Nebuchadnezzar
By Janelle Payment, Village School Student
(From the August 2009 Issue of the Philogian)

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, ruler of the most powerful nation during his lifetime, was nothing more than a pawn of God. God used him to lead a nation whose sole purpose was to hand out God’s judgment to Israel. His story is fascinating. He was a puppet of God without even knowing it. Through His sovereignty, God took Nebuchadnezzar on a great journey. God introduced himself to Nebuchadnezzar slowly and unveiled Himself over time until Nebuchadnezzar was left with no doubts about His existence, control and purpose. Let’s look at the ways God controlled the circumstances surrounding the decisions that Nebuchadnezzar made in his life. We will also catch a glimpse of God unveiling how His subtle workings made all the pieces of the puzzle fit together.

First, God granted Nebuchadnezzar victories on the battle field. At this point Nebuchadnezzar has no faith in God and does not know that God is Lord of all. Yet, he is enjoying the favor and blessings that God graciously showers on him. Nebuchadnezzar feels proud and mighty as he lays siege to Judah and Jerusalem. He has conquered the Chosen Nation! God allows faithless Nebuchadnezzar to feed on his own inflated ego and dance to victory because He sees the big picture. Nebuchadnezzar’s victory was not in response to his own cunning, might, leadership or skill. It was to serve God’s purpose towards sin in Israel. Israel had become so corrupt that punishment and judgment were necessary for the people of Judah to reconnect and rely on God. The devastation that Nebuchadnezzar and his Babylonians brought on Jerusalem accomplished God’s goals. Israel was taken to Babylon in exile for the sins they had committed against God. They were not in exile because of sins they had committed against Babylon. It was a punishment dealt out by God using Nebechadnezzar as His tool. If he had known God, Nebuchadnezzar would have fallen to his knees and given praise to God for victory. He would have shouted in the streets about how good God was and how he had been protected by God. But, Nebuchadnezzar didn’t realize any of this. He was blindly lost in his own arrogance.

As outsiders looking in and reading the story of Nebuchadnezzar, we can learn from the complete picture that we get of him. It’s easy to see from a distance how Nebuchadnezzar was used by God to deliver His judgment to Israel. It’s harder to recognize when we are closer to the situation. We don’t get the bird’s eye view of our own lives. How often have we taken credit for God’s handiwork? We too are puppets in His master plan. Our triumphs in everyday battles are not the result of our intelligence, hard work, or goodness. They come from God. He deserves all glory and honor and praise for the blessings and successes in our lives. Knowing Him, trusting Him, and developing our faith in Him will help us to remain humble and accept His blessings with thanksgiving and not pride.

Next, God allowed Nebuchadnezzar to take the finest citizens of Judah into exile. Among them was a young man named Daniel. Daniel was a faithful servant to God through whom God would use to change Nebuchadnezzar’s life.  God blessed Daniel with insight and wisdom; which Nebuchadnezzar found unequalled in Babylon. These talents made Daniel a key person for the king to turn to. Nebuchadnezzar kept Daniel close to him in his court. It makes for a strange picture; an officer of God serving in the palace of a pagan king. It gives further proof that God is everywhere. He can use any one for anything at any time.

Daniel was able to translate a dream to the king. It was not good news for the king, yet Daniel told him the truth. Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar that God had given him power for a while, but that another nation would reign after his. After hearing the interpretation of  his dream, the king gave honor to Daniel and to God. “The king said to Daniel, ‘Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal these mysteries.” (Daniel 2:47) God was working in Nebuchadnezzar’s life. The result was that the king recognized God’s existence. He conceded that God revealed mysteries to Daniel. He did not believe in God’s power or sovereignty nor did he have faith in God. He simply stated out loud that Daniel’s God must be the real God. Once the words were out of his mouth, they were lost in the air. The sentiments behind his statements were gone, and Nebuchadnezzar quickly forgot about God and returned to his old ways of thinking.

I know similar situations have occurred repeatedly in my life. I will see something or hear something that makes God’s presence obvious in my life. He will be impossible to ignore. I will be in awe of Him and give Him praise and glory. I am reminded of what my priorities should be and what my relationship to God needs to be. But I have had a hard time maintaining my focus and hanging onto the excitement He brings. It seems to be a repetitive cycle. No matter how close to God I feel today, eventually I fall away from Him and become separated from my Savior. Whether it is pride or sin or lack of focus or lapse in commitment, I am responsible for breaking my connection to Him and falling into old habits. Thankfully, He is my Shepherd and he comes to get me each time I get lost. God was Nebuchadnezzar’s Shepherd too; even if he didn’t realize it. God would continue to work in the life of the Babylonian king.

