November 9, 2023 – Does the Bible Say…?

Does The Bible Say A Great Ruler Walks On All Fours For Seven Years?

“Now all of this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. After twelve months, he happened to be walking around on the battlements of the royal palace of Babylon. The king uttered these words: “Is this not the great Babylon that I have built for a royal residence by my own mighty strength and for my majestic honor?” While these words were still on the kingʼs lips, a voice came down from heaven: “It is hereby announced to you, King Nebuchadnezzar, that your kingdom has been removed from you! You will be driven from human society, and you will live with the wild animals. You will be fed grass like oxen, and seven periods of time will pass by for you before you understand that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms and gives them to whomever he wishes.” Now in that very moment this pronouncement about Nebuchadnezzar came true. He was driven from human society, he ate grass like oxen, and his body became damp with the dew of the sky, until his hair became long like an eagleʼs feathers, and his nails like a birdʼs claws.” Daniel 4:28-33

It seems that the King had all that he thought he needed — the 5 P’s – the palace, the power, the pleasure, the peace and the prosperity. What more could you want? But the 5 P’s contain the goal of the vast majority of humankind — what most of us spend most of our time trying to achieve. And it should be said that these can be a gift from G-d — but when the gift of G-d takes the place of G-d, well then, we have a problem. This was the situation that the king found himself in. He had Peace, power, pleasure, and prestige — but no G-d. And that equaled “no good.” So what do we see G-d decide to do? G-d decides to shake the situation up.

Nebuchadnezzar receives a dream from G-d that rattles him to his core. G-d had warned Nebuchadnezzar and had been very patient with him. But finally, the prediction came true. All of the things that he was so proud of were taken away. The king had fine food at his table — it was taken from Nebuchadnezzar; he had to eat grass just like the goats and cows. He was used to living in a grand palace — it was replaced with living in the open with no shelter over his head. For 7 years, the great King Nebuchadnezzar lived out in the wilderness like an animal. He lost his mind; he became crazy — without G-d, he was helpless.

At the end of the seven years, Nebuchadnezzar receives his senses again — and he praises the Lord of Heaven. He extols the Lord and is given his kingdom back. When we forget to give G-d glory, and look to put forth our own glory, we run the risk of losing our grip on the source of our blessings. G-d is not above taking back what blessings we have been given (remember our friend Job?). The lesson from this event in the life of Nebuchadnezzar is clear: we can brag over our accomplishments, forgetting to give G-d what is due — but this will only take us further from G-d, and closer to our own demise.

Pastor Dave