Dan 4:30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

A great message from a recent evening church service on Daniel 4:25-37 was a good reminder for me to revisit a lesson or two that I have learned…slowly….and often.  I sometimes neglect to choose to abide by Daniel’s suggestion to King Nebuchadnezzar to repent, do right and show mercy.  That advice might have spared King Nebuchadnezzar had he heeded,  but he seemed to have an “I” problem.  Maybe he thought he was above the predicted events, after all 12 months passed without anything remotely hinting his kingdom would fall around him.  Maybe he just got all wrapped up in his world and forgot the interpretation Daniel shared with him.  What ever the cause, the king came to the predicted catastrophe.

Dan 4:30  The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

 Pride was his undoing don’t you think?  He crashed and burned the moment he took for himself the glory and honor he thought belonged to him, because his kingdom was great.  See it?  “Is not this great Babylon…”  that might not have tipped the scales against him, but surely the next declaration did…”that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?  ” We might not be so blatantly outright in our proud display, but, how often do we flaunt, even just a little the acquisitions we have accumulated as a result of our own hard work, or good fortune (aka God’s merciful, gracious provision).  I cringe when I am exposed to the boastful claims of others.  Not because of envy, rather, because all too soon I know they may well be taken to task for not giving God His due honor in their prosperity.  

I listen attentively to their proud declarations.  And I often reflect on my own thoughts and conversations to be sure my own perspective is one of humility and praise to my Sovereign God and merciful provider.  Have you ever read or heard, even in jest, “It’s hard to be humble when you’re so good” ?   A direct challenge to put in place is what I’d call that.  Some things are too serious to be joked about.  I believe that’s one of them.

Luk 18:19  And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

If Jesus acknowledged that none is good but God…that’s good enough for me!