It's always advantageous for political candidates to talk about their faith, but how do we separate rhetorical from reality? It's hard to know who "talks the talk", and who really "walks the walk". Make no mistake; these words by a government leader were the real deal, because they had been learned the hard way:
"His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, 'What have You done?' ... Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride." (Daniel 4.34-35, 37)
A powerful king lived as a wild madman for seven years because of his arrogant pride. Through Yahweh God's direct intervention, Nebuchadnezzar learned what many people - great and small - have stubbornly resisted. Because of his extraordinary experience, his testimony about The Most High God was absolutely reality-based. No political rhetoric here. For him, there was an inescapable truth: there is a Creator God, superior to all so-called gods. He is absolutely supreme, and His authority supersedes that of even the most powerful ruler. A wise ruler will "praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven".
Per this great confession, and what is revealed in symbolic form in a dream (Daniel 2) about the great governments of human history, we learn that it's all downhill from Nebuchadnezzar and his confession. No government leader has ever uttered such an honest and true assessment of his position in relation to His Creator. Many have politely acknowledged our Father, but none have ever equalled or surpassed Nebuchadnezzar's honest appraisal.
What Nebuchadnezzar learned and confessed is not just confined to the realm of government leaders. It is imperative for everyone to come to the same realization: there is a Sovereign God Who deserves praise and honor. And, that needs to be heartfelt praise and honor; borne from personal experience with Him. No mere lip syncing to songs of praise that have a nice sound, but rather expressions from the heart; forged in the furnace of our times with our Creator.
May we each know deep in our hearts and minds that which Nebuchadnezzar freely confessed before all peoples and all times.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2012
"His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, 'What have You done?' ... Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride." (Daniel 4.34-35, 37)
A powerful king lived as a wild madman for seven years because of his arrogant pride. Through Yahweh God's direct intervention, Nebuchadnezzar learned what many people - great and small - have stubbornly resisted. Because of his extraordinary experience, his testimony about The Most High God was absolutely reality-based. No political rhetoric here. For him, there was an inescapable truth: there is a Creator God, superior to all so-called gods. He is absolutely supreme, and His authority supersedes that of even the most powerful ruler. A wise ruler will "praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven".
Per this great confession, and what is revealed in symbolic form in a dream (Daniel 2) about the great governments of human history, we learn that it's all downhill from Nebuchadnezzar and his confession. No government leader has ever uttered such an honest and true assessment of his position in relation to His Creator. Many have politely acknowledged our Father, but none have ever equalled or surpassed Nebuchadnezzar's honest appraisal.
What Nebuchadnezzar learned and confessed is not just confined to the realm of government leaders. It is imperative for everyone to come to the same realization: there is a Sovereign God Who deserves praise and honor. And, that needs to be heartfelt praise and honor; borne from personal experience with Him. No mere lip syncing to songs of praise that have a nice sound, but rather expressions from the heart; forged in the furnace of our times with our Creator.
May we each know deep in our hearts and minds that which Nebuchadnezzar freely confessed before all peoples and all times.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2012
posted by steve @ 9:05 AM
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