God Can Humble The Proud

GOD CAN HUMBLE ANYONE WHO ACTS PROUDLY. I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, honor, and glorify the King of Heaven. Everything he does is right and just.. Daniel 4.37.

As we were driving back home from the church one day, I asked my wife about a young doctor and his wife whom we know well, “Which church do they attend?” To my surprise, she replied, “They often do not go to church!” He and his wife come from good Christian families. Both are professionals. He is aspiring to be a medical specialist. They were blessed with a baby lately. Everything had gone well for them. That must be the reason why they are so independent! They have it all. They do not acknowledge God’s good hand in their lives. They do not seem to need God!

King Nebuchadnezzar of the Babylonian Empire was one such person, only much greater and mightier! At the height of his power and greatness, one day, he was walking around on the roof of his royal palace in Babylon. He said, "Look how great Babylon is! I built it as my capital city to display my power and might, my glory and majesty." Before the words were out of his mouth, a voice spoke from heaven, “King Nebuchadnezzar, listen to what I say! Your royal power is now taken away from you. You will be driven away from human society, live with wild animals, and eat grass like an ox for seven years. Then you will acknowledge that the Supreme God has power over human kingdoms and that he can give them to anyone he chooses” (Dan 4.29-32).

Nebuchadnezzar was driven out of human society and ate grass like an ox. The dew fell on his body and his hair grew as long as eagle feathers and his nails as long as bird’s claws. “When the seven years had passed,” said the king, “I looked up at the sky, and my sanity returned. I praised the Supreme God and gave honor and glory to the one who lives forever. He will rule forever, and his kingdom will last for all time. He looks on the people of the earth as nothing; angels in heaven and people on earth are under his control. No one can oppose his will or question what he does. When my sanity returned, my honor, my majesty, and the glory of my kingdom were given back to me. My officials and my noblemen welcomed me, and I was given back my royal power with even greater honor than before” (vs 33-36).

When he came to his senses after his humiliation, this is what he said, “Now, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, honor, and glorify the King of Heaven. Everything he does is right and just, and he can humble anyone who acts proudly”.

Oh! that God would give you the sense to acknowledge His Almighty hand in all that happens in your life and continually give Him praise and glory! Dear believer, don’t be senseless like our young doctor friend or the great and mighty king! Then, God wouldn’t have to humble you or let you be troubled before you acknowledge Him and give Him His due praise and glory.

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, often I am tempted to feel that what I am and what I have are by my own merit. I forget to acknowledge You or give You the glory. Forgive me and grant me the due sense to do it before it is too late. Amen.