Daniel 4:30 

New International Version (NIV)

Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?

For Meditation

Don’t offend God’s kindness and generosity! It is not your place. Yours is the receptive and thankful heart – marveled marveling and contented in Christ. That the Mighty God of all creation would give you the grace and privilege of being His instrument for the workings of His eternal plan and purpose, should   lead to humility and joy. Pride has no place in grace. Neither is self-exaltation in the face of divine kindness. It is offensive to His love. It does not sit well with the holiness of God and His glory; and never will. Retribution is what it invites to the careless and ungrateful recipient of His grace.

If nothing can incite caution in this matter, the child of God can consult King Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 4:29-37). Chosen by God as the rod of discipline against Israel, His people (Jer. 25:8-9), and all the nations of the world (27:6-8), the ruthless king of Babylon surveyed his kingdom and boasted in his “mighty power and … the glory of [his] majesty” (Dan. 4:30). Instant judgment was declared from heaven (31-32), and Nebuchadnezzar learned the hard way, how not to set himself up  in God’s place (33).Humbled and broken, the boastful king finally raised his eyes towards heaven and worshipped the Most High God (34), affirming that His ways are right and just, “And those who walk in pride He is able to humble” (37).

Two key lessons stand out of this story for me. First, God is sovereign, and He dispenses authority to whoever He chooses for the fulfillment of His ultimate plan and purpose. It has nothing to do with the chosen instrument. It is all about God and His will that works mercy and grace towards those He chooses.  That forbids boasting (Eph. 2:8-9).

Second, because He is the “I AM WHO I AM” (Ex. 3:14), the self-existent God, He does not “yield [His] glory to another, or [His] praise to idols” (Is. 42:8).The one who tries to usurp His rule should never forget that “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31).

1. Do you know this God?
2. Is He the One you worship?
3. Have you come to Him through Jesus Christ (Jn. 14:6), His begotten Son (3:16) and only “Mediator between God and mankind” (1 Tim. 2:5; Acts 4:12)?
4. Have you checked yourself lately to see if, perhaps, you may be seated on His throne (Rev. 4:2)?
5. Why don’t you get out of it now and cleanse yourself in the gracious flow of His forgiveness towards all who repent (1 Jn. 1:9)?

I pray your response to this will be unbridled thanksgiving, worship and praise to Christ our Lord, who has worked all this for us.

So: May you embrace wisdom (Prov. 8:1-14) before she mocks “when calamity overtakes you” (1:26-27); and may you “serve the Lord with fear and celebrate His rule with trembling” (Ps. 2:11).

“Blessed are all who take refuge in Jesus” (12).

Shalom