18. Nebuchadnezzar
Nebuchadnezzar The dew of heaven did not only affect the Israelites, but the nations were also influenced by it. Nebuchadnezzar was a great king in Babylon. We have in Daniel the Aramaic term for the dew of heaven.
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Asariah had been faithful servants in his kingdom. After their time of prayer, Daniel had revealed a forgotten dream to the king and provided the interpretation. But the king continued on in pride. Daniel’s friends passed through the furnace after walking in it with a fourth person (the Son of God, Daniel 3:25). In spite of brief acknowledgments that the God of the Hebrew servants was the true God, Nebuchadnezzar continued on in his pride. So God sent him another dream, which only Daniel could interpret. When Daniel heard the dream he was very astonished and wished the interpretation of the dream for the enemies of the king. After twelve months of further prideful living, the interpretation came to pass.
King Nebuchadnezzar lost his mind and was driven from among men. His kingdom departed from him and he lived with the wild beasts of the earth. He ate grass like the oxen and his body was wet with the dew of heaven until he would know that the Most High ruled in the kingdom of men and gave power to whomsoever He would. Seven years later he lifted up his eyes to heaven and recognized who God was. His understanding returned to him and he blessed the Most High, praising and honouring Him whose dominion was an everlasting dominion with His kingdom passing from generation to generation. He was restored to his position as king. Then he could
"praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth and His ways judgment; and that those who walk in pride He is able to abase" (Daniel 4:37).
Pride is a dreadful thing. Nebuchadnezzar’s pride was his downfall. God dealt drastically with him. It was not possible for him to continue to lead the kingdom. There could be no unity in the kingdom with such a proud man at the top. Pride and self-seeking are great destroyers of unity among brethren. But experiences alone with God, under the effects of the dew of heaven, changed this king. Being warmed by the sun and chilled in the night so that he could be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven years in the school of God had its effect. Luxury and ease are not good for us. Hardship and privation alone with the Lord are much better for us. We live in Laodicean times and say (especially with our attitudes and actions) that we are rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing. Instead, we are the wretched and the miserable, poor, and blind and naked. Nebuchadnezzar became a changed man. Our difficult times alone with God can also change us! Let’s not despise the dew of heaven and its lessons for us!