Thursday, April 23, 2009

Nebuchadnezzar: The Unthankful King

by Ron Livesay

In spite of all our great blessings, there are those who are never satisfied, even blaming God Himself for what they perceive as their lack of things. The Scripture is very clear that failure to honor God as God and failure to give Him thanks is a sure path to failure, judgment, and destruction.

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools…and even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting...” (Romans 1:18-22, 28, NKJV).

Many have been unthankful, but there is no greater Biblical example of this truth than King Nebuchadnezzar as seen in the book of Daniel.

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?” 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! 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” (Daniel 4:30-32, NKJV).

Nebuchadnezzar suffered exactly the judgment the Lord pronounced on him, and he absolutely deserved it. The average human being pays little attention to God and gives little or no praise and thanks to Him. Most people spend far too much time with their mouths open and their Bibles closed. That needs to be reversed. May we who know Him never be guilty of such negligence in the area of thanksgiving as was Nebuchadnezzar.

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