We have all heard the phrase “pride goes before the fall.”

And how true that is. When we see ourselves as better than others or have been placed in a position of authority, be careful to “not let it go to your head.”

 

King Nebuchadnezzar was very powerful, and he decided to let the people he ruled over worship the god of their choice, and sometimes he too would worship their gods.  He figured they would be more obedient if he allowed them that freedom all the while stealing their lands and riches. All of this worked until he conquered the nation of Judah, and their God was exclusive. He demanded that they worship only Him, the true and living God. The God they worshiped dared the king to believe that He had made and controlled even him.

 

Nebuchadnezzar could not see that all his victories even the choice people he captured like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were all a part of God’s plan, God used them to move the king in the direction he needed to go, and into the belief, he needed to gain. God even allowed him to try to kill the three servants, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, all to prove that the king did not have any power over life and death as he supposed he did. God was using each of these to change his life.

 

God kept warning the king about the danger of his pride, but the king would not listen. God was about to show him just who He was and the power he had over everything!  Fast forward a bit, Daniel interprets a dream for the king, and twelve months later it comes to pass.  (Daniel 4:28-33) As the king is walking on the roof of the royal palace he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as a royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” (Insert GREAT PRIDE here) The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes.”

Immediately what had been said came to pass, he was driven away from his people and ate grass like cattle. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.

 

At the end of the time, God appointed for the king to live as an animal had passed, Nebuchadnezzar raised his eyes toward heaven, and his sanity was restored.  Then he praised God; and honored and glorified him who lives forever. (Daniel 4:34)

 

God will deal with our pride and depending on how prideful we are will determine the severity of the discipline. Pride makes us think we do not need anyone, especially God to tell us how to live, move and have our being, but God’s word says different.  We are not our own, we have been bought with a price, the very life of Jesus was given so that we could walk in freedom. God will gently warn you as you start to follow a prideful lifestyle, but he will use whatever means necessary to accomplish His will in us. He moves things, people and places around in our lives in ways we do not understand to get us where he wants us spiritually.

 

He wants us to surrender to his Lordship, to recognize that He is God, there is not another. He will not tolerate our worship being given to other things or people.  It is always for our good and his glory.  Pride is dangerous, believing we are invincible and able on our own is a recipe for disaster.

 

The king had these final words to say in (Daniel 4:37).

“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.”

 

Remember if you have not been “humbled” by the Lord yet, it is his tender mercy and longsuffering giving you space to repent and turn from this sin, and if you do not, just know he will humble you and it could be a severy humbling.

 

Our God is loving, kind, compassionate, slow to anger, full of mercy, our helper, our redeemer, our friend, but he is God, Holy, Righteous, King, of King’s, Savior, Lord of Lord’s, All-knowing, All-powerful, Just, Mighty, Jealous…Bend the knee, cry out to God and seek forgiveness and guidance to walk humbly with your God!