The Testimony of a Pagan King

Daniel is not one of the most read books of the Bible, I know. But you likely know some of the stories. "Daniel in the lion's den" (Daniel 6) is an ever-popular story for the kids. Most of us know the one where Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow to the king and were saved from the fire (Daniel 3). Perhaps lesser known is the story of Daniel and the "creative alternative", where Daniel and his friends decided not to defile themselves with Babylonian food and offered to go vegetarian instead (Daniel 1). And, of course, the book is riddled with stories about Daniel interpreting dreams.

In the fourth chapter of Daniel we have one of these dream incidents and its outcome. Same old story. King Nebuchadnezzar, the pagan king of Babylon (the one who demanded that they worship his image in chapter 3), couldn't get an interpretation from his wise men, so he asked Daniel. Daniel heard the dream and paled. "My lord," he said, "may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies!" (Dan 4:19). But it wasn't. It was about the king himself. He would go mad, live like an animal for seven years, and thus learn "that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom He will" (Dan 4:25). Oddly, the king didn't learn from this warning. A year later he boasted to those with him about the marvelous kingdom he had created for "the glory of my majesty" (Dan 4:30) and was instantly driven mad. For seven years he ate grass and lived in the field "until his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers and his nails were like birds' claws" (Dan 4:33). We have a record of the words of the pagan king himself when he regained sanity in Daniel 4:34-37. Note that it is written in the first person: "At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me ..." What is his observation? What is his important lesson? What did this pagan king get from his experience?

At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to 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, and He does according to His will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay His hand or say to Him, "What have You done?"
(Dan 4:34-35).

This pagan king, this maker of self-styled idols, this enslaver of God's people learned a lesson that, I would venture to guess, is rare even among Christians. I mean, sure, we're all in favor of blessing God and honoring God and recognizing that His kingdom endures forever. But do we really believe in God's Sovereignty in the way that this heathen did? Look at what he claimed line by line.

All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing.

Now, seriously, we know better, right? God loves us all and, in some sense, even owes us something. Love, attention ... something. We are His creation and He counts us as important to Him. We all know that. All, apparently, except Nebuchadnezzar. He says that we "are accounted as nothing". Gone, then, are the complaints about "Why would God allow this to happen?" or "Why has God let me down?" or the like. If we are accounted as nothing, the basis for our complaints is gone.

He does according to His will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth.

Okay, now clearly this one is wrong. We routinely and with regularity see that God's will is broken by Man's choices. I mean, we see that from the outset, don't we? It wasn't God's will that Adam and Eve eat the fruit in the garden. It wasn't God's will that the world became so sinful that He had to wipe it out in a flood. It wasn't God's will that Joseph's brothers sell him into slavery. It wasn't God's will that the Pilate and the Jews crucify His Son. Or ... was it? We are much more enlightened than this poor king. He believed that God does according to His will every time. Many of us who hold to the sovereignty of God think this isn't true.

None can stay His hand or say to Him, "What have You done?"

Now, to be fair, I understand that this isn't strictly correct. We can and do regularly say to Him, "What have You done?!" But you get the point. We have no right. We have no standing. We have no authority. God does what God wants and no one has the right or power to stop Him or question Him. At least, that's what Nebuchadnezzar understood.

How about you? Is it possible that this pagan king had a higher view of God's Sovereignty than you do? Is it possible that he understood God's Sovereignty to be absolute and you do not? That would be a sad thing, wouldn't it, if a pagan king had a higher view of God than you do as a believer?

I'd like to end with the king's final quote in this chapter.

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are right and His ways are just; and those who walk in pride He is able to humble (Dan 4:37)

"All His works are right and His ways are just." This is good to know about an Absolute Sovereign. "Those who walk in pride He is able to humble." That's a fair warning to those who fail to recognize God's Sovereignty. A fair warning from a pagan king. In fact, a fair warning from a pagan king who failed to regard the fair warning he got on the same subject. Don't be a pagan king.