I just love it when God reveals His word to me, and He has given me a message from Daniel 4:27-37 that helps give great insight into the minds of our prodigals; and it also shows the awesome sovereignty of God and how He brings those who have gone astray back to their senses.

Daniel 4:27-33 says:
Therefore, O king, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.”
All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes.”
Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like cattle. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.

In verse 27, Daniel pleads with King Nebuchadnezzar to “break away from his sins and to do righteousness…” But Nebuchadnezzar was full of foolish pride. He was living his life his way and boasting in what “he” had accomplished. The text implies that he was living in sin and not walking according to the will of God. So, God in His mercy sends him a message through his prophet, Daniel, to turn from his ways….or else….

But Nebuchadnezzar, like our spouses, refused to listen to God and a year later, he was standing on his rooftop bragging, and while he was in the midst of his speech, heaven came to witness against him and he was met with judgment. And then, just as prophesied, King Nebuchadnezzar, as some theologians say, became “a mad man.” And he was dwelling in the fields as a beast, eating grass, and hairy, with nails like claws. What a vivid picture!

Our spouses may have spurned warnings from the Holy Spirit; a sermon or a messenger from God, and right now they may be unwilling to turn and repent. But, God has a plan! He will allow them to wander around aimlessly, live in the pigpen of life, roll in the dirt and eat grass, and even live without their senses for a while; but praise God; it’s not “forever!”

Right now our spouses may be living like a beast or someone totally out of their mind; they have taken on a new identity; a new look! The company they keep is different! They are living like the world, boasting on what they are doing and getting away with it; resulting in hearts full of pride. Don’t fret! We are to wait on God, because it is only for a fixed period of time! The bible said that “for seven years” God allowed Nebuchadnezzar to live like a crazy man. So don’t focus on the time, but rather praise God that “this trouble won’t last always” and that “this too shall pass!”

Look at what happens at the end of the seven years! Daniel 4:34-37 (NASB) says:
But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever. For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, but He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth; and no one can ward off His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’ At that time my reason returned to me and my majesty and splendor were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom, and my counselors and my nobles began seeking me out; so I was reestablished in my sovereignty, and surpassing greatness was added to me. Now, I Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all of His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride.

I’m sure King Nebuchadnezzar’s loved ones and those looking on had a hard time dealing with it as they watched him live like that, just as we do when we see the lives our spouses are living; but it was and is all a necessary part of the perfect plan and will of God. And the day will come when our spouses, like King Nebuchadnezzar, will look up toward heaven and have their “reason” returned to them and they will cry aloud, blessing the name of our Most High God who lives forever and ever! Prior to his encounter with God, King Nebuchadnezzar would not recognize Him; so God had to help him out a bit! And He allowed all of that to happen to bring Nebuchadnezzar to his senses. Yes, God is most certainly able to HUMBLE those who walk in pride.

It was God who sent King Nebuchadnezzar out there to live like a beast, and only God could bring him back! We may not be able to fathom why God allows our spouses to go out and live as they do, but friends, remember that God is sovereign and we can trust him better than we can trust ourselves. He’s got it all under control. We can do nothing to change our spouses or turn the tide in our marriages. It’s all in God’s capable hands, so we need only watch and pray. All of what we’re going through is ultimately for God’s glory!

And you know what? After that experience and his conversion, King Nebuchadnezzar NEVER returned to that lifestyle. Better still, once his reason was restored, verse 36 says that God returned to him everything! Everything was RESTORED and not just to what it was before he lost his mind, but it surpassed what he had before. Whoo-hoo! God is creating circumstances for our spouses, just like he did for King Nebuchadnezzar, to bring them to repentance and to their senses. So instead of being sad, we really should REJOICE knowing that God is “causing all things to work together for good…”

God is saying to us if we can wait with patience and faith during this period and let him do what He needs to do in us and our spouses, we will be able to say as in verse 35, He does according to His will in the host of heaven….and no one can ward off his hand….

It’s hard sometimes, but I’m willing to wait! Are you?

So be blessed and encouraged by God’s Word and this message to us from King Nebuchadnezzar!

Love you all,
Paula

Posted Tuesday, October 30th, 2007 at 12:23 pm in Seeds Of Faith.