Daniel
4 reminds me of the Mr. Lamandola, one of the most influential
coaches and teachers in my life. After a success, he used to say,
“You did it. They can’t take that away from you”. That was
his way of recognizing accomplishment to inspire me to work harder.
I have tremendous gratitude toward him for instilling confidence,
when I had none. In today’s chapter we read a lesson of humility
for a man that was thankful to no one. The chapter is a letter
written by “King
Nebuchadnezzar, to
the nations and peoples of every language“.
In advertising, this would be a testimonial as he talks “about
the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed
for me“. His story begins,
“I… was at home in my palace,
contented and prosperous. I
had a dream that made me afraid… visions that passed through my
mind terrified me“. This
pagan king called Daniel (now called Belteshazzar)
chief of the Magi; because the king knew that God is with him. The
king told Daniel the dream. “Before
me stood a tree in the middle of the land… large and strong… Its
leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant…
Under it the wild animals found
shelter“. He explained that
an angel came from heaven and commanded, “Cut
down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and
scatter its fruit… let the
stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the
ground“. But there is more,
“Let his mind be changed from
that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven
times pass
by“.
Daniel
had the courage to give the king bad news, “Your
Majesty, you are that tree!”
Knowing the king could have him executed, Daniel continued, “You
will be driven away… and will live with the wild animals; you will
eat grass like the ox… your kingdom will be restored to you when
you acknowledge that Heaven rules“.
Daniel also gives him this advice, “Renounce
your sins by doing what is right“.
Understand, though the king had seen God’s miracles, he believed
himself to be a god and his worship included sexual pleasure and
horrific child sacrifice. When we become our own god, we determine
our own right and wrong. Who has
authority over you?
Here
is the saddest part of the chapter, “Twelve
months later” the king had
made no change. The scare was not enough of a warning. Looking out
from his palace, he declared, “Is
not this the great Babylon I have built…
by my mighty power and for the
glory of my majesty?“
And
we read, “As the words were on
his lips, a voice came from heaven… Your royal authority has been
taken from you“. The dream
was fulfilled. He apparently lost his mind and behaved as a wild
animal, “until his hair grew
like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a
bird“. For 7 years the king
lived as a beast. Then, “I…
raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I
praised the Most High; I honored and glorified Him who lives forever…
I… because everything He does is right and all His ways are just.
And those who walk in pride He is able to humble“.
Coach was right about one thing, man cannot take away what man does
not give. Philippians 2:3 tells us, it you want to encourage and
comfort and love others, “Do
nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility
value others above yourselves,
not looking to your own
interests but each of you to the interests of the others“.
Friend, are you ignoring warnings to change? Are you living with
thankfulness, or king of the beasts?