““But all these things did happen to King Nebuchadnezzar. Twelve months later he was taking a walk on the flat roof of the royal palace in Babylon. As he looked out across the city, he said, ‘Look at this great city of Babylon! By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendor.’ “While these words were still in his mouth, a voice called down from heaven, ‘O King Nebuchadnezzar, this message is for you! You are no longer ruler of this kingdom. You will be driven from human society. You will live in the fields with the wild animals, and you will eat grass like a cow. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.’ “That same hour the judgment was fulfilled, and Nebuchadnezzar was driven from human society. He ate grass like a cow, and he was drenched with the dew of heaven. He lived this way until his hair was as long as eagles’ feathers and his nails were like birds’ claws. “After this time had passed, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven. My sanity returned, and I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the one who lives forever. His rule is everlasting, and his kingdom is eternal. All the people of the earth are nothing compared to him. He does as he pleases among the angels of heaven and among the people of the earth. No one can stop him or say to him, ‘What do you mean by doing these things?’ “When my sanity returned to me, so did my honor and glory and kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored as head of my kingdom, with even greater honor than before. “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of heaven. All his acts are just and true, and he is able to humble the proud.””
Daniel 4:28-37 NLT
It is not enough to nearly know God. It isn’t enough to simply acknowledge him in your life. To truly interact with him is to be humble before him, or to be humbled by him. As we come to the end of Nebedchednezzar’s story, we see that God can and will humble, even a king. A few things should be noted. Firstly, David’s story with Bathsheba also starts by him overlooking his kingdom with pride. He failed that test, fell into deep sin, almost compromised the entire kingdom and had to confess and repent. Jesus ministry begins the same way as Satan takes him to overlook Jerusalem and tells him that it could all be his in return for worship. Jesus does not relent, echoing Nebedchednezzar’s final sentiment, that worship belongs only to God. Lastly, let us note that restoration comes to the king after almost a decade of being reduced to an animal like state. God is indeed a patient parent. We must not discount those who struggle to praise God. It may take a long while, even after meeting him, to finally call him Lord, but it will happen. Indeed, we should all hold out the hope of the scriptures that state that “every knee will bow and tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” And so shall it be.
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