a lesson in humble
11 - 08/20 /17:38
During this pandemic one occasionally hear’s reference to the prophetic promise, “If my people will humble themselves and pray, I will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
What does “humble themselves” mean?
One answer is offered by a pagan king humbled by God. Nebuchadnezzar was the architect of the ancient Chaldean empire centered on Babylon. Because his wife was a mountain girl, he raised a great step pyramid, beautifully landscaping its terraces and populating them with exotic animals. It became the famous Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
What does “humble themselves” mean?
One answer is offered by a pagan king humbled by God. Nebuchadnezzar was the architect of the ancient Chaldean empire centered on Babylon. Because his wife was a mountain girl, he raised a great step pyramid, beautifully landscaping its terraces and populating them with exotic animals. It became the famous Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
586bce Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the rebellious city of Jerusalem, taking its elite into captivity. Daniel, one of those captives rose to become a ruler in Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar renamed him Belteshazzar, after one of his gods.
Later Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s troubling dream, and advised the king to renounce his wickedness and give justice to the oppressed. Nebuchadnezzar appreciated the interpretation, but didn’t change his ways.
Twelve months later Nebuchadnezzar was suddenly struck with insanity, subsequently striped of authority and driven out to live among the wild animals. The king later explained that eventually he acknowledged Daniel’s God, Yahweh as the “Most High God”. When he did so, his sanity returned and he regained his throne.
Nebuchadnezzar wrote an explanation of what had transpired. That pagan king identified characteristics of humbleness, epiphanies from his own humbling encounter with Yahweh.
First, humble people acknowledge God is eternal, with no beginning and no end.
Second, humble people accept that God’s dominion is total and without limits. This universe belongs to Yahweh, it doesn’t exist by chance but was made by God for His purposes.
Third, humble people accept that God does as He pleases in heaven and on earth. Nebuchadnezzar claimed that Yahweh “regards all the peoples of the earth as nothing.” This is a projection of Nebuchadnezzar. Yahweh’s self-revelation, as recorded in the Bible, is that of a loving heavenly Father.
Fourth, humble people accept that God is beyond questioning. This is hard for us narcissists who insist on having our say, who demand we be heard. Nebuchadnezzar concluded that no human has either the right or the ability to question Yahweh.
Nebuchadnezzar concludes: Therefore all people ought to praise, exalt and glorify God. All He does is right, even if we don’t agree. All His ways or just, even if we don’t understand. Nebuchadnezzar concludes with a warning: those who walk in pride Yahweh is able to humble. ~
Blessings,
Dan Nygaard