Kings, Madness and Pride…

Morning!

Raises his cup of coffee

Leadership requires one to be appointed.  There is a relationship between the leader and those who are being lead.  Along with the position comes responsibility and privileges.  I think it’s important to remind ourselves that leaders are appointed by God, or allowed by God and they are often used by God to either bring judgment upon a people or to teach a people something they need to learn in the Eyes of God.

Proverbs 16: 6

“Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to The LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.”

There are many leaders in many different positions of authority in the world.  Some have great responsibilities, some have just a little responsibility, but all of them are answerable to God.  All of their sins equal before God.  Nebuchadnezzar learned through a judgment, a harsh and heavy judgment, one that arguably fits the size of the crime, that pride is an abomination to God.  He went from the most powerful man in the ancient world to a crazy man, afflicted with madness, eating grass and sleeping outside, hair growing crazy and with crazy nails, all of which are described in the text.  The moment he was struck with madness?  The moment he exalted his heart above God in that the kingdom of Babylon was his work instead of God’s.  Pride.

How much of our own work do we take credit for ourselves?

How much of our work do we give to God to do through us?

The next part of Daniel we’re getting into tells us that it is Nebuchadnezzar who has written the text.  What do we find that he begins his entry into the Bible with?

Daniel 4: 1-2

“Nebuchadnezzar the king.  To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.  I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me.”

After falling from being the most powerful man in the world to being unrecognizable in madness, once restored by God, king Nebuchadnezzar thought it good to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God had worked for him.  He met God, knew God and then wanted to make God known.

Today, might I suggest, we should reflect on the wonders that God has worked for us.  The ones that we remember.  Might I be so bold as to suggest we pray to the Holy Spirit to bring us the memories that would edify us in our thoughts today in our giving of thanks.  Remembering and giving thanks for memories and wonders that have been done is only the beginning though.  Have we thought about and prepared some on how we will present these stories to others if God allows an opportunity?

Psalm 119: 27

“Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous Works.”

So when was the last time we shared the things Jesus does for us?

Does Jesus do for us?

So…. What?

For those of us who are married, do we share the stories of the Holy Spirit with each other every day?

David searched for God in this world so that he could speak of Him.  Nebuchadnezzar, ruler of the ancient world, was humbled before God and he wanted to announce the Glory of God to the entire kingdom after his trials and wonders.

Matthew 10: 32-33

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.  But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.”

Have we been feeling like God is distant?  Maybe we should take a look at our ways, like we learned in Haggai.  What does it mean to deny Jesus?  Is it necessarily as obvious as Peter’s denial every time?  Or is it a gradual hardening of the heart to stay silent?

As leaders it is our responsibility to stay in touch with Jesus and to nurture our faith.  It may not seem wise to speak about Jesus and not every moment is one of evangelism, but is there not as much denial in omission as there is in Peter’s commission?

Proverbs 3: 1-10

“My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.  Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.  It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.  Honor the LORD with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase:  So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.”

Or is the problem Jesus hasn’t done enough for us?

Matthew 7: 1-12 “ Judge not, that you be not judged.  For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.  And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’ and look, a plank is in your own eye?  Hypocrite!  First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.  Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.  Ask, and it will be given to you, seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!  Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

I think that’s a good start for the day!

Happy waiting!

:)