FALL OF THE POWERFUL— PRIDE
FALL OF THE POWERFUL — PRIDE
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated. And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace… Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. —Daniel 3:16-20, 28
Let his mind be changed from a man’s, and let a beast’s mind be given to him; and let seven periods of time pass over him. The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men. —Daniel 4:16-17
At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble. —Daniel 4:36-37
Tyrants command that you believe what they tell you to believe and to do what they tell you to do. They are evil controllers. Such was Nebuchadnezzar. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would not bow to the idol he had built, he ordered them to, or they would be thrown into a fiery furnace. They would not bow but were willing to die instead of doing so. They were thrown into the furnace, but our Lord delivered them.
Even after Nebuchadnezzar witnessed this miracle, he was prideful to the point that God judged him for seven years. At the end of seven years his reason came back to him and he said, “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.” This is a stark warning to anyone who walks in pride— leader or non-leader. God will do with them whatever He desires. So, beware of pride. It could be your downfall— “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). Again, beware of destructive pride! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAnjQ7kyAVk
Dear Father, may I have a proper assessment of myself and not allow pride to impact my life in a negative way. As you have said through Paul, “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you” (Romans 12:3). Yes, Dear Father, may I do so by the discerning power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus.