The Pride Of Babylon Series

While not everyone will immediately recognize the name Chan Gailey, Gailey was the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys in the late 1990s. He had also been the coach at Alabama’s Troy State University. His Troy State team was gearing up to lead his team to play for the Division II National Championship. The week before the game, Gailey was headed to the practice field to prepare for the big game. It was then a secretary called him back to take a phone call. Somewhat irritated, Gailey told her to take a message because he was on his way to practice. She responded, “But it’s Sports Illustrated.” “I’ll be right there,” Gailey replied. As he hustled to the phone, he began to think about the upcoming article they certainly wanted to write about him and the school. The closer to the building he got, the more excited he got. A Featured article in SI would be great publicity for a small school like Troy State. He knew that a simple three-page article would not be enough to tell the whole story. As he got even closer to his office, he started thinking that he might be on the cover. “Should I pose or go with an action shot,” he wondered. His head was spinning with all of the possibilities. When he picked up the phone and said hello, the person asked, “Is this Chan Gailey?” “Yes, it is,” he replied confidently. “This is Sports Illustrated … and we’re calling to let you know that your subscription is running out. Are you interested in renewing?” Perhaps you can relate to Coach Gailey.

In the moments to come, I want to share with you a story about another man whose lesson in humility wasn’t quite as humorous. I invite you to find Daniel 4 with me. We continue a series entitled Unshakable Hope by looking at one of the most intriguing stories in all of Scripture. Pick up reading with me about King Nebuchadnezzar in verse 29.

Today’s Scripture

29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” 31 While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from Heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, 32 and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. 33 Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws.

34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to Heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever…” (Daniel 4:29-34).

Pride and humility sit opposed to one another as if they were sitting on a see-saw on a playground. And many of us see-saw between pride and humility for much of our lives. The Bible’s message is consistent: beware of the spiritual cancer called pride.

Jesus told a short story about two men who went into the Temple to pray. One man stood by himself and prayed this, “God, I thank you that I am not like other men,” and he named off some big-time sinful people he saw in the Temple that day. This man then ticked off some of his impressive religious resumé before God, telling God just how righteous he was. But there was another man in the Temple who prayed like this, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” This second man would not even lift his eyes up. Jesus concluded this parable with these words: “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:14b). Can we say that together? “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:14b).

To show you the importance of humility, the Bible offers you, King Nebuchadnezzar. I want you to see a pathway that King Nebuchadnezzar takes that every one of us needs to travel in this life. This pathway is like the swing of a sickle of old or the swing of a golf club. If you are going to be a godly person, every one of us needs to travel this path.