Nebuchadnezzar Ate Grass
William Blake’s Famous Illustration of Nebuchadnezzar Gone Mad
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Could this happen to us?
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Background
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebuchadnezzar_II
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Accomplished Persian leader who conquered Judah
Nebuchadnezzar II (c 634 – 562 BC) was king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, who reigned c. 605 BC – 562 BC. According to the Bible, he conquered Judah and Jerusalem, and sent the Jews into exile.
He is credited with the construction of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and the destruction of the First Temple..
Meaning of his name
The Akkadian name, Nabû-kudurri-uṣur, means "Oh god Nabu, preserve/defend my firstborn son". Nabu is the Babylonian deity of wisdom, and son of the god Marduk. In an inscription, Nebuchadnezzar styles himself as Nabu’s “beloved” and “favorite”.
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His time of power
The second chapter of Daniel relates an account attributed to the second year of his reign, in which Nebuchadnezzar dreams of a huge image made of various materials (gold, silver, bronze, iron and clay).
The prophet Daniel tells him God’s interpretation, that it stands for the rise and fall of world powers, starting with Nebuchadnezzar’s own as the golden head.
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Persecution of Hebrews
In Daniel chapter 3, Nebuchadnezzar erects a large idol made of gold for worship during a public ceremony on the plain of Dura.
When three Jews, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (respectively renamed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego by their captors, to facilitate their assimilation into Babylonian culture), refuse to take part, he has them cast into a fiery furnace.
They are protected by what Nebuchadnezzar describes as "a son of the gods" (Daniel 3:25) and emerge unscathed without even the smell of smoke.
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Warning about pride, and his punishment
Daniel chapter 4 contains an account of another of Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams, this time of an immense tree, which Daniel interprets that Nebuchadnezzar will go insane for seven years because of his pride.
While boasting over his achievements, Nebuchadnezzar is humbled by God.
The king loses his sanity, and lives in the wild like an animal for seven years.
After this, his sanity and position are restored and he praises and honors God.
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The point:
Are you eating grass?
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Unholy confidence
Many of us assume that our self confidence is natural and healthy, but will not admit we have “too much” of it.
We overachieve, and we are very aware of our accomplishments. We see ourselves as being responsible for our own success.
We credit ourselves with working hard, making good decisions, being smart to take the right opportunities, and avoiding those who would hamper our path to success. We associate with the right people, and do not waste our time with activities that take away from our progress.
And suddenly, we face shame or a sudden traumatic event that destroys all we have worked for.
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What went wrong?
The 7 years Nebuchadnezzar experienced was to humble him. He thought the same way.
He was named after his god of wisdom.
What good did that do him?
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Correcting attitudes
There is a 7 years period that is haunting us now.
We know that there is a tribulation period coming, and a last week of Daniel.
Soon, many people may be “eating grass,” including Christians.
The attitudes that:
I am so great
I am so important
I have accomplished so much
Look at all I have done
I am so anointed
I am so smart
I am so holy
I am so worthy
Will all end.
All sin is based on pride, and lack of submission (humility) to YHVH God.
We think we can do what we want, that God’s opinion is irrelevant, and he will just have to accept us the way we are.
That bird won’t fly when the tribulation comes.
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Assigning the blame to Satan
Many people think when a negative event, or set of events occur, it is because the devil is attacking them, or people are.
This may be true. This gets us sympathy from others, and they pray for us.
This is comforting, and if true, the circumstances will turn around with prayer.
I do not want to discount the fact that Satan attacks true believers.
This post is not about that topic.
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Or this may be avoiding the real issue.
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Root causes of pride
1. Insecurity, past rejection, need for acceptance.
2. Selfishness, rebellion
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Getting with Reality
Or, they might consider that it is God punishing them for their pride, and humbling them, and they “will eat grass” until they admit their pride, and repent.
The bible says that God resists the proud!
In fact, he “hates” the proud person. Ouch!
Psa 101:5 Whoso privily slanders his neighbor, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.
Pro 16:5 Every one [that is] proud in heart [is] an abomination to the LORD: [though] hand [join] in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
Pro 6:16 ¶ These six [things] doth the LORD hate: yea, seven [are] an abomination unto him:
Pro 6:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
Pro 6:18 An heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
Pro 6:19 A false witness [that] speaks lies, and he that sows discord among brethren.
Pro 21:4 An high look, and a proud heart, [and] the plowing of the wicked, [is] sin.
Isa 13:11 And I will punish the world for [their] evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.
Rom 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Rom 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
1Pe 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble.
Once God resists you, so will people!
Then you are really doomed.
At least God is forgiving and merciful, if you repent.
People are not as magnanimous as God is.
