Daniel 4 records a dream that the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar had during his reign. His dream had frightened him, and again he sent for the Jew, Daniel to give him an interpretation.
Daniel told him that the dream was about the king himself, and it was from God. God had decreed that Nebuchadnezzar would be driven from men because of his unrighteousness and arrogance, and he would be insensible “your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen” (25).
Daniel pleaded with the king to avoid the fate by breaking “off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor” (27). The king did not listen, and it happened as the dream portended.
After a period of time, Nebuchadnezzar said, “I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding 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 is from generation to generation” (34).
God is still here today. Men have forgotten Him, and that He is the Most High, and worthy of praise and honor. They sin against Him, and act arrogantly, living their lives day to day without a thought about the consequence.
At the very moment that Nebuchadnezzar proclaimed his own majesty, accomplishments and power, his kingdom was taken away from him (28-33). Similarly through this pandemic, in one fell swoop our thriving economy, and the allusion of self-sufficiency has departed. Will our nation finally acknowledge God, and turn to Him? I certainly hope so.
It took humiliation for Nebuchadnezzar to come to himself, and acknowledge the preeminence of God. What will it take for us to do the same?
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