While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; 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. (Dan 4:31-32).
God's mercy and patience have run their course. For twenty five years God had been reaching out to Nebuchadnezzar whom He had brought to power. The last dream God gave him was of a huge tree being cut down and a band installed around the stump. Daniel told him that he was going to live among the oxen of the field and eat grass with them. He was advised to break off his sins against God.
It didn't get through. God gave him twelve months to get his act together but we see him strutting in his palace rehearsing what a great guy he was and how he had built the mighty city of Babylon to house his greater kingdom of Babylon. The city of Babylon was his treasure center; his administrative center. Iraq!
Our text today says that while that word was in his mouth there fell a voice from heaven. It's over Nebuchadnezzar! It's the cows for you. One of the most stunning thoughts that ever came to me was that our God is a God of infinite variety. It shows in creation. It shows in God's dealing with kingdoms and with individuals. We don't need to be like somebody else. There's nobody like you, nowhere on earth. Never has been—never will be. Just find out what God has made you to be and do and you will have it.
It was by God's grace that Nebuchadnezzar was given a kingdom. He was God's water boy but he was so proud and cocky he had no room for God. He was like the rooster on the barnyard gate who thought his crowing made the sun come up every morning. (My favorite.)
"History corroborates this event in the life of Nebuchadnezzar. Dr. Philip R. Newell has this note from Albert Barnes, 'Josephus attributes to the Babylonian historian, Berosus, a definite reference concerning a strange malady suffered by Nebuchadnezzar before his death' (Daniel, the Man Greatly Beloved, and His Prophecies, p. 54) (McGee)
Here's a good verse to put your life in perspective. Except for the grace of God we might be in an institution or banished to the woods. But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth,...(Deu 8:18).
Seven years in God's classroom. …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. (Dan 4:31-32).
Would to God we could learn our lessons quickly that we might not have to eat with the cows. I have raised wheat grass in trays during winter, and extracted the juice from it. The grass is tough and inedible. The juice tastes terrible and two ounces is plenty for a Roman soldier. Good for you, but tough sledding. Has God been dealing with you about something that you should take care of? Now's the time to make sure everything is OK between you and the Lord. He is the same God who dealt with Nebuchadnezzar. He is slow to wrath and plenteous in mercy.
Memory Verse: This is the master Bible passage on prayer. All other prayer verses come under this.
1Jn 5:14-15And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him (1Jn 5:14-15).
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