King Nebuchadnezzar built a gold idol and demanded that all fall down and worship it. He declared that the punishment for disobeying would be death. After all, he was the king and his commands must not be questioned. Three men knew the truth about Nebuchadnezzar’s power. It was only an illusion. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego knew that God’s commands were the ones that should be followed. God has commanded that false gods were not to be worshiped. They refused to follow the king’s decree. They held strong in their faith. They proclaimed their faith in God when confronted by the king. “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (Daniel 3:17-18).  Nebuchadnezzar had been slighted and was furious. He ordered the furnace to be heated hotter than ever, the three men to be bound and thrown in. Then he witnessed a miracle. He saw the three men in the furnace with a fourth who protected their flesh from the flames. This amazing event caused the king to once again see the existence of God. He praised God and commanded his nation not to say anything against Him. God had allowed king Nebuchadnezzar to throw three of His faithful servants into the furnace. Once again, God was in control and had a purpose in mind. God wanted to teach the king that he didn’t have control over life and death as he assumed he did. Nebuchadnezzar would learn that God could save a life that the king had destined to end. He acknowledged that God was powerful; but still did not turn his full allegiance to God.

How many times do we acknowledge God’s power, but continue to worship other gods as well. We worship possessions, power, wealth, jobs and status. God demands our full attention and worship. He tells us that our hearts are to belong to Him alone. When we divide our worship, we loose our focus on what is real and true. We can’t have all God has to offer us and give praise to other gods. No other god can provide us with the protection and love and grace and eternity of the Lord. We don’t need anything else. We only need Him!

God wasn’t finished with Nebuchadnezzar yet. He sent the king another dream to be explained by Daniel. In the dream about a tree, Daniel explains to the king that God has sent a warning about the consequences of pride. Daniel makes it very clear that if the king continues in his prideful manner that God would drive him away from people and make him live among the animals for seven years. Then Daniel begged the king to change. “Therefore, O king, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue” (Daniel 5:27).

I’m touched by Daniel’s concern for Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel gives loving advice to a king who has destroyed his homeland, had many of his people killed, and had the rest sent into captivity. Daniel is a shining example to all of us. His life shows us how powerful the love of God can be in us. When we let God’s love work in us and through us, no one is left untouched by love. If Daniel can love the very man responsible for his captivity, surely we can try a bit harder to mend broken relationships. We can make more effort to understand those who disrespect us and are unkind. We can show love to someone we may not feel deserves it. God feels everyone deserves a show of love. We are the heart of God. Daniel showed us that we can do better at presenting the heart of God to the world.

After the warning about the dangers of pride, God gave Nebuchadnezzar one year to heed it. He had 365 new days to make a different choice. God is a fair and just God. He gives us all plenty of chances to make the right choice. He gives us way more chances than we deserve. His faith and hope in us is so much greater than our faith in Him. He doesn’t give up on us. He doesn’t waver from us. Since we are not yet living in eternity, judgment eventually comes. For Nebuchadnezzar, it came one year later.  The king had continued to snub God and take credit for his success. “He said, ‘Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?’” (Daniel 4:30).  God would teach the king one final lesson about who has real control and power. God took his sanity and sent Nebuchadnezzar to live among the animals just as He said He would. God always follows through. He is truth. When God sends us a warning, we would be wise to take heed of it. The judgment he promises will come forth.

Finally, Nebuchadnezzar saw the light. “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 4:37).  God seemed to have a special place for king Nebuchadnezzar. He worked in the king’s life slowly, but diligently. He has a special place for us as well. He is always at work in our lives too. If we look for Him, we will be able to see His faithfulness to us. He continues to try and reach us. His hope is that we would all come to see the light as Nebuchadnezzar eventually did. We should all proclaim, “Glory to the King of Heaven! Everything He does is right and just!”

Nebuchadnezzar began his story thinking that he was mighty. He believed that he had absolute control. Through some diligent work on the part of God, Nebuchadnezzar came to realize that God was the one who was in control. In the end, the king conceded the battle for control to God. And although God won the battle fought by Nebuchadnezzar for years over who was in control, ultimately it was Nebuchadnezzar who won in proclaiming his praise and exalting the glory of God. This is an important lesson for us to learn. When we concede the battle with God for power of our lives; we win. We win an eternity spent at His feet. I, for one, will rejoice at the chance to be God’s puppet and dance on His strings!

 

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