King Nebuchadnezzar, To the peoples, nations and men of every language, who live in all the world: May you prosper greatly! It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me. How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation.

Nebuchadnezzar: Pride Goes Before Destruction

With success comes great feelings of elation. Is it possible NOT to feel really good when we succeed? How about sports teams, for example?

 When does ELATION become PRIDE?  When are we in danger of bringing about the displeasure or even the wrath of God?  Is there GOOD PRIDE and BAD PRIDE?  Today, let’s consider the question of pride and learn just one thing from Nebuchadnezzar.

Conqueror: one who overcomes by force, one who subjugates, one who gains mastery over… But how did he conquer?

 Jeremiah 27: With my great power and outstretched arm I made the earth and its people and the animals that are on it, and I give it to anyone I please. Now I will hand all your countries over to my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; I will make even the wild animals subject to him. All nations will serve him and his son and his grandson until the time for his land comes; then many nations and great kings will subjugate him.

 Daniel 4: Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 he said, "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?" 

In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises. He boasts of the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD. In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. Psalm 4:2-4

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 21:24 The proud and arrogant man-"Mocker" is his name; he behaves with overweening pride.

 Confounded– baffled, bemused, confused, mixed-up, bewildered, befuddled, lost…

 Daniel 4:33 -- Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like cattle. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.

 When God turns us over to our depraved minds:  Overwhelmed by our own lusts  Filled with sin, wickedness, evil and depravity  Gossiping, slandering, inventing ways to do evil.  Approving of others who do evil.

 If we choose to be proud, we set ourselves up to be destroyed.  Pride comes before destruction because God will not support or bless the arrogant and proud.  Once God is against us, insanity is the next step.  While we might not lose our minds, insanity describes our lifestyle without God.

 Daniel 4:34 -- At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation.  From polytheist to God worshipper?

 2 Corinthians 5:12 – Paul encourages the Corinthians to take pride in him and the apostles.  7:4 – Paul takes great pride in the Corinthians.  Galatians 6:4 – We can take pride in ourselves, without comparing ourselves with others.

 Whose world is this?  Whose child am I?  These questions help us never to forget that God is sovereign and we are His creation. The creature is never greater than the Creator.

 Psalm 131:1-2  My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. 2 But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.