Daniel 4:1 - 18

Another dream, but this time the king reveals it!

As I was staring at the text, I was struck by how the king summons his crew to tell him what the gods are saying.

My first thought was, “What a prideful man!” That a man can believe he might summon others, who at his bidding, can reveal the will of the gods, well it would seem an extreme position to assume. It was easy for me to judge him, especially when I consider the grandeur of the Babylon. 

It is easy to spot Nebuchadnezzar’s pride. In part because I am amazed at his success.

But then I think, I wonder, how often have my prayers perhaps crossed a line? Where I am less praying, “Thy will be done”, and more “God to reveal your will to me”, or even, “Lord pleased do this and that”?

I understand in my mind that ALL is up to God, but that of course is in my head. 

Pride’s furnace is my heart.

In Proverbs 18:12 we read:

Before destruction a man's heart is haughty,    but humility comes before honor.

We all know that God’s work in first in our hearts, but the point today is quite simple: “Can we see our pride?” In Jeremiah 9:23 we read:

23 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches,

Each of us spend much of our lives striving and working to build. We even use the phrase “to be naturally proud of our accomplishments.” Yet the challenge is obvious, that we not become prideful.

Today I am simply looking at Nebuchadnezzar, as he looks back at me, asking, praying, “Let me see my pride.”