NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S SEVEN YEARS STRUGGLE

WHO IS NEBUCHADNEZZAR?

Nebuchadnezzar was a Babylonian king who God used to humble the children of Israel; besieged the city of Jerusalem, burned it with fire and took the Israelites captives to his own country Babylon. He came to Jerusalem during the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah (2 Kings 24:1) “In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years, then he turned and rebelled against him.”  King Nebuchadnezzar campaigned against Judah for two years and six months before penetrating into the city. He carried both the people and the articles that were found in the house of the Lord (2 Chr. 36: 6-7) “Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against him, and bound him in bronze fetters to carry him off to Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar also carried off some of the articles from the house of the Lord to Babylon, and put them in his temple in Babylon.”

NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S KINDNESS

When Nebuchadnezzar and his army took captives the children of Israel, the life of Prophet Jeremiah was spared and Nebuchadnezzar showed him great kindness (Jer. 39:11-14) “Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard saying, “Take him and look after him, and do him no harm; but do to him just as he says to you.” So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent Nebushasban, Rabsaris, Nergal-Sharezer, Rabmag, and all the king of Babylon’s chief offices; then they sent someone to take Jeremiah from the court of the prison, and commited him to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, that he should take him home. So he dwelt among the people.”  This kindness he showed Jeremiah in Jerusalem before taking the captives to Babylon. And in Babylon, among the captives, he was impressed with Daniel and his friends (Dan. 1:18-20) “Now at the end of the days, when the king has said that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; therefore they served before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm.”

NEBUCHADNEZZAR PUTS DANIEL’S THREE FRIENDS IN FIERY FURNACE

Nebuchadnezzar had made an image and set it for all to worship it (Dan 3:1) “Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.” And a word was sent to gather his officials together (V.3-6) “So the straps, the administrators, , the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar  had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Then a herald cried aloud; “To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations and languages, that at the time that you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.” The image was set and a degree went forth, but there were some Jews who would not fall down to worship the image, therefore they reported them to the king (V. 12-13) “There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego; these men O King, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image that you have set up.” Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king.”  These three Hebrew boys did not regard the decree of the king neither did they fear the king but stood firm to their decision and the Lord their God did deliver them miraculously. (V. 16-19) “Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in these matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.” May our enemies that have heat the fiery furnace seven times for us fall in their own trap and be consumed to ashes in the Mighty name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Amen.  And may they regard and hallow the God we serve as in the case of these three Hebrew boys (V. 28-29) “Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego, who sent his Angel and delivered his servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made in a hash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.”

DANIEL INTERPRETED NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S DREAMS

Nebuchadnezzar had dreams and his spirit was so troubled that his sleep left him so he called all the magicians, astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams; but they could neither tell the dream nor its interpretation. Therefore a degree was made to destroy all the wise men in Babylon both native and aliens (Dan.2:13) “So the degree went out and they began killing the wise men; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them.”  And because they had failed in their first attempt to kill Daniel and his companions during the king’s delicacies, they thought to have a better way to destroy them. But wait! (V. 14-15) “Then with counsel and wisdom Daniel answered Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon; he answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, “Why is the degree from the king so urgent?” Then Arioch made the decision known to Daniel.” This was God’s favor that could only come from above and not from any man. See (1:9) “Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.”  Daniel for the second time, finds favor from the captain who had gone to kill the wise men, making the decision behind the killing known to Daniel who went to meet the king (2:16-19) “So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him time, that he might tell the king the interpretation. Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven.” Through the wisdom of God, Daniel was able to make known to the king his dream and its interpretation (V. 46-47) “Then king Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, prostrate before Daniel, and commanded that they should present an offering and incense to him. The king answered Daniel and said, “Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.”  Nebuchadnezzar had yet another dream and called Daniel again the second time to interpret for him the dream as the wise men of his kingdom were not able to give the interpretation but only Daniel for the Spirit of God was in him (4:25) “They shall drive you from men, your dwelling place shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.” Daniel continues the interpretation and advised king on what to do but he regarded not the advice (V. 26-27) “And in as much as they gave command to leave the stump and the roots for the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that Heaven rules. Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.”

As the king did not observe the advice by Daniel; the dream and the interpretation indeed came to pass upon him (V. 28-30) “All these came upon king Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. The king spoke saying, “Is not this great Babylon that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?” And (V. 31-33) “While the words were still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven; “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.” That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and eats grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagle’s feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.” So all the dream of Nebuchadnezzar did come to pass; as he ceased living like a normal human being but struggled living as a beast.  So those who lift themselves and take the glory for themselves let us learn from this lesson of Nebuchadnezzar to transform and amend our ways. God exalts one and humbles another and that is His nature.

NEBUCHADNEZZAR WORSHIPED GOD

After a period of seven years were over and the manner of his punishment and struggle ended, Nebuchadnezzar humbled himself before God in worship as he realized that truly; there is a God in heaven whom all the glory and honor belongs to (4:34-37) “ And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding 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 is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain his hand or say to Him, “What have You done?”  At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the Kings of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.”

Beloved, the God of Daniel, the God of the three Hebrew boys, He is still the same yesterday, today and forevermore! He has never changed, He will never fail nor will He slumber. He is the God of the Mountain as well as the God of the Valley. Trust in Him!

“Grace to you and Favor from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with us all. Amen and Amen and Amen.”