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Our choice
Will we admit any pride we have?
God does not want our excuses.
Justifying ourselves before God and others will not change our negative circumstances.
He wants a humble loving heart, open to his mercy and blessings.
Will we humble ourselves, repent, and ask God for his help in correcting our spirits?
Otherwise, we will “eat grass” during the tribulation.
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If we really love God, we can do this.
If we really love ourselves more, it won’t happen.
Good one! 🙂
Regarding what Nebuchadnezzar did to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego made me wonder if this is a preview of what is to come regarding the mark of the beast. I remember hearing this story as a child and was always amazed at their faith and how jesus saved them. In the tribulation to come, when we are faced with the decision to “bow down”/accept the Mark or to refuse the mark/refuse to bow, i pray that we remember Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and how faithful Jesus was in saving them. Jesus will save us as whether it be through the “rapture” or standing with us in the midst of the “furnace”.
God is God and nobody can be compaired to him
hi Henry
You got THAT right! 🙂
Unlike Nebuchadnezzar, most that post here fear the G-d of Noah, Moses, and Abraham, and pray in Christ’s name. Of course, non of us are perfect, but I do not believe Christ will make those who believe in him eat grass like Nebuchadnezzar.
The Tribulation, according to what we read starts with a peace treaty, and half way through the Anti-Christ shows his true self by stepping into the Temple, and announcing he is god.
Is Christ’s Church still on earth at the half way point? If so, Christians may be tested to the point of death like the three Jews you wrote about. May we all be as strong as them if testing time comes.
Outside of America we see Christians being murdered for their faith now. Those inside America are lucky they do not have to choose to fight, die, or convert to paganism.
hi Leatherneck
I was just using “eating grass” as a figure of speech. It represents being humbled before God. 🙂
I thought it represents what can happen if you are not humbled.
“eating grass” just means here “something bad will happen that you will not like” which will destroy your pride.
Yes and Thank G-d, literally.
What about the Mark of citizenship, that d US govt said they will be implanted in d foreheads of everyone there, isn’t that a mark of the beast, which the holy bible reveal in the book of revelation?
james
the bible does not give the reason government will use for the chip, but it is still forbidden.
the only thing god wants on our hands and foreheads are reminders for prayer..as in jewish tradition
the US government does not care about citizenship, as evidenced by all the illegals swarming into the country
If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray, seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then shall I hear from heaven, forgive the sin and heal their land. There’s a call for repentance, and an urging for alignment with God to not be affected by the coming plagues on those who refuse to turn… We all need to be checking our lives and submitting before a holy God so that He may take inventory and correct, heal and deliver in this season. Time is short… and the Word of God will stand…
dear warrior
Very true. The bible says that a thousand can fall on one side of us, and 10 thousand on the other side, but nothing will befall us (the righteous).
Repentance and submission is very important.
I am reminded of Egypt and how God sent plagues as a result of the rebellion of Pharoah… Ten plagues, yet the people of God were protected; by the hand of God, they were kept. Grace, though not a concept of the Old Testament was present and the favor of God was upon them. While Egypt endured hardships and trials, God’s people were set free from the bondage of slavery and oppressions without a mark or scar. They left with the spoils of war, the riches of the oppressors. So to sum it up, in this season, be watchful for how God is leading His people out of bondage, the captives will be set free, the wealth of the wicked will be transferred to the just, the hand of God is just and though He desire that none perish, we know that many will… My prayer is that this nation cry out in repentance and submit, commit to the will and the way of the Lord, and as Moses so eloquently stated… Stand Still and See the Salvation of the Lord. It’s an exciting time.
I ageree with the poster Warrior on his post; but I also believe as a nation we have forsaken the god of Abraham, Issac and Jacob to a great degree. If our nation does not turn their face to God once again we will definitely be in dire straits as a whole wherein we are still responsible for each other. I pray that we will repent of turning into a modern day Sodom and Gomorrah so that we may be spared many things that may result in pride. This is not to say that there are not a great many of firm and solid believers now. Many people choose to put their faith in man where man cannot even save himself.
