Nebuchadnezzar the Exemplar; The Testimony of a Glory Thief

When you think of the Gentile King, Nebuchadnezzar, what are some of the ideas or images that come to mind? Is it The Beast from Disney’s Beauty and The Beast? Or maybe a powerful king that overthrew the Southern Kingdom of Judah? These are good ideas, but I want to show you that at times, we are not much different than this “glory-thief” king.

Nebuchadnezzar gives us his very own story, or testimony, in the form of a proclamation addressed to all the earth in Daniel chapter 4. The first four chapters give us the incredible narrative of how God uses Nebuchadnezzar as His servant (Jeremiah 27:6) in order to accomplish His will in and through his life (Daniel 4:35). Here are four things about this powerful world ruler, King Nebuchadnezzar, that help me see that I’m not much different from him.

He is fearful of the unknown.

In the early chapters of Daniel we see that Nebuchadnezzar had dreams which trouble his spirit and affect his sleep. The Scripture tells us that his spirit was troubled to know the meaning of his dreams. Like Nebuchadnezzar, I’ve often lied in my bed wondering and fretting over my marriage, family, work, finances, health, and relationships, being gripped by my lack of knowledge of the future.

He is forgetful, consistently.

Early in Nebuchadnezzar’s interaction with Daniel, it was clear Daniel was the only accurate interpreter of the King’s dreams. Out of all of the King’s wisemen, conjurers, and Chaldeans, none could satisfy the King’s request. Yet there was Daniel to whom God gave understanding in all visions and dreams (Dan. 1:17). Despite his success in interpretation, the king was quick to forget. Later, as he had another troubling dream, Nebuchadnezzar once again called together all the the false interpreters who failed again. Daniel, however, was faithful in interpreting the King’s dream dream and his call for the king to repent from his sin by showing mercy to the poor (Dan. 4:27). I’m also often forgetful of God’s faithfulness in my own life despite all He has accomplished and has promised to accomplish according to His word. Even though I’ve experienced His faithfulness, and have discussed it with others, I often find myself doubting his faithfulness to me.

He favors his own agenda.

After Daniel interpreted the king’s initial dream in Daniel 2, the king, rather than recognizing that it is the God of Heaven who has given him the kingdom, power, strength and glory, erects and idol of gold. He ignored Daniel's faithful interpretation of his dream. I likewise am tempted, even after experiencing God’s blessing, to trust in my own power, strength, and skill.

His Humbling was fulfilled.

As the king puts pen to a proclamation addressing the whole world, he says this: “It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me” (Dan. 4:2). I love the personal touch the king puts at the end, “for me”. After Daniel courageously calls him to repent, God extends His grace and mercy for 12 more months. Then the King, the glory thief that he was, does something that seems inexplicable, as he looked over Babylon. "The king reflected and said, 'Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?'” (Dan. 4:30).

As the words were still in his mouth, a voice came from heaven and declared once again what the king already knew, but forgot. Yet, there was hope, this pagan king, was enrolled in God’s school of humility. After a period of 7 years in this God-ordained, humbled state, in isolation, with the beasts of the field, on the diet of cattle, this proud and arrogant king would be broken by God and come to realize who the King of Kings is.

You might not think you struggle with stealing, but in what ways are you robbing God from HIS glory. Do you look at your marriage, your children, your grandchildren, your church, your ministry opportunities, your business or work, your academic excellence, your popularity, your athletic ability, your appearance... and proclaim like Nebuchadnezzar, “look what I have done.” Do you require a humbling experience like Nebuchadnezzar?

God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (James 4:6). Yahweh is the One who raises Kings and tears them down and He will not share his glory with another (Isaiah 42:8, 48:11). May we, with the Holy Spirit’s aid, reflect and learn to not be like the ancient glory-thief Nebachadnezzar!