Crumbs68

 

This contains some thoughts on Daniel 4:28-37

Crumbs from the Master ‘s Table 68

Break Down

Scripture 28 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 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?”

31 Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. 32 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.”

33 Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.

34 At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.His dominion is an eternal dominion;    his kingdom endures from generation to generation.35 All the peoples of the earth    are regarded as nothing.He does as he pleases
    with the powers of heaven    and the peoples of the earth.No one can hold back his hand    or say to him: “What have you done?”

36 At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. 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.

Crumbs It’s amazing : part of the Word of God are words of a pagan king. Nebuchadnezzer. On the roof of the palace he boasted of his achievements, his authority and who he was. When God deals with him these are the three areas of life dealt with. In Nebuchadnezzer’s breakdown the palace becomes a field; the mighty king a grazing animal isolated from human company. His boasts are hollow 1 Corinthians 1 :31 He who glories let him glory in the Lord.

In interpreting his experience Nebuchadnezzer sees the hand of God but is also aware he has had a mental break down. We may be able to .explain some of our experiences scientifically. This does not mean God does not have a hand in the matter or is not controlling things.

Christians rightly glory in Christ’s power in healing physical conditions. Let’s not ignore mental health. Looking at Scripture I find it had its place. Prophets had breakdowns. Christ healed minds as well as bodies.

God’s dealings with Neduchadnezzer had not been ones of final judgment. They were mending the king. Some of our pains may be seen as God putting right things that have gone wrong. Hebrews 12:6

In his confession( verses 34-35) Nebuchadnezzer attributes to God those things he had previously boasted about for himself. The achievements that really matter are those things done by God. God’s authority spans the whole of human history, not just a few decades. We must admit the place He holds in this world and the next.

Questions 1.What areas of our life need divine attention ? 2. What should our attitude to mental break down be? 3. How should awareness of God’s sovereign power affect our thinking and way of life ?