Pride Before Fall
Pride Before Fall
The more we study the book of Daniel and read about king Nebuchadnezzar (king Neb), I keep remembering Saddam Hussein. He was the strong man of Iraq (which is part of the old Babylonia Empire). Saddam became too strong and killed anyone he wanted at any time. He almost proclaimed himself a god until his time ran out. The world cheered the day Saddam was hung.
In Daniel 4, we read about king Neb’s time running out. He had a dream that will forever humble him. Someone said that pride is a chip on the shoulder and most often you are not aware of it until someone else tells you. We are all full of pride and the lowest form of it is self dependency or reliance (proclaiming oneself a little god). You may disagree but you have just displayed your pride. It is a sin that plagues both the rich and the poor. Lucifer (aka Satan) is the master of pride (Isaiah 14:12-13) and passed it on to Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:5). There is only one medicine for pride and that is humiliation or falling on your face. Let’s see how God dealt with king Neb’s pride and arrogance.
Daniel 4: 10-18; 24-27 (Please read the entire chapter 4)
10 These are the visions I saw while lying in my bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous. 11 The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. 12 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the beasts of the field found shelter, and the birds of the air lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed.
13 "In the visions I saw while lying in my bed, I looked, and there before me was a messenger, [b] a holy one, coming down from heaven. 14 He called in a loud voice: 'Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches. 15 But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field.
" 'Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. 16 Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times [c] pass by for him. 17 " 'The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men.'
18 "This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you."
24 "This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: 25 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes. 26 The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules. 27 Therefore, O king, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue."
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. What was king Neb’s sin? "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?" vs.30. He was no different than most of us humans. We are quick to point to our accomplishments – our degrees, houses, nice cars and jobs. Hey look where I am now. It is very easy to forget like king Neb that it is God who empowers us to make wealth and that all we have come from him. There is nothing wrong with having possessions as long they don’t posses us. Pride will also mess up all your relationships because you can’t say I am sorry to the one you have offended.
2. Daniel had to deliver the message and it is not a comfortable place to be. He was “greatly perplexed” vs. 19. Maybe Daniel was looking for the appropriate way to deliver the message. We are reluctant to point people to their pride for obvious reason – we got ours too. This is where our faith in Christ comes in because He is the one who has made us sufficient to be His ministers not because of our own righteousness (2 Corinthians 1-6). We must gently point others to their lofty prideful positions. I would love someone to do the same for me. Give people permission to point out your prideful and arrogant ways.
3. It took 12 months (vs.29), a full year when king Neb could have done what was honorable to God and repent of his sins. We see God’s patience even after the warning. Since he did not listen to Daniel (vs.27), God let him have his hard medicine of humiliation. Sometimes it may be the best medicine we can take to come to our right senses. Have you been humiliated recently? I have had my share.
4. It took seven times (which may be years or seasons) for Neb to come to his senses vs.25. We will continue to go round and round until we get the message. Seven represents completion.
5. After the fall and after we come to our senses, the right response is to honor God. Hear king Neb –vs. 34-37. 37 “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble”. I praise God too.
6. People will seek you out when they see that you have learned lessons from your fall. See vs. 36 they sought king Neb. Let’s share our mistakes and humiliations to encourage others. Lord, point out the prideful ways in us (Psalm 139: 23-24).
Are you taking every little and big issue in your life to God in prayer? If not, you need to check your “pride-ohmmeter”. It may be reading very high. Listen to Apostle Peter, “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."[a] 6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:5-7). You did not know that anxiety is a symptom of pride. Give it to God today. He is the Most High and Sovereign God and He cares for you and me. May we repent when God allows us to see our prideful ways. Amen.
The more we study the book of Daniel and read about king Nebuchadnezzar (king Neb), I keep remembering Saddam Hussein. He was the strong man of Iraq (which is part of the old Babylonia Empire). Saddam became too strong and killed anyone he wanted at any time. He almost proclaimed himself a god until his time ran out. The world cheered the day Saddam was hung.
In Daniel 4, we read about king Neb’s time running out. He had a dream that will forever humble him. Someone said that pride is a chip on the shoulder and most often you are not aware of it until someone else tells you. We are all full of pride and the lowest form of it is self dependency or reliance (proclaiming oneself a little god). You may disagree but you have just displayed your pride. It is a sin that plagues both the rich and the poor. Lucifer (aka Satan) is the master of pride (Isaiah 14:12-13) and passed it on to Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:5). There is only one medicine for pride and that is humiliation or falling on your face. Let’s see how God dealt with king Neb’s pride and arrogance.
Daniel 4: 10-18; 24-27 (Please read the entire chapter 4)
10 These are the visions I saw while lying in my bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous. 11 The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. 12 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the beasts of the field found shelter, and the birds of the air lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed.
13 "In the visions I saw while lying in my bed, I looked, and there before me was a messenger, [b] a holy one, coming down from heaven. 14 He called in a loud voice: 'Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches. 15 But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field.
" 'Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. 16 Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times [c] pass by for him. 17 " 'The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men.'
18 "This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you."
24 "This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: 25 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes. 26 The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules. 27 Therefore, O king, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue."
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. What was king Neb’s sin? "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?" vs.30. He was no different than most of us humans. We are quick to point to our accomplishments – our degrees, houses, nice cars and jobs. Hey look where I am now. It is very easy to forget like king Neb that it is God who empowers us to make wealth and that all we have come from him. There is nothing wrong with having possessions as long they don’t posses us. Pride will also mess up all your relationships because you can’t say I am sorry to the one you have offended.
2. Daniel had to deliver the message and it is not a comfortable place to be. He was “greatly perplexed” vs. 19. Maybe Daniel was looking for the appropriate way to deliver the message. We are reluctant to point people to their pride for obvious reason – we got ours too. This is where our faith in Christ comes in because He is the one who has made us sufficient to be His ministers not because of our own righteousness (2 Corinthians 1-6). We must gently point others to their lofty prideful positions. I would love someone to do the same for me. Give people permission to point out your prideful and arrogant ways.
3. It took 12 months (vs.29), a full year when king Neb could have done what was honorable to God and repent of his sins. We see God’s patience even after the warning. Since he did not listen to Daniel (vs.27), God let him have his hard medicine of humiliation. Sometimes it may be the best medicine we can take to come to our right senses. Have you been humiliated recently? I have had my share.
4. It took seven times (which may be years or seasons) for Neb to come to his senses vs.25. We will continue to go round and round until we get the message. Seven represents completion.
5. After the fall and after we come to our senses, the right response is to honor God. Hear king Neb –vs. 34-37. 37 “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble”. I praise God too.
6. People will seek you out when they see that you have learned lessons from your fall. See vs. 36 they sought king Neb. Let’s share our mistakes and humiliations to encourage others. Lord, point out the prideful ways in us (Psalm 139: 23-24).
Are you taking every little and big issue in your life to God in prayer? If not, you need to check your “pride-ohmmeter”. It may be reading very high. Listen to Apostle Peter, “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."[a] 6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:5-7). You did not know that anxiety is a symptom of pride. Give it to God today. He is the Most High and Sovereign God and He cares for you and me. May we repent when God allows us to see our prideful ways. Amen.
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