God Is Exalted

This morning I rose while it was chilly and dark for exercise.  Frost glittered on cars as a thin sliver of the moon shone bright suspended in a clear sky.  I was treated to a majestic view of faint stars as the moon brightly reflected the light of the sun.  I find it fascinating how the rays of the sun are seemingly lost in space until they hit upon the lunar surface in a brilliant display of God's wisdom.  It struck me how a person could look at the moon and praise nature, another could take pride in science which can provide explanations of planetary motion and moon exploration, while others simply worship and admire God who created and upholds such wondrous things.

Seeing the moon suspended in the heavens prompted me to consider how humans are easily moved to worship things which are not God.  Probably the most common object of worship is self.  I remember an insightful interview by Ray Comfort with a professing Satanist who mused, "When we say 'Hail Satan,' to a certain extent I am saying 'Hail Me.'"  King Nebuchadnezzar did a similar thing when he looked upon the kingdom of Babylon and the glory of it, though it was God who chose Nebuchadnezzar and made him to prosper.  God warned Nebuchadnezzar through a dream interpreted by Daniel, yet he did not humble himself before God:  in light of his wealth and power he did not say "Praise God!" but "Hail me!"

Daniel 4:29-32 states, "At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. ³⁰ The king spoke, saying, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?" ³¹ While the word was still in the king's mouth, a voice fell from heaven: "King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! ³² And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses."  For seven years the understanding and sanity of Nebuchadnezzar departed from him and he lived like a beast outdoors, his hair growing into dreadlocks and his untrimmed nails curved like bird claws.

At the end of the appointed time, God caused the understanding of Nebuchadnezzar to return and restored his kingdom and majesty to him.  Nebuchadnezzar was not embittered towards God for ruining his life or wasting years of his time:  the effect on the king of Babylon was strikingly different.  When Nebuchadnezzar returned to the throne, no longer did he worship the works of his hands or himself.  He said in Daniel 4:37, "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down."  Like the moon in the night sky, so the life of Nebuchadnezzar speaks forth the praise and worship of God the King of heaven whose works are truth and ways justice.  Blessed is the one who humbles themselves before God, and even the ones God puts down for their folly can look to Him by His grace with thanksgiving.