Be Humble
Daniel 4:34-35
‘Then I praised the Most High; I honoured and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. 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?"’
Surprisingly these lines are said in the book of Daniel by King Nebuchadnezzar! The King, through most of the book of Daniel, was proud. He was not only ruler of Babylon but thought he was all powerful and worthy to be worshipped by all he reigned over. But God humbled him. He went from living in an opulent palace feasting at banquets to being driven out into the wilderness living with the wild animals and eating grass.
Nebuchadnezzar’s sanity and position were only restored when he raised his eyes towards heaven. When he realised that God is in control, that it is only God who is everlasting, that it is God who is the ultimate ruler.
What is sad about this whole scenario is that King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream foretelling these events 12 months before they happened. Daniel interpreted the dream for him and warned him that he needed to alter his ways and confess his sins before God, otherwise he would be driven into the wilderness. But did King Nebuchadnezzar listen? No!
Instead he was brought low and humbled. Only when he was stripped of his power, position, and material possessions, did King Nebuchadnezzar recognise God for who he is.
We, like Nebuchadnezzar, can be proud of our achievements, our positions, our power and our influence. We like to be in control and fail to humble ourselves and confess our failures to God. But we have a choice don’t we? We can either humble ourselves and lay ourselves before God, or risk being humbled. I know which one I would prefer! Let’s put focus on who God is so that we have a right perspective on ourselves.
Prayer – Jesus, sorry that so often I think I am the centre of the universe. Help me to humble myself before you and to recognise your power and your greatness.