After Daniel shared the dream and its meaning to King Nebchaduneezer, it looked as though it was the beginning of a whole new world. the godless King actually gave God praise and glory, and Daniel and his friends were promoted and rewarded greatly for God’s answer to prayer. Well, that did not last long. The king’s big take away from the event was that he should build a 180 ft statue of gold to honor himself. In honor of his statue, all the officials from throughout the kingdom gathered on the plain of Dura for a dedication celebration.
As they all gathered, Nebuchadneezer then added the kicker, When the band plays, everyone has to bow down and worship my statue…Wow, I did not see that coming! The King missed the whole God is in charge of empires part of the dream. He went straight to your empire is the best, oh king. Since, in his mind, the king thought his was the best empire, why wouldn’t he have everyone acknowledge that by worshipping him like a God? It seems logical enough, right?
Pride is such a seductive and entrapping sin. It not only changes one’s viewpoint to becoming self-absorped, but it also makes the person see themselves in a light that is neither rational or useful. What the king did was much like many of us do at different points in our lives. People either play the “Look at Me” card regarding the things they have accomplished, or they look at their situation as dire, most important and unique, and demanding of all other people’s attention.
God tells us to humble ourselves. That does not mean we should self-depricate or hate ourselves. Instead, it simply means that we put God on the podium and others needs ahead of our own. We patiently wait upon God’s timing and allow Him to exalt us in His way and time. He is Lord, we are His chosen and as such serve at His pleasure. When we do so with a grateful heart, He will bless us. When we decide to make ourselves the object of worship, He will not bless that choice.
God Bless You
King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits[a] and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2 Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 3 Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 And the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, 5 that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.”7 Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
Walking With God 