JUST FOR LADIES – By Camille Stahl

Today’s Passage – Daniel 4 – 6 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read – Philemon – Hebrews 4; Psalms 76 – 80; Proverbs 16

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Proverbs 3:5 & 6

Read the “0916 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Control Your Pride

“While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.”  (Daniel 4:31-33)

When Nebuchadnezzar ruled the Babylonian Empire, it was the most powerful empire on earth.  The king was a ruthless, heartless tyrant who ran over anything in his path.  God put the prophet Daniel into the King’s court as his top advisor.  It was a dangerous position, but Daniel was loved and blessed by God and could interpret dreams.  When King Nebuchadnezzar dreamed a dream, Daniel was the only one who could help him.  Daniel only had bad news for the king.  Even though King Nebuchadnezzar tried to stay humble, his pride took over.  In verse 30, the Bible says that Nebuchadnezzar spoke out.  While the word was in his mouth, God spoke and the Kingdom departed from Nebuchadnezzar.  After 7 years of living a nightmare, Nebuchadnezzar came to his senses.

“And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:”  (Daniel 4:34)

At last he realized that God was in total control of all things, not himself, and because of his arrogance, God had taken everything away.

Our Heavenly Father loves us very much.  He wants to bless us. When He does, we must be careful that not to take the credit.  We should never boast.  We should always give the glory to God, because we can lose it all in a blink of an eye.  Nebuchadnezzar did.

“When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.”  (Proverbs 11:2)

“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”  (Proverbs 16:18)

“A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.”  (Proverbs 29:23)

Thank You

Revelation 20:10