BTW Marianne very well written. Whenever I read your writings it always makes me re think everything and I hope it is for the better. I really appreciate you putting things back into perspective for me. Nice to be reminded and check yourself 😉
Marianne, God through the Holy Spirit is fervently stirring hearts of many concerning the overconfidence we have so pridefully participated in as we practice our doctrines and traditions we call Christianity. I ‘luv’ the record of Nebuchadnezzar…his carnality…his pride after God so fervently blessed his kingdom of Babylon..and then his willingness to acknowledge that ‘God rules in the kingdom of men and sets over it the basest of men (Dan 4:17). If the just quoted scripture is true…and I vigorously insist that it is…then America is exactly where she is today…not because of political parties…but because our soveriegn Ruler is working and molding times and peoples according to His great and ultimate purposes….in response to our choices and resulting ‘works’ of those choices. I totally believe….deep in my soul…that we are exactly like Nebuchadnezzar…we are powerless apart from the living Father. The ‘good’ in America and the world is from and because of Him. The ‘bad’ in America and the world is here only because He chooses to ‘let’ for reasons known only to Him. And I am totally at peace in the knowledge that….there is no place I had rather be…than in His very magnificent hands. As the times become more evil, I am understanding more the plight of Lot as he was subjected to the vileness of homosexuality and the prevailing sins of both the heathern an the religious. But Lot knew the evil was there only because God was ‘letting.’ He did not rant and rave against it. He left all vengence and justice to God. HE even offered the band of homosexuals his virgins daughters in an attempt to detour them from the evil purposed in their hearts against the messengers from God. Lot could not stop the reprobate evil. But God did. Just like the hoards of professing believers in the days of Noah and of Lot…God promises that only the ‘few’ will overcome and receive eternal Life. That thought alone should set each of us to ‘fear and tembling’ as we work out our salvation before the pure and Holy God.
WATER
Watch!!!
An eying water war with
Indian neighbors should not spark.
Had Altal Behari Vajpayee,
Indian Prime Minister
Made water a top priority
By linking India’s largest rivers
In a countrywide grid
To get water from the north to the south
And the east states that were hit
By severe droughts
A few years back?
I would say;
Let Indians harvest their rainfall better.
Water, again,
Can be captured
As a reminder to man
On earth
For Love to be reconciled
back into this place.
Indian spring water
Would come open again
As the people return
To The Living God
From here.
Contributors; (1) Blessing Iyeh
(2) Deasop Akpasop
MERCY & TRUTH
After world war II,
Policymakers and scholars
Ran along parallels
Of development,
Debating towards
Enhancing good economies
And the appropriate role of
Public Policy.
Here comes active Public Policy;
…Where is NGO officials’ place
In government?
Touch that market!
Is it real?
East Asia has troddened that part
Of a policy,
Laying forward
Great possibilities
As She goes.
Right NOW,
The INEC, like the NDDC, is moving Nigeria
Forward.
The World Bank is involved.
Will Nigeria understand
Which policies contribute to Her
Rapid growth?
What strategies for development policy?
Let the Nigerian Government develop the ARTS;
Let The INEC like the NDDC penetrate into Arts
And Tourism development.
Here comes the Danites
…Policitating,
Helping us out
Where we are weak,
And bringing us peace
Where we war.
Conscious of economic development,
…A healthy Human Resources
Soundly and skillfully applied
To work force—,
Such appropriate public policy objectives
And Instruments,
Human resettlement and
The Artists
For developing economies-
World wide-
Where specialists and non-specialists can access.
What Human Resettlement?
…Such holding superior physical and
Human capital- for
Most extraordinary growth,
To highly productive investments.
Where is technology’s place
On the New Earth?
Acquire,
Master Technology !
Developed economies have passed through essntial workings
Of growth
Better than most other economies.
Before now,
Developing economies
Must have become used to
The common market-friendly
Economic policies
For its better allocation and
Higher accumulation of resources result.
Two things are involved;
-A stable macroeconomic
And investments
In people side by side.
In order to build Human Capital,
Better educated mothers raise better educated children, Complementing public investments
In basic education
“Mercy and Truth preserve the king: and his throne is upheld by mercy”.
Prov 20:28
Ogija is a paradox,
There is a ‘very bad’,
And there is a ‘very good’.
TRUTH & MERCY 2A
Set other scrutineer objects
Unto unanimous results,
Seeing outside securities
Relate reports orally
End to end sustainded-
At box climax-
Level of vocal eminence.
Save Our Soul
Oh Lord our God.
Election time comes in,
A shaded overall shadow of peace
End to end, nontheless,
Two-dimensional portrait raised externally,
Expressing transparent love
Roundabout vocal lux-
Involving The INEC and NEEDS’ electoral,
Credible cadre.
After world war II,
Policymakers and scholars
Ran along parallels
Of development,
Debating towards
Enhancing good economies
And the appropriate role of
Public Policy.
Here comes active Public Policy;
…Where is NGO officials’ place
In government?
Touch that market!
Is it real?
Here comes policied issues
Helping us out where we are weak, and
Bringing in peace where we war;
Has Nigeria known the policies
Which contribute to Her growth?
We ( Nigeria) have stepped on
That part of economic developmental strategies,
Such a path leading to economic growth and stability-
Laying forward great possibities as She goes.
