SermonIndex Audio Sermons
SermonIndex - Promoting Revival to this Generation
Give To SermonIndex
Discussion Forum : Devotional Thoughts : THE GENERAL EPISTLE OF KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR...PART 2

Print Thread (PDF)

PosterThread
endlessjoe
Member



Joined: 2010/10/26
Posts: 157
University of Calabar Nigeria

 THE GENERAL EPISTLE OF KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR...PART 2

TEXT: DANIEL 4:10-12
"Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold
a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.
The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached
unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:
The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in
it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it,
and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all
flesh was fed of it."

King Nebuchadnezzar became proud because of his greatness. Now let us consider how great this man was made by the providence of God. The text under consideration gives us a description of the affluence and influence of this king. The king himself was the one that did this narration of his dream to Daniel. Daniel quickly told him that he was the main subject of that dream. Let us take a look at the interpretation given to the dream by Daniel: see vss 19-22

"Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one
hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said,
Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof,
trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream
be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine
enemies. The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong,
whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all
the earth; Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and
in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt,
and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their
habitation: It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong:
for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy
dominion to the end of the earth."

Take note of the words of Daniel:

"It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness
is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of
the earth."

This king was actually great for his dominion was to the end of the earth. Nations and kings dwelt under his authority...whoever he wanted, he demoted or promoted. He was tyrant...even the nation of Israel was subjugated by him.

So, all of these brought pride and arrogance to him. Hear what he said about himself: vs 30
"The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have
built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power,
and for the honour of my majesty?"
He surmised that all his glory among the nation were due to his power and might. But this boasting and words of arrogance and ignorance entered into the ears of God and because God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble, He quickly and swiftly visited the king's pride:(vss 31-33)

"While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from
heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken;
The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee
from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field:
they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall
pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the
kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.The same hour
was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven
from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the
dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his
nails like birds' claws."

Oh what a peril! Oh the severity of God's resistance! Whenever God resists a man, such is looked upon like a beast, and behaves like animals...all his glory are lost and he would be abandon to eating and feeding like a beast. Humility is not an option. God would thus resist any man in whom pride is found. Thus the king was humiliated and humbled by the almighty God. He would remain in this disgraced position until he could lift up his eyes and acknowlege God. To be continued.


_________________
Emeka Joe Uzosike

 2014/11/18 23:41Profile





All sermons are offered freely and all contents of the site
where applicable is committed to the public domain for the
free spread of the gospel.