Daniel 4:37 NKJV
“Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.”
Be in spiritual or life experiences, the wisdom in learning from those who have walked before us and know better must not be taken for granted. Passage of time offers rewards and lessons that cannot be substituted for anything when it comes to understanding some things under the sun. As such, and for the most part, the more men get to see and have various spiritual and life experiences with time, the more humble and cool-headed they become. In the Scriptures, King Nebuchadnezzar went through such an experience (Dan 1-4). Once “…his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne” (Dan 5:20 NKJV).
Consequently, Nebuchadnezzar was reduced to dwelling with wild donkeys and being fed with “…grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses” (Dan 5:21 NKJV). Think about that for a while. Thankfully, the LORD had mercy on Nebuchadnezzar and restored him. His last recorded words are in our text of reference: “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.” Hallelujah! Certainly, he had come to know better that God is above ALL, and worthy of ALL praise.
Despite what had happened to Nebuchadnezzar, his son Belshazzar never learned. Daniel would recount to Belshazzar the bad things his father Nebuchadnezzar had done and add, “But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although YOU KNEW all this” (Dan 5:22 NKJV). That implies that Belshazzar’s knowledge of what happened to Nebuchadnezzar and how God dealt with him, should have made him even more humble at heart. That very night, Belshazzar was slain. Child of God, let us not ignore what we’ve known from those ahead of us. For therein are some insights to avoid some wayward choices and please God better.
Pst. Emmanuel