"Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works [are] truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase." Daniel 4:37 (Read Daniel 4)
In Proverbs 16:18, we read: "Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." Again, with King Nebuchadnezzar and his kingdom of Babylon, we find an excellent example of this truth.
As we see from the account in Daniel, chapter 4, Nebuchadnezzar's dream portrayed the greatness of his kingdom. His kingdom was a world kingdom in that he ruled over many nations and peoples, and the influence of his kingdom extended to the ends of the earth. Though there have been other world kingdoms since, none have exceeded Babylon's greatness.
But, there was a problem. Nebuchadnezzar, like people everywhere -- especially those who accomplish great things -- was proud and credited himself for building the kingdom of Babylon. He failed to see that it is the LORD God who establishes kingdoms and lifts up rulers, even from the lowest of men.
Though, ultimately, Babylon fell because of its pride and self confidence, God, in mercy, taught Nebuchadnezzar who it is that established his kingdom and gave him his might. God brought Nebuchadnezzar down and humbled him that Nebuchadnezzar might come to his senses and know "that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men" (Dan. 4:17).
What is the point for us today? First of all, we need to realize that America's greatness is not of our own doing. Our nation's military might and its influence around the world is not because of our will or spirit. America is what it is today because the most High raised us up and gave us many godly and moral rulers to guide our founding and our growth.
But the same God who raised us up can bring us down. If we do not acknowledge the true God of the Bible -- the Creator of heaven and earth and all things and Ruler over all -- we will be abased and humbled that we might come to our senses and honor the God who created us and all things and sent His Son into the world to redeem us.
Will God preserve our nation, as He did Babylon, until our people and rulers come to their senses? While some might suggest that our rulers in Washington have already fallen below the intelligence level of senseless beasts -- and sometimes this seems to be so -- we don't know if God will preserve America until we come to our senses, or even if our people will come to their senses before it is too late. But we ought, as did Nebuchadnezzar, humble ourselves under His mighty hand and look to Him for mercy for the sake of the Son, Christ Jesus!
"God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble" (James 4:6). May He have mercy upon us, our nation and rulers, that we might come to our senses and acknowledge Him as our Creator and trust in God the Son as our Redeemer!
Have mercy upon us, O God, and bring us to know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. Amen.
[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture from the King James Version of the Bible. More devotions at www.goodshepherdrogers.org].
Editorial on 07/23/2014