“That same hour the judgment was fulfilled, and Nebuchadnezzar was driven from human society. He ate grass like a cow, and he was drenched with the dew of heaven. He lived this way until his hair was as long as eagles’ feathers and his nails were like birds’ claws.”-Daniel 4:33
Several years ago our church held a few public awareness classes on the Dangers of Meth. Our local law enforcement set up a a display, the ladies of Grace House Teen Challenge came and gave testimonials, and a representative from the county prosecutors office participated. One of the things that got my attention was a slide presentation they showed us of before and after pictures of people addicted to meth. The people they showed went from normal healthy individuals to decayed shells of their former selves.
The process was so gradual and the addiction so controlling that most of them didn’t even recognize how bad it had gotten: teeth missing, hair falling out, massive weight loss, sunken faces, and scars from picking at their skin. Literally they had become unrecognizable.
As I consider the story of Nebuchadnezzar I am intrigued by the transformation that this man went through; one that left him virtually unrecognizable! He is described as being drenched with dew, covered in long hair, his nails were like birds’ claws, living in the wilderness, and eating grass like a cow. That is a long way from the robes, servants, and palace life he had been living in for years. I am certain that those who saw him were in shocked by his appearance and behavior as over a period of seven years he became unrecognizable!
As a Pastor, I have sat in several counseling sessions with people who have got caught up in sinful situations and compromised their faith. As they sit in my office, on more than one occasion, i’ve heard them say… “When I look back on that time of my life, I don’t even know who that person was.”
What were they saying? Basically, they are admitting that their behavior, attitudes, and activities were so deplorable and outside the will of God; so far from who they professed and wanted to be, that they did not recognize themselves.
How do we end up in a place in life that we don’t even recognize ourself? Nebuchadnezzar’s story can help us. It begins in Daniel 3:1-6:
“Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. So the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Then a herald cried aloud: “To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”
Here we read how the King set up an golden statue of himself for the people to worship and anyone who did not worship the image was cast into the fiery furnace “
The journey to becoming unrecognizable begins when we start building altars to ourselves. We live in a culture that promotes and encourages self-worship. Books, blogs, and podcasts focus on creating a new you, a healthier you, a stronger you, a smarter you, a more successful you, a richer you, or a more beautiful you. None of which is necessarily a bad thing unless it becomes what you live for and it defines you.
This pursuit has led us into having an over-inflated sense of ourselves. Nebuchadnezzar was no different. Remember he didn't build a statue to himself that was 6 ft, 10 ft. or even 20 ft. tall. No! He build one that was 90 ft. tall. He had become consumed with himself. This was about him. He wanted the music and the fanfare and if you didn’t support him in his grand delusion; you were cast into the fire and cut off!
“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”-Daniel 3:16-18
Nebuchadnezzar had become so consumed with himself, that he threatened the people with death if they refused to bow down to the image he had constructed. Rather, however, than focusing on the depths of Nebuchadnezzar’s depravity; let’s take a moment to focus on the goodness of God in this situation. God loved Nebuchadnezzar enough to send three Hebrew men into his life to challenge his self-worship. These men refused to bow and instead chose to redirect the King to God!
Sometimes, however, people become so consumed with themselves that they refuse to listen. Nebuchadnezzar went from bad to worse. He began to think so much of himself that God had to visit him in a dream and declared in Daniel 4:14-17:
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.
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. 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. ‘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.’
King Nebuchadnezzar called in all the wise man to interpret the dream, but none was able. Finally, Daniel came forward and interpreted the dream:
This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king: 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. “And inasmuch 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. 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.”-Daniel 4:24-27
Daniel warned him to stop sinning and do what was right! Again, God, in his amazing love sent another Godly person (Daniel) into the King’s life to redirect his path. However, the king refused to change his lifestyle and the consequences followed:
All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. 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?”
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! 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.” 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”.-Daniel 4:28-33
In His great mercy, God gave him an entire year to reconsider, before bringing judgment. Ultimately Nebuchadnezzar’s sin left him unrecognizable. However, in the midst of this, God made a promise in verse 26 to leave the “stump and the roots”. Meaning that restoration was still possible!
“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. 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?” 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. 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.-Daniel 4:34-37
Nebuchadnezzar’s journey back was paved with humility, repentance, and praise. It took seven years but in the end he declared: “When my sanity returned to me, so did my honor, glory and kingdom.” Some of you have loved ones, family and friends, that are so steeped in sin that they have become unrecognizable. Keep praying! Keep redirecting them back to God! Be encouraged; God promised to leave a stump so that, when their sanity returns, they will be restored!
