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 all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he doeth according to his will...among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?" Daniel 4:34-35
In these two verses Nebuchadnezzar preaches and declares the simple truth of the sovereignty of God. He had just spent 7 years living as a beast in the field - separated from his kingdom and the company of man - for speaking these very few words:
Is not this great Babylon, that I have built by the might of my power and for the honor of my majesty? Daniel 4:30
God had warned him in a dream, interpreted by Daniel (Dan. 4: 24-27), that it was to come to past and it did twelve months later.
God warns us in his word of his curses and he declares in his word his blessings. Though they may seem slow to come by man's reckoning, God's word is true and comes true in his timing. It is our responsibility to not grow weary in the wait nor turn to ourselves (or idols of our choosing) for comfort or exaltation.
Yet how beautiful it is that though we go through dark times, are separated from all that is comfortable and familiar - like Nebuchadnezzar because of our choices or like Job by God allowance - God is the great restorer! He loves his children and will use those times of chastisement or suffering to cleanse our hearts and sharpen them for his kingdom purposes.
The Lord promises to never leave us or forsake us; however, faith untried is not real faith. And a saint left to himself and self-exalting is not a saint until he is tried in the fire and emerges "blessing the most High God."
It is not our trials that define us, it is our joy to give God "praise and honor" at the deliverance from those trials that sets us apart as one belonging to His Kingdom!
Blessed be the Most High!
