The Insanity of Pride

The king had a dream and demanded that the seers and prophets of the land would interpret it. If that was not enough he wanted them to even tell him what he had dreamed. The Chaldean’s knew enough that they would say, “No one can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.” Daniel though knew not the “gods,” but the true God who put kings and kingdoms into place.

Daniel was able not only to tell the king what he had dreamed, but what it meant as well. He had told him in the dream that the statue in it had different precious metal. Each of these metals represented a kingdom that would rule over this world. The first worldwide empire would be that of Nebuchanezzar’s kingdom itself. His kingdom would eventually fade and over time three others would take its place.

This prophecy would come to pass. We know this for sure as the kingdom of Babylon would be taken over by the Medes and Persians, then it would pass to the Greeks and finally the Romans. The king would fall upon his face, paying homage to Daniel. He would say, “Truly your God is God of gods and Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries.” He then puts Daniel as a ruler over the province and perfect over all the wise men of Babylon. What a grateful heart!! Really, take a look at what happens next in chapter 3 of Daniel.

Those of us who know the rest of the story remember that Neb next made an image whose height was 60 cubits and 6 cubits in breadth. We are then told that Neb placed it on the plain of Dura. The reason he did so was that all could see it and bow down to it. Now all of this is significant but what is sometimes forgotten is what the king had made the image out of. It was made of gold.

Why does this become so important? The first metal in chapter 2 was made of that of gold and represented Neb’s kingdom. By Neb making the image of gold and nothing else, I believe that he was saying to God, my kingdom will reign forever. He is so forceful with this thought that he is willing to put men to death in the fiery furnace who will not bow down before it.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego knew that their God could deliver them but even if he would not, they would NOT bow down. Neb’s pride and rage has them thrown in to perish. Yet, their God was with them in the fire and Neb would have them freed. Neb would cry out, “Blessed is the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.” He even threatens to have anyone killed who would speak against the God of these men. Lesson learned. Once again, take a look at the next chapter.

Nebuchadnezzar’s pride would once again have to be taken down. We see a changed man at the beginning of chapter 4:1-2 and 4:34-37. Yet, what would it take to get him to this point? He has another dream but this time is warned by Daniel that if he would not humble himself, Neb would act like a wild animal for over 7 years.

A whole year passes without incident when Nebuchadnezzar begins to look over his kingdom. Note what he says, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by MY mighty power and as a royal residence and for the glory of MY majesty.” At that very instant Neb hears the voice of God and becomes like a wild animal eating grass like an ox and remains this way for seven years.

How long will we live with our pride? Neb had lived this way all of his life and even when being punished by God it would be seven years before Neb would be sane again.

I love the truth behind this story in that pride is looked at as being a form of insanity. How often do we give glory to ourselves? We crave to hear about our greatness. We truly believe that quite often what we have is because of the works of our hands. Oh, brothers and sisters, how we love the limelight and the applause. We forget that every good and perfect gift comes from above.  Every breath that we take is a GIFT from the God of the heavens.

He will humble the proud of heart. He does this, to cause us to cry out to Him. He does this, to cause us to see our need of Him. He does this, to cause us to draw close to His heart. He does this, for He alone deserves all of the praise and the glory.

Is there hope? I believe we all struggle with pride in our lives. None of us are immune from the insanity of pride. Yet, look at the last words of what we read that Neb says in the book of Daniel. “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all HIS ways are just, and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.”

I also believe that Neb’s heart is changed by another passage that seems to refer to him in Daniel 7.  “The first was like a lion and had eagle’s wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man and the mind of a man was given to it.” Daniel 7:4 He who once saw himself soaring above all others, would now have the mind of a man. He who was once marked by the insanity of pride would finally find that God alone deserves the praise.

“Father, release us from the insanity of our pride. Give us a heart of humility and one that will acknowledge your glory.”