A man's pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor.
- - - Proverbs 29:23 - - -

Nebuchadnezzar readily comes to mind as a Bible character who was filled with pride. In fact, he comes across as perhaps the very epitome of pride. At the very birth of his reign in Babylon, he quickly and successfully besieged Judah and took her inhabitants captive. He had handsome young men from Judah trained and prepared to serve before him. He ruled the most powerful nation of his day, and reigned in a city whose beauty was approached by none other.

As we follow Nebuchadnezzar's reign as recorded in the book of Daniel, we see occasion after occasion supplied by God for the king to humble himself. In chapter 2, the king was given a dream which revealed his place in the great scheme of the God of heaven. Daniel told the king, "You, O king, are a king of kings. For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength and glory; and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all..." (2:37-38) He had what he had because God had given it to him. Though the king prostrated himself before Daniel and spoke well of God (2:46-47), he was not yet humbled.

In chapter 3, Nebuchadnezzar erected a huge statue (90 feet tall) of himself, and decreed that all should fall down and worship the image. In his pride, he esteemed himself worthy of worship. Any who would not fall down and worship the image would be cast into a furnace of fire. Daniel's friends, who would not bow to the image, were reported to the king, and cast into the fiery furnace. The fire burned so hot, those who approached to cast them in perished. The king became aware that the Lord stood in the midst of the fire with the three Hebrews, and delivered them. Upon calling them out, he declared, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego..." and that none should speak "...anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego..." (3:28-29) However, as before, this acknowledgment of God's might was short-lived.

As we come to chapter 4, again Nebuchadnezzar's proud spirit is at work. Thus, God gave the king another dream. Daniel gave the interpretation of the dream; Nebuchadnezzar, because of his boastful spirit would be humbled, being driven from men and living as a beast, "...till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses." (4:25) Daniel warned, "Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity." (4:27) It would seem that the king heeded Daniel's words, for a full year passed without the dream coming to pass. However, one day, while walking about the palace, Nebuchadnezzar remarked, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty? (4:30) That very hour, the king was driven from men and dwelt as a beast of the field.

After a time as a beast of the field, Nebuchadnezzar regained his senses. What did he now know? God's "...dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation. All of the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing (including the king, wjs); He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth." (4:34-35) And again, "...those who walk in pride He is able to put down." (4:37)

Friend, none of us are in the position of power and majesty which Nebuchadnezzar held, and yet so many in the world today conduct themselves with the same haughty spirit, as though all we have and enjoy is the product of our own doing. Let us acknowledge the might and the pre-eminence of God. Let us humbles ourselves before the Lord, before we are humbled by the Lord.