Nigeria go ahead,
Don’t stop!
Truth and mercy preserving us,
Standing side by side
Stable macroeconomic and
Investments in talented
Citizens and People
Making growth counts here.
Have we come unto this,
Well paid Up?
Economic development in mind,
A healthy human resources soundly and
Skillfully applied
To work forces.
Such proper public policy objectives
And instruments,
Human resettlement and
Our Creator’s Activities—-
Like the MK’LEW Artists’ initiatives
For developing economies
World Wide———
Will do
Where specialists and lay-men can
So
Access a balance.
What human resettlement?
Life and Death—
Holding superior physical
And human capital
For most extraordinary growth
Where we stand
To do business
Producing supreme investments-
Where is Arts’ place
On the NEW GOLDEN EARTH?
Arts create technology,
Interpreting the many sides of life
Setting our world moving forward,
On and on.
Where is technology’s place
Today?
Science is coming back to arts,
Arts is in God,
God’s Word is true.
Acquire and master
Truth and mercy,
Accquire and master technology!
Developed Economies have passed through essential workings
Of growth
Better than most other economies
All through the years.
Nigeria is taking on a new journey,
Mercy and truth must follow-
Lest She falls and be forgoten
Only a few miles away fron Her
Starting point in
2007.
Who mediates?
“mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upheld by mercy”
Prov 20:28
Before now,
We (Nigeria) have been improving on such
Common market – friendly economic policies
Of debating constantly for
Better allocation of
Resources result.
They ( the world bank ) have had that supreme vision
Of forgiving Nigeria’s debt,
So basically true.
What can I say to you than this
I have to say;
Thank You !
Thank You, The World Bank
For forgiving
Our (Nigeria’s) debt.
Yes,
You need this SPACE
On the TIMEline of LOVE
For SPEED to know
No Time
Anymore.
REMEMBER
Great days facing God’s People,
Galloping toward God’s People,
Gallantly approaching many people,
Galvanizing Holiness unto God;
Greeting space on a totally amazonian gyrfalcon.
Be remimded
O God’s People;
Hold unto your faith in God!
Ahead of the expected great day
Comes a sea of seducers
In amazon’s termeritries,
Having meter rules to their air
To close you-in
Into megalomania!
Her soulful voice sways and waps
Wayward for a soulmate,
You must never go on the wane
To It !
A wan war dancer
I see in-between
A mix-air;
Know the Truth!
A wantonness of time
Is facing a wan war dancer…
Shine your eyes at the tables.
A connection, or
A series of connections;
This link
Pinks the ground,
Prepared flat-stretched
Through a chain execution,
Peaked across some ex-casts.
Many Love songs
Can not merely get Love heightened…
Where guts dip extra deep?
While life calls out still
In a tender love;
Love can not end, but
Hate can end,
Janet Jackson Damitajo,
Be reminded so.
Come into this;
The best of you
Can be touched
Like the saphire on the earth
In a summer gift tone
Of a virgoan-….
Certify your gift,
Ashanti—
Absorb this nexus
Beyonce, Dido, Ashanti, Janet Damita Jo Jackson.
Deasop
1. It is like
A TIME AWAY FROM TIME
The fashion of this time
Kpraks through a time–
Away from time,
Passing away fully on tension,
This world’s style vain-touches a time away from time.
Gone! gone!! gone!!!
The world’s fashion is gone.
No more visible high places,
Gone! gone!! gone!!!
This world’s fashion preleaks along
A time away from time.
Innocent lickspittles spinning atop
In every sweatshop
Like of a universal rave-up
Towards a time away from time,
Swapping within a time away from time;
Innocent lickspittles spinning atop
In every sweatshop.
The Pick-me-up train comes, and
This present world’s fashion
Is lopped off the main Body set up
By the round up pick up chop
Facing a time
Away from time,
Clearing every mix-up away
From the milksop,
All within a time
Away from time.
Deasop 2011
God is the Author and the owner of all power both in heaven and on earth, king nebu did not realise this until when he was punish, some times it is good to be punish by God, without his anger,but not for God to vent his ANGER on us before his punishment. If God vent his anger there is not mercy included but if God punishies us there is mercy if we have come to our sense and ready to do his will. May God in heaven help us to be able to do his will here on earth and also in heaven.
amen
Being riven away to eat grass with the wild animals is the best thing that God could do. In His mercy, God humbled Nebuchanezzar. I would rather God humble me now than find out at the Great White Throne. How Great God is
very nice .
I fell blessed by the given verses
God has given you the gift to make his word easy to understand and keep may God bless you and continue to use you.
thank you emely.
god bless you also.
God will not share his glory with any man