Daniel 5:20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him.
Oh Friends, those are the solemn words of Daniel to king Belshazzar, when called upon to interpret his dream. The occasion was after a bacchanalian splurge where the king and his courtiers drank from the golden and silver vessels brought to Babylon from the temple in Jerusalem. In other words, Lucifer’s minions feted with the Lord’s holy vessels. How unbecoming! In response to that unwise undertaking, the Lord sent a message to Belshazzar that no one in the kingdom could decipher. Enter Daniel, mouthing Today’s Bit, which refers to the king’s late father, Nebuchadnezzar. And Friends, though the statement was made ages ago, it is still applicable today, possibly more so with the ascendancy of wholesale depravity and the resultant decline in godliness. But before we get into that, let’s hear what Daniel said two verses earlier. ‘O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory and honour.’ (Dan.5:18) My people, please note that the operative words here are ‘the most high God gave…’ It’s oh so important for us to realize and keep uppermost in our hearts and minds that whatever blessings are bestowed on us, whether they be material possessions, or political power, or even simple peace of mind, they all come from one and the same source; the Most High God Jehovah. For some reason we tend to forget this when times are good. Neither do we seem to learn from the mistakes of others, foolishly believing that the same things won’t happen to us. I don’t know what makes us think we’re so different, that if we do the same wrongs as others, we won’t receive an approximate punishment. Nebuchadnezzar was all-powerful, did what he wanted and got away with most of it. ‘But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was disposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory away.’ Yes Friends, when he began believing his own press, when his pride rose on high and he became mean-spirited and started saying stuff like; ‘Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?’ (Dan.4:30) That’s when the Lord acted. Oh people selfish, egotistical pride is possibly the worse sin we can commit before our God, and one He simply will not tolerate. We must acknowledge His mercy and kindness in all that we do or acquire. In this case; ‘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.’ (Dan.4: 31-33) Oh Friends, that’s how swift the justice of our God can be when we provoke Him to wrath! By the time the words were out of Neb’s mouth, the Lord found him guilty and pronounced a severe sentence that was carried out immediately. Neb is not the only example of a great ruler suffering for his egotistical pride. When the Israelites were in bondage in Egypt and Pharaoh refused to let them go, the Lord dealt with him the same way. The plagues and pestilence that befell Egypt were all because of Pharaoh’s foolish pride and hardened heart; thinking that he was mightier than the God of Abraham. As the Lord said to him through Moses: ‘And in very deed for this case have I raised thee up, for to show in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all earth.’ (Ex.9:16) Friends, I don’t know why we insist on fighting against the Lord when we can never win, for He’s our Creator and also the Provider of everything we have. Egypt was racked with disaster through Pharaoh’s pride; Nebuchadnezzar went crazy and lived like a wild animal for seven years. Oh people, the Spirit just directed me to let Neb tell his own story. So here goes. ‘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…and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counselors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the king of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgement: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.’ (Dan.4:34-37) Yes Friends, the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, especially from those who walk in selfish pride. Please, let’s not be numbered amongst that lot, for it’s a very foolish path to tread. And ah have to laugh yes, cause our God ties you up when you least expect it. Why do I say that? Because I intended to complete this in one Bit, but obviously He had other ideas and flooded me with info. I never intend to write all of Neb’s words either, but He decreed it. And I can’t complain cause it’s just what we were talking about; pride, thinking that we know better than God. If He says to do it in more than one Bit, who am I to argue eh? (smile) I am just the messenger. So tomorrow, the Good Lord willing, more on pride. Till then, Much LOVE!…remember…pride goes before a fall…pride goes before a fall…
Oh Friends, those are the solemn words of Daniel to king Belshazzar, when called upon to interpret his dream. The occasion was after a bacchanalian splurge where the king and his courtiers drank from the golden and silver vessels brought to Babylon from the temple in Jerusalem. In other words, Lucifer’s minions feted with the Lord’s holy vessels. How unbecoming! In response to that unwise undertaking, the Lord sent a message to Belshazzar that no one in the kingdom could decipher. Enter Daniel, mouthing Today’s Bit, which refers to the king’s late father, Nebuchadnezzar. And Friends, though the statement was made ages ago, it is still applicable today, possibly more so with the ascendancy of wholesale depravity and the resultant decline in godliness. But before we get into that, let’s hear what Daniel said two verses earlier. ‘O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory and honour.’ (Dan.5:18) My people, please note that the operative words here are ‘the most high God gave…’ It’s oh so important for us to realize and keep uppermost in our hearts and minds that whatever blessings are bestowed on us, whether they be material possessions, or political power, or even simple peace of mind, they all come from one and the same source; the Most High God Jehovah. For some reason we tend to forget this when times are good. Neither do we seem to learn from the mistakes of others, foolishly believing that the same things won’t happen to us. I don’t know what makes us think we’re so different, that if we do the same wrongs as others, we won’t receive an approximate punishment. Nebuchadnezzar was all-powerful, did what he wanted and got away with most of it. ‘But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was disposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory away.’ Yes Friends, when he began believing his own press, when his pride rose on high and he became mean-spirited and started saying stuff like; ‘Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?’ (Dan.4:30) That’s when the Lord acted. Oh people selfish, egotistical pride is possibly the worse sin we can commit before our God, and one He simply will not tolerate. We must acknowledge His mercy and kindness in all that we do or acquire. In this case; ‘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.’ (Dan.4: 31-33) Oh Friends, that’s how swift the justice of our God can be when we provoke Him to wrath! By the time the words were out of Neb’s mouth, the Lord found him guilty and pronounced a severe sentence that was carried out immediately. Neb is not the only example of a great ruler suffering for his egotistical pride. When the Israelites were in bondage in Egypt and Pharaoh refused to let them go, the Lord dealt with him the same way. The plagues and pestilence that befell Egypt were all because of Pharaoh’s foolish pride and hardened heart; thinking that he was mightier than the God of Abraham. As the Lord said to him through Moses: ‘And in very deed for this case have I raised thee up, for to show in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all earth.’ (Ex.9:16) Friends, I don’t know why we insist on fighting against the Lord when we can never win, for He’s our Creator and also the Provider of everything we have. Egypt was racked with disaster through Pharaoh’s pride; Nebuchadnezzar went crazy and lived like a wild animal for seven years. Oh people, the Spirit just directed me to let Neb tell his own story. So here goes. ‘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…and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counselors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the king of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgement: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.’ (Dan.4:34-37) Yes Friends, the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, especially from those who walk in selfish pride. Please, let’s not be numbered amongst that lot, for it’s a very foolish path to tread. And ah have to laugh yes, cause our God ties you up when you least expect it. Why do I say that? Because I intended to complete this in one Bit, but obviously He had other ideas and flooded me with info. I never intend to write all of Neb’s words either, but He decreed it. And I can’t complain cause it’s just what we were talking about; pride, thinking that we know better than God. If He says to do it in more than one Bit, who am I to argue eh? (smile) I am just the messenger. So tomorrow, the Good Lord willing, more on pride. Till then, Much LOVE!…remember…pride goes before a fall…pride goes before a fall…
SCRIP-BITS 