“To the peoples, nations and men of every language, who live in all the world: May you prosper greatly! It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.” Daniel 4:1 (NIV) “I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace.” Daniel 4:4 (NAS)
Daniel 4 is a monumental chapter on pride and the price paid from pride. King Nebuchadnezzar had been previously warned 12 months prior that his reign would end due to his self-glorification. He had been reckless with this information and had not taken the prophesy seriously. Many years later he records the events in chapter 4 of Daniel. He addresses his audience as everyone, both present and future who live on earth. That includes us! His recollection includes an immediate response to an outrageous statement. “Twelve months later as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, ‘Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?’ The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven…Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled.” Daniel 4:29-31.
‘…at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace.’ These words send a chill down my spine as this description many times describes our lives. We may not be bold enough to proclaim that we have built a great kingdom by our own power and glory but our ‘unlovely attitudes’ infer the status for which we have raised ourselves in our own eyes. We sit in our comfortable lives and enjoy the palaces that we have built many times forgetting to look beyond the kingdom walls to those who are in need. We convince ourselves that we are much too busy, much too tired and secretly much too apathetic. The more we attach ourselves to our own problems and our own focus the less room exists in our minds and hearts for others.
God hasn’t forgotten the poor in resources, the poor in spirit or the poor in health. We are His hands and feet to remember them and act upon Christ’s example. We can lift this story from the Bible and place it on any corner of any city in the USA. We will never be asked to travel as far as Christ traveled to sacrifice and help our fellow man.
He was at ease in His house and flourishing in His palace but He gave it all up for us temporarily so we could all come and eventually live with Him eternally. We should pursue a kingdom on earth that glorifies Him and a royal residence for Him to rule in our hearts.
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