Nebuchadnezzars Testimony
Or Daniel 4's Expose
Imagine if the events recorded in Daniel 4 happened today. There would be a news conference with reporters and analysts from around the world. And it would be on every news channel in the universe. People would debate and wonder how a king of his stature could have such a dramatic fall from power. Some would question the sanity of Babylon for restoring the king’s throne. This was big news back in the 6th century B.C.
Despite the controversy, Nebuchadnezzar had to tell the whole truth. I can almost hear the other officials in his country telling him not to tell the world what happened. But Nebuchadnezzar didn’t care that most of his empire didn’t believe in the God of the Jews. He had to tell the world what the Most High had done for Him.
Imagine the crowd’s reaction when the king revealed his shocking news. I can almost hear one of the reporters saying, “Let me get this straight, you had a wild and crazy dream. Then that wild and crazy dream came to pass. You actually ate grass like a wild animal. And your government is reinstating you as their king?”
“Yes that is what I am telling you.”
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I hope you're beginning to understand this was not an ordinary expose or news story. The people present wouldn’t have been able to question the King like the media does today. Nebuchadnezzar might have executed them. I tend to think the King’s address was an unusual testimony of how God changed his heart. Thus far in the book of Daniel, the King has seen many miracles. But this one was the final straw that made him a believer in the God Most High. See Genesis 14:18-20 for the first reference to God being called this.
Nebuchadnezzar’s Bricks
According to a 2019 archaeological report, Nebuchadnezzar was a great builder. (We saw this in Daniel 2 by the enormous size of the gold image.) The article also states he used about 15 million bricks to build Babylon’s walls, cities, and temples. Archaeologists have found many of these bricks with a royal stamp. Nebuchadnezzar was a man who loved his god and wanted the world to know about it. On each brick, he told his people that he was caring for the temples of the supreme god Marduk and his son Nabu. See the archaeological report
My point in saying this: Daniel shared the life of King Nebuchadnezzar and the testimony of things he saw. Much of the narrative in this chapter is in the first person. Nebuchadnezzar spoke about the signs and wonders of the God Most High (Daniel 4:2-3). This crazy miracle changed a man who had devoted his life to the gods of his ancestors. The dramatic change in Nebuchadnezzar’s life reminds me of the demoniac’s miraculous healing. (Mark 5:1-20). ***According to Google, some scholars today refer to his mental condition as boantropy.
In closing, I want to mention one thing about Evil Merodach, the king’s son and successor. There is good reason to believe that he saw the great miracles of his father’s restoration to his Kingdom. That may be why he released Judah’s king, Jehoichin, from prison. He even allowed Jehoichin to sit at the king’s table (Jeremiah 52:31-34). These Babylonian kings were not known for their kindness. Yet isn’t that what God does once he comes into a person’s heart? He changes them and makes them new.
God gave Nebuchadnezzar and his family another chance when He restored his kingdom. A chance to do things right. Can you imagine how the king felt when God restored his Kingdom? Did he throw a royal party the first night he stepped back into the palace? Was this decree the first thing on his agenda? It was an act of God’s miraculous mercy that he was able to sit upon his throne again. It took great courage and humility for him to tell the world. This definitely was a lesson the proud king would never forget. It changed and humbled his heart.
I am so glad that God offers His miraculous mercy today. Today, we also have an opportunity to have our sins wiped clean. God blessed Nebuchadnezzar and restored his royal position. We also celebrate God’s goodness and grace. See 1 John 1:8-10 for a wonderful promise about God’s forgiving and merciful heart.
Next week, I want to talk about Belshazzar. He was a different kind of man who saw all that the Most High God of the Jews did in his family. But his actions led to the downfall of his father’s great empire.
Have a great day. I hope you're enjoying this different take on the book of Daniel.
Your friend, the Christian Writer