Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Daniel 5:17-21 (NIV)
17 Then Daniel answered the king, "You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means. 18 "O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor. 19 Because of the high position he gave him, all the peoples and nations and men of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death; those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled. 20 But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. 21 He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like cattle; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and sets over them anyone he wishes.
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2 comments:
This passage gives us a good summary of Nebuchadnezzar's rise and downfall as the king of Babylon...Through this example, God wants to warn King Belshazzar not to make the same mitakes as his predecessor King Nebuchadnezzar. At the same time, God also wants the king to acknowledge that the Most High God is sovereign over the kingdoms.
We must not forget who put us here. Who give us life, family, foods, and all things.
Arrogance is a vicious thing to lead us to death. One of the greatest reason that people do not believe in God is arrogance. Due to our sinful nature, we often think/want that we are the one who got ourselves into certain position, success, etc. We deny the help of God and his authority but rather put ourselves above him.
I see this in myself as well and so I continually seek His guidance.
Like Paul said there is nothing we can boast(to glory/praise) about other than the cross of Christ, the source of our life and all goodness. Without His grace and love we would be nothing.
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