Power is transient.
Of those who come to power, very few experience complete autonomy in how
they use their power. King
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon ruled an empire, but eventually his rule came to an
end. During his reign, he let his almost
absolute power go to his head. He had a
psychotic break, and he was removed from power for seven years. He was returned to power when he came to his
senses, and he acknowledged that God is in control.
Some of our current world leaders might take a lesson
from King Nebuchadnezzar’s experience as reported in the Holy Bible, Daniel
chapter 4 (NKJV):
1
Nebuchadnezzar the king, To all peoples, nations, and languages
that dwell in all the earth: Peace be
multiplied to you.
2
I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders that
the Most High God has worked for me.
3
How great are His signs, And how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is
an everlasting kingdom, And His dominion is
from generation to generation.
4
I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace.
5
I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts on my bed
and the visions of my head troubled me.
6
Therefore I issued a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me,
that they might make known to me the
interpretation of the dream.
7
Then the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans,
and the soothsayers came in, and I told them
the dream;
but they did not make known to me its
interpretation.
8
But at last Daniel came before me (his name is Belteshazzar,
according to the name of my god; in him is
the Spirit of the Holy God),
and I told the dream before him, saying:
9
"Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know
that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you,
and no secret troubles you,
explain to me the visions of my dream that I
have seen
and its interpretation.
10 "These were the visions of my head while on my bed:
"I was looking, and behold, A tree in
the midst of the earth,
And its height was great.
11 The tree grew and became strong; Its height reached to the heavens,
And it could be seen to the ends of all the
earth.
12 Its leaves were lovely, Its fruit abundant, And in it was food for
all.
The beasts of the field found shade under
it, The birds of the heavens
dwelt in its branches, And all flesh was fed
from it.
13 "I saw in the visions of my head while on my bed,
and there was a watcher, a holy one,
coming down from heaven.
14 He cried aloud and said thus: 'Chop down the tree
and cut off its branches, Strip off its
leaves and scatter its fruit.
Let the beasts get out from under it,
And the birds from its branches.
15 Nevertheless leave the stump and roots in the earth,
Bound with a band of iron and bronze, In the
tender grass of the field.
Let it be wet with the dew of heaven, And
let him graze with the beasts
On the grass of the earth.
16 Let his heart be changed from that of a man,
Let him be given the heart of a beast,
And let seven times pass over him.
17 'This decision is by the decree of the watchers,
And the sentence by the word of the holy
ones,
In order that the living may know
That the Most High rules in the kingdom of
men,
Gives it to whomever He will,
And sets over it the lowest of men.'
18 "This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen.
Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its
interpretation,
since all the wise men of my kingdom
are not able to make known to me the
interpretation;
but you are able, for the Spirit of the Holy
God is in you."
19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for a time,
and his thoughts troubled him. So the king
spoke, and said,
"Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or
its interpretation trouble you."
Belteshazzar answered and said,
"My lord, may the dream concern those
who hate you,
and its interpretation concern your enemies!
20 The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong,
whose height reached to the heavens
and which could be seen by all the earth,
21 whose leaves were lovely and its fruit abundant,
in which was food for all, under which the
beasts of the field dwelt,
and in whose branches the birds of the
heaven had their home--
22 it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong;
for your greatness has grown and reaches to
the heavens,
and your dominion to the end of the earth.
23 And inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a holy one,
coming down from heaven and saying, 'Chop
down the tree and destroy it,
but leave its stump and roots in the earth,
bound with a band of iron and bronze in the
tender grass of the field;
let it be wet with the dew of heaven,
and let him graze with the beasts of the
field,
till seven times pass over him';
24 this is the interpretation, O king,
and this is the decree of the Most High,
which has come upon my lord the king:
25 They shall drive you from men,
your dwelling shall be with the beasts of
the field,
and they shall make you eat grass like oxen.
They shall wet you with the dew of heaven,
and seven times shall pass over you,
till you know that the Most High rules in
the kingdom of men,
and gives it to whomever He chooses.
26 And in as much as they gave the command
to leave the stump and roots of the tree,
your kingdom shall be assured to you,
after you come to know that Heaven rules.
27 Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you;
break off your sins by being righteous,
and your iniquities by showing mercy to the
poor.
Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your
prosperity."
28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.
29 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."
33 That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar;
he was driven from men and ate grass like
oxen;
his body was wet with the dew of heaven
till his hair had grown like eagles'
feathers
and his nails like birds' claws.
34 And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to
heaven,
and my understanding returned to me;
and I blessed the Most High and praised and
honored Him who lives forever:
For His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
And His kingdom is from generation to
generation.
35 All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing;
He does according to His will in the army of
heaven
And among the inhabitants of the earth.
No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him,
"What have You done?"
36 At the same time my reason returned to me,
and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor
and splendor returned to me.
My counselors and nobles resorted to me,
I was restored to my kingdom,
and excellent majesty was added to me.
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.
