In the book of Daniel, Daniel shared how Belshazzar was greatly troubled because he saw a hand writing on the wall, and when his wise men were not able to tell him what the writing said or meant, he called for Daniel who said, “O you king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honor. And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down”, and in chapter five and verse twenty of his book, Daniel told King Belshazzar what happened to King Nebuchadnezzar, “when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride” where we read,
But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride,
he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:
The verse reads, “But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, …” Daniel began with the words, “but when his heart” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover at the time and moment his, Nebuchadnezzar’s, soul and mind” “was lifted up” which means “existed as exalted and filled with presumption”, “and his mind hardened in pride” or “and his spirit strong, firm and stringent with arrogance and boasting”. Daniel referred to how Nebuchadnezzar’s soul and mind were exalted and his thoughts were stringent in arrogance.
The verse goes on to say, “… he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:” Daniel continued with the words, “he was deposed” which means “he, Nebuchadnezzar, was cast down” “from his kingly throne” or “separate and apart from his royal reign and authority”, “and they took his glory from him” which means “and they, those who surrounded King Nebuchadnezzar, removed his, Nebuchadnezzar’s, honor and majesty separate and apart from him, Nebuchadnezzar”. Daniel referred to how King Nebuchadnezzar was cast down from his regal authority and his honor and majesty were separated from him as well.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Daniel more about King Nebuchadnezzar’s character before God dealt with him. He was exalted and arrogant within his own spirit and thoughts, and God humbled him when He removed him from his kingly authority. Nebuchadnezzar no longer had honor nor majesty within the eyes of his servants. He learned that God is able to humble the proud and exalt the humble, (See Luke 14:11; 18:14) and when we humble ourselves, repent of our sins and believe and trust in His Son Jesus as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth that will keep us in humility before Him all the days of our lives.
Next time Daniel shares how he tells King Belshazzar how King Nebuchadnezzar, “was driven from the sons of men”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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