Daniel 4 - Babylonian King Glorifies God; Will We?

"At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.

His dominion is an eternal dominion;
    his kingdom endures from generation to generation.
All the peoples of the earth
    are regarded as nothing.
He does as he pleases
    with the powers of heaven
    and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand
    or say to him: “What have you done?”

At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble. (Dan 4:34-36 NIV)

King Nebuchadnezzar, mighty and powerful, had been brought to his knees and when he looked toward heaven, acknowledging that no one was before God, no one was more mighty or powerful than God, he was restored to his sanity.

Nebuchadnezzar had another one of those fantastic dreams which Daniel interpreted for him. Nebuchadnezzar, this powerful king, would be brought down to his knees. He would wander around in the wilderness, completely mad. It was as was predicted. He went through a horrible time of trial; but, in the end this great Babylonian king did not shake his fist at God. He thanked God. He praised Him!

What about us? Do we, who profess Jesus Christ, give thanks and praise to God for all things? Do we praise Him when we go through trying times? Think about it; King Nebuchadnezzar had gone totally mad; driven by God from the people to wander about in the wilderness with the wild animals, even eating the grass of the fields with the oxen.

When we are driven to wander aimlessly in the wilderness, what will we do? Will we turn quickly and give praise and thanksgiving to God?

God's Peace - Pr. J

1 Chronicles 13

David receives the fear of the LORD.  It's kind of unclear (at least to me) why a man who tries to keep the ark from falling and being damaged is destroyed by God for touching it.  Just seems to me that a little grace could have been applied here.  But, then I am not God and He did give them the rules.  It appears that David has taken a short-cut or two in transporting the ark in the first place.  There were rings in the ark and two poles.  The ark was suppose to be transported by priests carrying it upon their shoulders.  It was not acceptable to move the ark in a cart (even a new one) pulled by oxen.  Also, the reading does not say whether Uzzah was a priest.  He and his brother were simply driving the cart.  For a non-priest to touch the ark was a capital offense.  So his death probably could've been avoided if David had followed God's instructions for moving the ark.  David learns a hard lesson here.  He receives the fear of the LORD.  When he finally moves the ark to Jerusalem, in a couple of chapters, we'll see he has learned this lesson and moves it with poles and it is the priests and Levites who carry it.

This story, too, is a repeat.  You can find it in 2 Samuel 6.  As I started flipping back and forth for comparisons, I was wishing that I had a copy of Walt Wangerin's "Book of God."   It is an excellent novel and I would have loved to read the story of David moving the ark with Walt Wangerin's slant on it this morning.  But, it appears I gave my copy away, again! I keep purchasing them and then giving them away... It is an excellent read!