King Of Glory
Scripture references: Daniel 4:24-32, 34-37. Daniel 5:18-23, 30-31 and Psalm 24:8a
Introduction:
“Lift up your hands be lifted up
Let the redeemed declare the love
And we bow down at heaven’s gate
To kiss the feet of hope and grace”
-King of Glory
The song lyrics above convey 3 key points that bring me to a story in Scripture. One which is instructive, convicting and invites a response.
What are the 3 points? Lifting up. Redemption. Bowing.
What story am I thinking of? It starts in Daniel 4 with King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. The 1st and 3rd points I mentioned are directional…Lifting up (upward)…Bowing (downward). King Nebuchadnezzar experiences these in very different, even contrasting ways in this story…A contrast which centers on redemption. Let’s look closer…
Devotional:
In Daniel 4, King Nebuchadnezzar presents a dream to Daniel for interpretation. The King knows the work of Daniel and his God from experience. Prior to chapter 4, Daniel had already interpreted a dream that the King’s own magicians, enchanters and sorcerers could not interpret themselves (See Daniel 2). He had already seen God’s power on display when he (God) protected Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from the fiery furnace. This prompted Nebuchadnezzar to make a declaration at the beginning of chapter 4 to all peoples, declaring God’s signs, wonders and His everlasting kingdom.
Based on this declaration, you would think that the King is fully on board! What else does he need to see? Well, what we see is that the King still has a condition that needs addressing…and God will use this to again show His power and dominion over even the most powerful King, of the most powerful empire of that time…
The King comes to Daniel with a 2nd dream which you can read in Daniel 4:4-18. What we will do is start by focusing on Daniels interpretation from God starting in verse 24…
“ this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, 25 that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. 26 And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules. 27 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.” -Daniel 4:24-27 ESV
Daniel tells the King that he will be brought down low…humbled and disgraced to the form of a beast (beasts are a big theme in Daniel by the way). He will be driven out…exiled…til he knows who truly rules the kingdom of men.
Daniel also gives council in light of this ominous interpretation. “Break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.” In other words, there is still hope for redemption and a merciful lengthening of his rule. How does King Nebuchadnezzar respond?
“All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” 31 While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, 32 and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” -Daniel 4:28-32 ESV
The very moment the King lifted himself up in pride, basking in the glory of his own majesty…He is brought down. Exiled and reduced to the form of a beast. But Nebuchadnezzar, by the grace of God…comes to a final realization…
“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;
35 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?”
36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. 37 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.” -Daniel 4:34-37
Here’s the 180 that Nebuchadnezzar did…
-When he lifted himself up, God brought him down and exiled him
-After being brought down to a place of humility before God…The king ‘Lifted his eyes toward heaven’ (Verse 34a). God then lifted him up and restored him.
What is fascinating about this, if I’m putting myself in the mind of the ancient Israelite who may be hearing this story…I see a picture of Israel. I see a people who are given dominion by God and at one point decide that they don’t need God…they lift themselves up and put themselves on the throne. God brings them down and sends them into exile…but there is hope. Hope for restoration and redemption.
God is an impartial judge:
-When Israel turned away, they are exiled but are mercifully given hope for redemption.
-When Nebuchadnezzar, a non-Israelite turned away, he is exiled…but mercifully given hope for redemption.
This is the very framework laid for us in the garden. Adam and Eve lifted themselves up, desiring to be like God, knowing good and evil. It led to their exile from the garden…from God’s presence. But there is hope for redemption.
This is the story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. God desires for man to dwell with Him in His presence. But we want to do what is right in our own eyes. This leads to exile…separation from God and His presence. Though we are separated, God makes a way back. A way that leads to restoration and redemption back into His presence.
The warning comes in the next chapter of Daniel. Nebuchadnezzar’s successor, Belshazzar does not take the path of redemption. He makes a mockery of The Most High and praises false gods…the writing is on the wall (quite literally). Daniel says this to Belshazzar…
O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father kingship and greatness and glory and majesty. 19 And because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whom he would, he killed, and whom he would, he kept alive; whom he would, he raised up, and whom he would, he humbled. 20 But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him. 21 He was driven from among the children of mankind, and his mind was made like that of a beast, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until he knew that the Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom he will. 22 And you his son,[f] Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, 23 but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored. -Daniel 5:18-23 ESV.
That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed. 31 [j] And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old. -Daniel 5:30-31 ESV
We have a choice to make. We know the story as Belshazzar did. The question is…will we choose to lift our eyes to God, rather than lift ourselves up? Will we choose the path that leads to separation, exile and death? Or will we choose the path that leads to life, restoration and redemption where we will dwell in the presence of God for all eternity.
May we choose to humble ourselves before the King of Glory.
“Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty” -Psalm 24:8a ESV
Amen.
Sean Wagner