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Nebuchadnezzar Humiliated, September 4
Daniel 4
And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth
according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of
the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
Daniel 4:35
.
The last dream which God gave to Nebuchadnezzar, and the experience of
the king in connection with it, contain lessons of vital importance to all those
who are connected with the work of God. The king was troubled with his dream;
for it was evidently a prediction of adversity, and none of his wise men would
attempt to interpret it. The faithful Daniel stood before the king, not to flatter,
not to misinterpret in order to secure favor. A solemn duty rested upon him to
tell the king of Babylon the truth....
Nebuchadnezzar did not heed the heaven-sent message. One year after he
had been thus warned, as he walked in his palace, he said within himself, “Is not
this great Babylon, that I have built ...?” The God of heaven read the heart of the
king, and heard its whisperings of self-congratulation.... “There fell a voice from
heaven, saying, ... 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.
For seven years Nebuchadnezzar was an astonishment to all his subjects; for
seven years he was humbled before all the world. Then his reason was restored
and, looking up in humility to the God of heaven, he recognized the divine hand
in his chastisement. In a public proclamation he acknowledged his guilt and the
great mercy of God in his restoration....
God’s purpose that the greatest kingdom in the world should show forth His
praise was now fulfilled. This public proclamation, in which Nebuchadnezzar
acknowledged the mercy and goodness and authority of God, was the last act of
his life recorded in sacred history
[254]
5
The Review and Herald, September 8, 1896
.
6
Prophets and Kings, 520, 521
.
263