Nebuchadnezzar in the Field
He said he had built it all. Then the voice came from heaven.
He had been warned.
Daniel had interpreted the dream about the great tree that was cut down.
He had told him: Let seven periods of time pass over you until you know that the Most High rules.
Daniel had pleaded with him to break from his sins by showing mercy to the poor.
Perhaps there could be a lengthening of his prosperity.
Twelve months passed.
He was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon.
He 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?
While the words were still in his mouth, a voice fell from heaven.
O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken.
The kingdom has departed from you.
You shall be driven from among men.
Your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field.
You shall be made to eat grass like an ox.
Seven periods of time shall pass over you until you know that the Most High rules.
Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar.
He was driven from among men.
He ate grass like an ox.
His body was wet with the dew of heaven.
His hair grew like eagles' feathers.
His nails were like birds' claws.
For seven years.
The most powerful man on earth reduced to an animal in a field.
By his own words.
While the words were still in his mouth.
At the end of the days he lifted his eyes to heaven.
His reason returned.
He blessed the Most High.
He praised him.
He was restored.
He said: 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.
The twelve months were mercy.
He had been given time to repent.
He stood on a roof and took credit for it all instead.
Scripture — Daniel 4:33
"The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hair was grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws."
Reflection
The judgment came while the declaration was still in his mouth. The gap between pride and consequence was zero.
God gave him twelve months after the dream. He used the twelve months to build more confidence in himself.
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