Daniel: Remembering Who's King in the Chaosনমুনা

The King Goes Crazy

Nebuchadnezzar has another strange dream that Daniel interprets. This dream serves as a warning to the king that because of his wickedness, he will be driven out of his land and out of his mind. The text says that he will “eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven.” Yahweh, the one true king, who gives power and authority to anyone he pleases, is also capable of snatching power and authority from anyone to whom it’s been given. In this passage, we see this odd dream come to fruition because Nebuchadnezzar continues to give himself credit for all his power and success instead of acknowledging that he is merely a pawn in the plan of God. God humbles Nebuchadnezzar before the world. Nebuchadnezzar built himself up as a wise, intimidating king, but God exposed him by forcing him to live like a mindless and powerless cow. We may have a lot of influence and power at work, but who really gave us that power? We may be talented and gifted in a variety of ways, but who really gave us those talents and gifts? This text serves as a convicting reminder that we should humble ourselves before God so that God doesn’t need to humble us before the world.