34 But at the end of those days I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity was restored to me. Then I praised the Most High, and I honored and glorified Him who lives forever:

“For His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and His kingdom endures from generation to generation.
35 All the peoples of the earth
are counted as nothing,
and He does as He pleases
with the army of heaven
and the peoples of the earth.
There is no one who can restrain His hand
or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”

36 At the same time my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne, and surpassing greatness was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all His works are true and all His ways are just. And He is able to humble those who walk in pride.

REFLECTIONS

Written by James Davidson

The letter to the Hebrews in the New Testament tells us that ‘the Lord disciplines the one he loves’ and ‘God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time.’ (Hebrews 12:6,10,11) God’s discipline of Nebuchadnezzar is a good example of this. God could have removed him from the throne forever or even taken his life, but, in his kindness, he chose to discipline him and restore him to the throne a changed man, a humbled man. But it was not pleasant – it took a long period of insanity and humiliation. In God’s love for us today he also disciplines us. Hebrews encourages us to see all suffering as discipline, as part of God’s training program designed to make us more holy. God is in control of all our circumstances, and he is using them to make us more like Jesus.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

James is one of our Assistant Ministers.