognition must have been short lived because, in chapter 4, Nebuchadnezzar is back to seeing himself as invincible and godlike himself.
He became a man that only God Himself could have dealt with, and He did. God stripped Nebuchadnezzar of everything, right down to his mind, until he was truly humbled enough to acknowledge the One True God as the only God of the universe. “Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning and even among fools she lets herself be known.” Nebuchadnezzar was a fool. He thought he was something that he was not. God used him as a tool, to refine His people, to consume the dross, the wood, hay and stubble, but God never gave his approval for Nebuchadnezzar to be so cruel and unjust towards the apple of God’s eye.
God was always in control of the situation though. And just like satan on a leash, the foolish king could only do so much and not utterly destroy the Jews. In addition, God graciously sent Daniel to warn Nebuchadnezzar that he was going too far. When Nebuchadnezzar forgot the warning and once again thought too much of himself, God reminded him of the truth. Then as a gentile, Nebuchadnezzar praised God when his sanity returned, and he didn’t do it in Hebrew. He did it in Aramaic, for the whole world to read.
Let this true story encourage you today. Where there is God, there is always the unseen factor to deal with. That is the wisdom that reposes in our hearts no matter how things appear in the seen world. We had talked earlier that “evil will bow down before the righteous.” This is an example of that taking place. It will always be so.
These are just some thoughts today that are meant to encourage. With the virus, the riots, the media, the not knowing what is true and what is not, it can be overwhelming. However, please be encouraged that God is still in control. He is in control of the truth. He is in control of the hearts of men. He took on a world leader and brought him to his knees. We don’t know the future, but we know the heart of our heavenly Father. That is where our focus and our hope lie. May I suggest that you re-read Daniel 4 for yourself today and be amazed that even a fool can be taught to praise Him.
Prayer: Thank You Father, my Rock and my Redeemer, for you constancy and sovereignty through all the turmoil of our lives. I pray that I will always be wise enough to praise You and trust you. You are the Most High God! Thank You for that Wisdom in my heart. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Song: I Know My Redeemer Lives
At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified Him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion. His kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as He pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back His hand or say to Him: “What have You done.” At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. 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. ~Daniel 4:34-37
I hope you’re familiar with the awesome story recounted in Daniel 4. Just in case, allow me to recount it for you in a few sentences. You may recall that Daniel was carried off to Babylon, from Israel, as a teenager, by king Nebuchadnezzar, as part of Nebuchadnezzar’s plan to build the Babylonian empire. Daniel, along with three of his friends, rose to prominence in the empire, as God provided.
As the Babylonian empire conquered more and more peoples, Nebuchadnezzar himself became more confident, powerful, and arrogant. In Daniel 3, we remember the statue that Nebuchadnezzar had raised in his own honor that Daniel’s three friends refused to worship, which didn’t sit well with Nebuchadnezzar, causing him to have them thrown into the fiery furnace. At the end of this event, Nebuchadnezzar proclaimed the supremacy of God, but that recognition must have been short lived because, in chapter 4, Nebuchadnezzar is back to seeing himself as invincible and godlike himself.
He became a man that only God Himself could have dealt with, and He did. God stripped Nebuchadnezzar of everything, right down to his mind, until he was truly humbled enough to acknowledge the One True God as the only God of the universe. “Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning and even among fools she lets herself be known.” Nebuchadnezzar was a fool. He thought he was something that he was not. God used him as a tool, to refine His people, to consume the dross, the wood, hay and stubble, but God never gave his approval for Nebuchadnezzar to be so cruel and unjust towards the apple of God’s eye.
God was always in control of the situation though. And just like satan on a leash, the foolish king could only do so much and not utterly destroy the Jews. In addition, God graciously sent Daniel to warn Nebuchadnezzar that he was going too far. When Nebuchadnezzar forgot the warning and once again thought too much of himself, God reminded him of the truth. Then as a gentile, Nebuchadnezzar praised God when his sanity returned, and he didn’t do it in Hebrew. He did it in Aramaic, for the whole world to read.
Let this true story encourage you today. Where there is God, there is always the unseen factor to deal with. That is the wisdom that reposes in our hearts no matter how things appear in the seen world. We had talked earlier that “evil will bow down before the righteous.” This is an example of that taking place. It will always be so.
These are just some thoughts today that are meant to encourage. With the virus, the riots, the media, the not knowing what is true and what is not, it can be overwhelming. However, please be encouraged that God is still in control. He is in control of the truth. He is in control of the hearts of men. He took on a world leader and brought him to his knees. We don’t know the future, but we know the heart of our heavenly Father. That is where our focus and our hope lie. May I suggest that you re-read Daniel 4 for yourself today and be amazed that even a fool can be taught to praise Him.
Prayer: Thank You Father, my Rock and my Redeemer, for you constancy and sovereignty through all the turmoil of our lives. I pray that I will always be wise enough to praise You and trust you. You are the Most High God! Thank You for that Wisdom in my heart. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Song: I Know My Redeemer Lives
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