Admissions of a Converted King

   Nebuchadnezzar is not a king one would consider a “godly king” at the beginning of the book of Daniel. He took the kingdom of Judah into Babylonian captivity, including four godly men named Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. He used their intelligent minds to increase the power of his earthly kingdom. Though he offered great favors to these four godly men, they refused them, and through their examples of faithfulness to the God of heaven, proved to Nebuchadnezzar that God is omnipotent!

   Nebuchadnezzar was a dreamer of great magnitude. In chapter two, Daniel interprets his dream of being the golden head of the great statue, but additionally how in the days of the kings of a divided kingdom would the God of heaven establish a kingdom that will never be destroyed (2:44).  The admission of Nebuchadnezzar is worthy of note: “Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.” One might think Nebuchadnezzar would have remembered this admission!

   He learned from Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (known by their Chaldean names as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) that faithfulness to the God of heaven is much more rewarding than surrendering homage to an idol. In chapter three, Nebuchadnezzar raises up a high golden image and orders that at the sound of music, everyone must fall down and worship the image, and those who do not will be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah refused, and so were bound and thrown into the furnace, heated now seven times hotter than customary. When the king rose up to note their fate, he saw four men in the midst of the fire: the form of the fourth man being that of the Son of God. When released, we note the king’s decree: “I made a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God than can deliver after this sort.” One might think that now, Nebuchadnezzar would have remembered his admission!

   Alas, we find in the fourth chapter that Nebuchadnezzar dreams again and calls Daniel to interpret the dream. When Daniel reveals the dream is about the rebellion of the king’s people against him, and that he will be driven from men, dwell with the beasts of the field, and be made to eat grass as the oxen, including enduring the elements, Daniel’s concluding words are, “Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off they sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; it may be a lengthening of thy tranquility.” Alas, the king’s arrogance resulted in the fulfillment of the prophetic dream. After seven years, the king is restored to his right mind, and more excellent majesty is added to him.  The king’s admission here is phenomenal: “I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honored Him that liveth forever, Whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation.” (4:34) The last recorded words of this king are, “I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all Whose works are truth, and His ways judgment: and those that walk in pride He is able to abase.” What a marvelous admission!

   The Bible gives us no further information about this king. Whether he died keeping his admission of God’s omnipotence is unknown, How foolish he would have been to have forsaken it after his experiences with truth and righteousness through the faithful actions of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Frankly, it would not be any more surprising than what many today do having experienced even greater realities than those of Nebuchadnezzar (Hebrews 6: 4 – 6).

   The following lessons are taught by the king’s admissions:

1. NEVER DENY THE WISDOM OF GOD. (1:20) The king sought wisdom and understanding that would enhance his earthly kingdom. But he noted that the wisdom of God, expressed by Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah excelled all the wisdom known to Babylon. It is so even today.
2. NEVER DENY THE MAJESTY OF THE GOD OF HEAVEN. (2:46) Nebuchadnezzar admitted, “Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.” God has granted to us all things pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3) and all mankind needs to accept that reality!
3. NEVER THINK YOURSELF TO BE GREATER THAN ALL OTHERS (4:28 – 33) Nebuchadnezzar’s arrogance brought about his seven years of humiliation. Though he was restored to his throne, and “excellent majesty was added unto [him]” (4:36) we must never lose sight of the last recorded admission of this king: “I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all Whose works are truth, and His ways judgment: and those that walk in pride He is able to abase.” (4:37) We must always humble ourselves in the sight of God, knowing He shall lift us up (James 4:10).

   The apostle Paul tells us, “The things written aforetime were written for our learning.” (Romans 15:4) Even the admissions of Nebuchadnezzar can teach us valuable lessons. Perhaps there is one more lesson to learn from this study: viz. REMEMBER YOUR ADMISSION! The king had seen, heard and we believe learned the uncompromising omnipotence of the God of heaven. For us, that includes confessing Jesus as the only begotten Son of God (Romans 10:10). Sadly, too many forget that admission!