Daniel 4 is unique amongst all the writings of the Bible in that it was written by a non-Israelite king. It contains Nebuchadnezzar’s (the king of Babylon) remarkable testimony of his conversion to faith in Yahweh, the God of Daniel. Here we see the sovereign hand of God calling Nebuchadnezzar to himself. God humbled this great king until he was compelled to acknowledge Yahweh as the only true God. This is what God did and it is what God does. Nebuchadnezzar’s testimony is a wonderful example of how God sovereignly works in our lives. Living without God we can easily become like mere animals competing for survival; each one living for himself striving to rise-up and overpower the other. It is best that we feel the misery of this existence, as Nebuchadnezzar was made to, than be left to continue this way. If we rise up in independence and selfish ambition it is best that we be dashed to the ground than left to succeed in our schemes. It is a blessing when God causes the schemes of our autonomy to fail. The best thing that can happen to us is to be brought back in humility and dependence to God. If God brings you to this point through failure and disaster, then it is best. Pray and ask God to interrupt you when you go astray with your own schemes, and even to cause those schemes to fail. Are you willing to pray such a prayer? How determined are you to live with God? How abhorrent to you is the idea of living without God?
Reflect on these things and pray as I have suggested if you are willing.
Read Daniel 4
