The pride and fall of King Nebuchadnezzar is recorded in Daniel 4, but the story has a great ending!.:-) I'm glad I didn't have to learn to spell a name like that when I started school!
Daniel 4:1-3, "King Nebuchadnezzar to everyone, everywhere—every race, color, and creed: "Peace be multiplied to all! It is my privilege to report to you the gracious miracles that the High God has done for me.
3"His miracles are staggering, his wonders are surprising. His kingdom lasts and lasts,
his sovereign rule goes on forever." Wow! What a transformation! This is the king writing in present tense, ready to tell the story about how God got through to him! He was giving the Most High God all glory!
Remember, this is the same king in Daniel 3 who had been in rebellion against God, defying God's outline of the future by building a golden image to worship, instead of the One True God Almighty! Nebuchadnezzar didn't want his kingdom, Babylon, the head of gold on the image, to end as God had said it would.
When the king gave the salutation, "Peace be multiplied," he was saying, "All health and happiness," This was the way they greeted each other in the Eastern nations.
This is Nebuchadnezzar looking back at a dark time in his life, and then with joy, sharing how God delivered him! He was giving a testimony of God's goodness! Think back on your own life. Are there things you need to thank God for? Are there things you need to share with others that will encourage them? Go for it!
Maybe you're in a hard time in your life right now. God will help you at just the right time. Maybe you are a victim of your own foolish choices, as we all have been. Jesus is waiting to help you through and out of your situation. When you hurt, Jesus hurts. Psalm 56:8, "You have recorded my troubles. You have kept a list of my tears.
Aren't they in your records?"
We will start into the dream of the tree in the next post.
God B in U & through U, Joy J
