Modern-Day Nebuchadnezzar?

Articles From Our Bulletins

Philip C. Strong
02/01/17 - Bulletin Articles

It is often said that those who fail to study and learn from history are doomed to repeat it. I make no claims to being a student of, let alone a teacher of, history. Most of the history with which I am more than casually acquainted specifically relates to biblical history. It is from this vantage point that I’d like you to take a moment or three to consider the Babylonian leader Nebuchadnezzar.

Nebuchadnezzar met the combined forces of the Egyptian Pharaoh Neco and the remaining but rapidly crumbling Assyrian army at Carchemish in the spring of 605 B.C. and soundly defeated them. In the ensuing rout, the Babylonian general pursued the fleeing Egyptian army southward through Hamath, and perhaps down the Mediterranean seacoast into Judah. He would have presumably chased them all the way to Egypt and destroyed them, but apparently somewhere near or in Judah, he received word that his father, Nabopolassar had died. Thus, he gave up the pursuit to return to Babylon and assume the throne. But before departing Judah, Nebuchadnezzar “came to Jerusalem and besieged it,” and took Daniel and many of the choice Hebrew young men with him as captives back to Babylon in 605 B.C., cf. Daniel 1. Thus began Nebuchadnezzar’s admittedly checkered biblical history. It would include two more deportations of captives from Judah (597 B.C. at the close of the reign of Jehoiachin, 2Kings 24:8-16; and another in 586 B.C. when Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed, 2Kings 24:17 – 25:21). But there are some salient points from these things, and a few others, that we need to consider….

God raised up Nebuchadnezzar to humble His people, Judah, and bring them to repentance.In Daniel 1:2 it states, “And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah, into his (Nebuchadnezzar’s) hand….” Furthermore, in providing Nebuchadnezzar with the important meaning of his dream, God’s prophet Daniel explained, “You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength, and the glory; and wherever the sons of men dwell, or the beasts of the field, or the birds of the sky, He has given them into your hand and has caused you to rule over them all….” Daniel 2:37-38. Nebuchadnezzar was certainly not a believer in God at this point, nor was he seeking to do God’s will, but God raised him up and empowered him to accomplish His own purposes. Indeed, it is God who “changes the times and epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings…” Daniel 2:20!
God then humbled Nebuchadnezzar because of his arrogance.After Daniel told him of the importance of his dream, and it explained it, and after Nebuchadnezzar had further witnessed the power of God through His protection of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-neggo (cf. Daniel 3), Nebuchadnezzar became a believer of sorts in the God of Israel, Daniel 3:29 – 4:3. But the glory and power God bestowed upon Nebuchadnezzar went to his head, and he later proclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?” Daniel 4:30. While these words were “still in his mouth,” Nebuchadnezzar “was driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until his hair had grown as eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws,” Daniel 4:31,33. In short, he was made as a beast of the field- eating grass, living entirely outside, and was completely unkempt. Indeed, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling” (Proverbs 16:18) was dramatically demonstrated to and through Nebuchadnezzar!
But Nebuchadnezzar came to true belief in God, and repented. At the end of the period God appointed for his humbling, Nebuchadnezzar says that he “raised his eyes toward heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever; for His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, but He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth; and no one can ward off His hand or say to Him, ‘What hast Thou done?’… Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise, exalt, and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride,” Daniel 4:34-35,37. He got it loud and clear- God establishes thrones and dominions among men from His throne in heaven and His dominion over all the earth!

Now, from these things, let’s draw some relevant conclusions:

It is God, not men, who makes kings and rulers.He is in control.
God will humble even those whom He has empowered when they forget Him and honor themselves.
Anyone who repents and honors God can be forgiven and restored, cf. Daniel 4:36.

The applications?

“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of truth,” 1Timothy 2:1-4.
“Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves,” Romans 13:1-2.
“Great and marvelous are Thy works, O Lord God, the Almighty; righteous and true are Thy ways, Thou King of the nations.Who will not fear, O Lord; and glorify Thy name?For Thou alone art holy; for all the nations will come and worship before Thee, for Thy righteous acts have been revealed,” Revelation 15:3-4.

I don’t know whom might be a modern-day Nebuchadnezzar sent by God to humble either this country, or all people of the earth. But I do know that it wouldn’t be the first time such has occurred- history teaches us as much. Please, think on these things, and humble yourself and repent as necessary before the God of Eternity!