HUMBLING THE HIGH AND THE MIGHTY

"This is so the living will know that the Most High is ruler over the kingdom of men. He gives it to anyone He wants and sets over it the lowliest of men." Daniel 4:17

The events described in chapters 4 and 5 of the book of Daniel do not occur in chronological order. They are grouped together because of the similarity of their subject matter. Both describe God's intervention to humble the pride of arrogant men -- in this case, world rulers.

Chapter 4 is the story of Nebuchadnezzar's humbling. (I'll call him "Nebu" for short.) Perhaps the greatest king of all time, Nebu had built a city unparalleled in the history of the world to that time. His "hanging gardens" are still considered one of the "seven wonders of the ancient world." The entire civilized world looked to him as its sovereign. He answered to no one. He committed atrocities with impunity and unquestioned authority.

It's hard to be humble when you're that great. At least that's what Nebu thought. The truth is, Nebu wasn't as great as he thought he was. God was the true greatness behind his throne (see 5:18). Nebu was just "a turtle on a fence post." He couldn't have got where he was unless God had put him there. So, to humble Nebu, God took his sanity from him and for seven years he roamed the earth like a beast. Talk about Jeckyl and Hyde -- Beauty and the Beast -- this "beauty" became a beast -- a dumb brute -- eating grass with the wild donkeys.

"But at the end of those days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity returned to me. Then I praised the Most High and honored and glorified Him who lives forever" (4:34). Personally, I believe Nebu got saved, changed his wicked ways, and went to Heaven when he died.

Unfortunately, his successor, King Belshazzar, didn't learn from this, even though he knew about it (see 5:22). Belshazzar defied the God of Nebuchadnezzar -- even mocked Him. He brought the sacred vessels from the Jersualem Temple to his drunken orgy and drank wine from them while praising his own gods of silver, gold, stone and wood. Again, God intervened to humble an arrogant king. Only this time, there was no redemption for the king. "MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN" was the verdict written on the plaster wall by a supernatural hand. The king was alarmed. His knees knocked together in fear. Daniel was called to interpret: "Numbered, Numbered, Weighed, Divided. Your days have been numbered and are over. You are weighed in the balance and found deficient. Your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians." "That very night Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans was killed, and Darius the Mede received the kingdom" (5:30). That is history's requiem to a proud king who would not humble himself before the KING of kings.

Bottom line: God rules in the affairs of men. Never forget that regardless of how powerful the so-called "high and mighty" may seem, there is Another who alone is MOST HIGH. He will have the final word. His will, will prevail. Praise be to His name!