KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S LIBERAL HEART

TO JEREMIAH

Nebuchadnezzar first showed his liberality to Jeremiah and the remnant who remained in the land when he came to take the captives away from Jerusalem to Babylon (Jer. 39:9-10) “Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive to Babylon the remnant of the people who remained in the city and those who defected to him, with the rest of the people who remained. But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left in the land of Judah the poor people, who had nothing, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time.” God’s mercy and compassion is indeed expressed everywhere to the poor people. The poor of the remnant could not be taken to Babylon through the Lord’s mercy, grace and compassion upon them. They initially had nothing among their brethren, whom when were taken to captivity left everything Which Nebuzaradan the guard gave to the poor remnant to enjoy and to take charge. Nebuchadnezzar’s liberal command  concerning prophet Jeremiah was (V. 11-12) “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.” This was the king’s royal and liberal heart through the Lord God to take care of the Lord’s prophet Jeremiah and to do to him just as he required. (V. 13-14) “So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent Nebushasban, Rabsaris, Nergal –Sharezer, Rabmag, and all the kings of Babylon’s chief officers; then they sent someone to take Jeremiah from the court of the prison, and committed him to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, that he should take him home. So he dwelled among the people.”  Jeremiah the prophet was preserved from all the disaster and never perished with those who were taken to Babylon as captives.

JEREMIAH WAS SUPPLIED FOR

Prophet Jeremiah was not only left to go free from his chains and from the court of the house of the prison but was as well taken care of and his needs met (Jer. 40:2-3) ”And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah and said to him: “The Lord your God has pronounced this doom on this place. Now the Lord has brought it, and has done just as He said. Because you people have sinned against the Lord, and not obeyed His voice, therefore this thing has come upon you.”  Even the heathen would realize and understood that it was because of the children of Israel’s sins that the wrath and the disaster had come upon His people. The only challenge though, Nebuzaradan was preaching to the preacher and the prophet who lived his live warning his people day and night and would neither  listen nor obey the voice of their God through His servant prophet Jeremiah. He continues thus (V. 4) “And now look, I free you this day from the chains that were on your hands. If it seems good to you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you. But if it seems wrong for you to come with me to Babylon, remain here. See all the land is before you; wherever it seems good and convenient for you to go, go there.” And before even the prophet would answer for himself, the decision was already made by the guard who told him (V.5) “Now while Jeremiah had not yet gone back, Nebuzaradan said, “Go back to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people. Or go wherever it seems convenient for you to go.” So the captain of the guard gave him rations and a gift and let him go. Then Jeremiah went to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam and dwelt with him among the people who were left in the land.” Finally, finally prophet Jeremiah became a free man. All those who were against him were killed and the few who remained were carried captive to the land of Babylon. Whether the prophet moved with the captain to Babylon or remained in the city, there was a ration allotted to him. I do agree with captain Nebuzaradan’s decision for Prophet Jeremiah to remain with the people in his native land, rather than moving to Babylon. Why? Because had Jeremiah moved with them to Babylon, it would have been thought or felt that the Lord’s prophet was among those captive taken from Judah to Babylon and not a free choice. Analyze this beloved! Going to Babylon another time would be no big deal; but going with them at the time the city was being besieged, there was a very big deal!

NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S LIBERAL HEART TO DANIEL

King Nebuchadnezzar had made a very dairy decision concerning the dream and its interpretation which he had on his head on his bed in his bedroom. Who would have had the knowledge of such a thing if not through the divine wisdom and the Spirit of God indwelling in a person? His firm and dairy decision was (Dan. 2:5-6) “The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “My decision is firm: if you do not make known the dream to me, and its interpretation, you shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made an ash heap. However, if you tell the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts, rewards and great honor. Therefore tell me the dream and its interpretation.”  Even the wisest of the wise were not able to know or understood it and they answered the king in this manner (V. 10-11) “The Chaldeans, answered the king and said, “There is not a man on earth who can tell the king’s matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such a things of any magician, astrologer or Chaldean. It is a difficult thing that the king requests, and there is no other who can tell it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”  This was indeed a dairy and hard thing. Even Daniel with his companions had to request more time from the king, seek God’s mercies to receive it (V. 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 made 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.”  The king’s decision was final to destroy all the wise men in Babylon and Chaldea plus Daniel and his companions. Had it not been for the Lord’s mercies and the king’s liberal heart toward these Hebrew boys, they would have perished as well. When a decision and a decree is made, who would dare the king and alter his decision anyway?  And remember this are not the native born of Babylon; they were Jews; aliens from a foreign land!

Then Daniel tells the dream and its interpretation to the king who was overwhelmed with joy and trust towards Daniel (V. 46-48) “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.” Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon.”  The liberality of King Nebuchadnezzar for the dream was certain, and its interpretation was also sure!

UNTO SHADRACK, MESHAC AND ABEDNEGO

Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon still showed his royal liberality to these three Hebrew boys whose bodies the fire had no power over (Dan.3:26-27) “Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. And the Satraps, administrators, governors, and the king counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of the fire was not on them.”  And because of this mighty wonder of the Lord upon these three men the king made a decree thus (V. 28:30) “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 an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.” Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.”  

KING DARIUS LIBERAL HEART TO DANIEL

King Darius just like king Nebuchadnezzar was liberal to Daniel to the point that when the people incited him and cast Daniel into the lion’s den, he had no sleep but was too much concerned about the life of Daniel (Dan.6:18-20) “Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him. Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel servant of the living God has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” This was the king, the one ruling in authority; who could not sleep because of a Hebrew man and a foreigner in that case. His concern made him rose early in the morning to go and see what had befallen this Daniel (V. 21-22) “Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lion’s mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.” The king was overwhelmed with joy to know truly the God whom Daniel served continually did preserve him. (V.23) “Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatsoever was found on him, because he believed his God. And the king gave the command, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions- them, their children and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den.” Therefore king Darius with his liberal heart to Daniel, he showed no partiality but judged with wisdom and justice. And he made a decree and wrote (V. 25-28) “To all peoples, nations and languages that dwell on the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, and steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues, and He woks signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.”

One thing I have come to learned and realize is that God shows no partiality whatsoever. He is Lord and God to all who obeys His commandments and walk in His ways. And the kings of these great kingdoms did know the Sovereignty of this God of the Hebrews that He do deliver and preserve those who serve Him continually. May it be known to the utter most part of the world the God that I serve!

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