My Beginning of Wisdom site
RSS icon Email icon
  • Nebuchadnezzar: A Character Study

    Posted on June 15th, 2012 rhonda No comments

    This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men in Babylon.

    Daniel 2:12

     

    What kind of man would kill you for telling the truth?

    Nebuchadnezzar wanted his astrologers killed because they told him that only the gods could interpret his dream.  My word of wisdom for today is stability.  Choose people who are emotionally stable.  Stay away from people who go from sweetness to rage as quickly as you flick a light switch on and off.

    In a previous post, I mentioned having contact with abuse survivors.  When dealing with abusive folks, I learned that there’s something called a “cycle of violence”.  A woman gets beaten by her husband, who then apologizes and buys her flowers and/or gifts.  After a brief “honeymoon” period, the mood changes again.  The wife & kids are soon tiptoeing around the house, afraid to make daddy angry.  One day, she gets beaten up again; often worse than before.  Then more flowers and apologies.  Unfortunately, some women stay until they get killed.  They believe the apologies, not realizing they’re involved with someone fundamentally unstable.  (If you’re in this situation, log onto www.safehorizon.org to get some help for yourself.)

    Proverbs 22:24 tells us not to associate with one easily angered.  Sometimes, for me, the Proverbs are just words on a page.  Proverbs comes to life when I read about Nebuchadnezzar, because I get a chance to see what people who are easily angered really look like.  Daniel 3:19 reports that Nebuchadnezzar is so angry with Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego that he “ordered the furnace seven times hot”.  A few verses later (v. 28-30), the same king is praising their God, giving them a promotion – and ordering that anyone who says “anything against the God of Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble .  . . “.  Seriously!?

    Daddy, when your daughter is old enough to date, you might want to spend some devotional time reading through Daniel with her.

    _________________________________________________________________________

    The purpose of If I Knew Then What I Know Now is to share some insights that I wish someone had told me about when I was younger.  There’s a fuller explanation on my first post, written on May 14, 2012.

     

     

    3 responses to “Nebuchadnezzar: A Character Study” RSS icon

    • It is a horror to see that some people react to disappointment so violently as Nebuchadnezzar. When they are angry, they become satanically violent. The domestic abusers become more and more violent, and they their beloved victims suffer more intensively and more frequently. Even the children can’t escape the danger of their demonic fathers. .Thank you witing for this post and the information of athe helpline http://www.safehorizon.org.

    • Protection for those who are abused is definitely paramount. Thanks to God for providing websites, counselours, safe-haven homes, etc. for those who do need to flee for safety.
      To take this story a bit further, thanks be to God for changing even the most heinous of hearts. Nebuchadnezzar was truly a monster-ruler. But the dream that only God — through Daniel — could interpret led to a miraculous outcome. It took severe consequences for Nebuchadnezzar to step down from his throne. And when he stepped down — he REALLY stepped down! Living with wild animals, eating grass like the cattle, hair growing like the feathers of an eagle, nails like the claws of a bird. (Daniel 4:31-33) But — God can change even the most evil hearts.

      “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.”
      Daniel 4:34a

      So — protect yourselves from abusers. But — continue to pray for their salvation. According to God’s perfect ways and perfect will, He may choose to take a heart of stone away and exchange it for a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 11:19)

      Great post!! KK


    Leave a reply