An Unforgettable Lesson From Nebuchadnezzar’s Humiliation

Text: Daniel 4:30-33,37; Jeremiah 10:6-8,10; Revelation 15:4

Nebuchadnezzar learnt an unforgettable lesson from the divine chastisement that came on him. The lesson taught by the divinely appointed rod (Micah 6:9) was not meant for him alone but for all “the inhabitants of the world.” “For when Thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness” (Isaiah 26:9). Belshazzar was later rebuked and severely judged because he did not learn to fear God after seeing the punishment on his father. “And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this” (Daniel 5:22). “Men, women and children gather” to study these dealings of God with others “that they may hear, and that they may LEARN, AND FEAR THE LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 31:12). The Apostle Paul expressed serious concern about those who are “ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7). We must not be like them. The purpose of studying the Word of God is not to gain mere religious knowledge but that you “may hear, and LEARN TO FEAR THE LORD your God, as long as ye live” (Deuteronomy 31:13).

God, the true and living God, is the Creator of all men, the Maker of the world, the Upholder of all things. All His creatures are to honour, reverence, fear and obey Him. Our highest duty is to love, serve, fear and glorify Him. Divine chastisements and severe punishments fall heavily on sinners who disregard, dishonour and disobey God. Divine wrath on such sinners is not only to make them fear and repent, it is also to make us “fear Him which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell” (Luke 12:5). Divine chastisement on other sinners should teach us to fear God. “And all Israel shall HEAR, AND FEAR, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is among you” (Deuteronomy 13:11). “And all the people shall HEAR, AND FEAR, and do no more presumptuously” (Deuteronomy 17:13). “And those which remain shall HEAR, AND FEAR, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you” (Deuteronomy 19:20). God expresses His wrath against sin so that He can restrain others and prevent the rest of us from imitating the sinful examples of evil-doers. Nebuchadnezzar’s seven-year chastisement should lead us to pray and seek to “have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Hebrews 12:28).

1. A clarion call to fear God, the Most High

Jeremiah 10:7,10; 5:22; Revelation 15:4; Job 37:22-24; Psalm 64:7-9; Ecclesiastes 3:14; Psalm 2:10-12; Luke 12:4,5; Romans 11:20-22; Revelation 14:6,7.

Most christians in this New Testament dispensation do not have a balanced understanding of the fear of God. We think much of loving God and give no thought to fearing Him. Can we love and fear God at the same time? “And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to FEAR  the LORD thy God, to walk in all His ways, and to LOVE Him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul” (Deuteronomy 10:12). We rejoice in the love of God and in His provision and promise to forgive our sins, save us and grant us the privilege of becoming His children. Since God has graciously forgiven our sins, is there any place for the fear of God? “But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared” (Psalm 130:4). In our lack of understanding we might think that the citizens of the kingdom of God who have received of His grace have no need of the fear of God. But what does the New Testament say? “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us HAVE GRACE, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly FEAR ” (Hebrews 12:28). Believers who are saved by grace ought to serve God with godly fear. And sanctified christians are exhorted to keep on “perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). The everlasting covenant that promises a sanctified heart also puts the fear of God in our hearts. “And they shall be My people, and I will be their God. And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may FEAR ME for ever. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I WILL PUT MY FEAR IN THEIR HEARTS, that they shall not depart from Me” (Jeremiah 32:38-40). This fear of God does not depart from our hearts after we are baptized in the Holy Ghost, when we receive Him as the Comforter. “The churches had   rest and were edified; and walking in the FEAR OF THE LORD, and in the COMFORT OF THE HOLY GHOST, were multiplied ” (Acts 9:31). Whatever our christian experience may be, whatever our spiritual attainment may be, whatever our privileges may be in the kingdom of God, whatever our intimacy with Christ may be, we are all called to love, serve and fear God.

2. A clear command to fear God, the Most High

Exodus 20:18-20; Leviticus 25:17,36,43; Deuteronomy 6:13-18; 8:5,6,11; Psalm 33:8-14;         Proverbs 24:21-25; Matthew 10:28-33; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Philippians 2:12-16; 1 Peter 1:17-19.

How limited or universal is the commandment to fear God? All the children of God are commanded to fear God. “And the LORD commanded us to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive ” (Deuteronomy 6:24). All beneficiaries of God’s promise of sonship are commanded to fear Him. “And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness IN THE FEAR OF GOD” (2 Corinthians 6:18; 7:1). All true believers in Christ, all the followers, disciples and friends of Christ are commanded to fear God. “And I say unto you My friends, ... Fear Him, which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell; I say unto you, Fear Him” (Luke 12:4,5). All the saints of God are commanded to fear Him. “O fear the LORD, ye His saints ” (Psalm 34:9). All who have been blessed by God are commanded to fear Him. “Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things He hath done for you ” (1 Samuel 12:24). All the inhabitants of the world are commanded to fear God. “Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him” (Psalm 33:8). Every man is commanded to fear God. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

The fear of the Lord is not an emotional feeling of fear. “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate ” (Proverbs 8:13). “By the fear of the LORD men depart from evil” (Proverbs 16:6). “Let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from iniquity” (2 Timothy 2:19).

3. Continual condemnation for not fearing God, the Most High

1 Samuel 12:14,15,24,25; 2 Kings 17:25,26; Psalm 36:1-4,12; Proverbs 1:29-32; Jeremiah 44:9-11; Zephaniah 3:7,8; Malachi 3:5,6; Hebrews 4:1-11; 12:25-29; Revelation 15:4-8.

Nebuchadnezzar’s strange punishment came upon him because he did not fear the God of heaven. Sinners in the gentile world were not excused from the responsibility of fearing God. God demanded that He, the Creator and Preserver of man, be honoured, feared and obeyed. Lack of fear and regard for Him was always punished; blasphemy and pride were always visited with divine wrath. Nebuchadnezzar’s punishment lasted for seven years but the punishment of Belshazzar continues throughout eternity; it is unending, everlasting. Kings and princes, great men and women, atheists and philosophers, the mighty and the wealthy who sin against God, neither fearing God nor regarding man, will bear their guilt, sorrow and suffering for all eternity. While in health, while in wealth, they harden themselves against God and live in sin without any form of the fear of God. They fear not the God of heaven in whose Hand is their breath. Many of them may learn too late that their destiny is in God’s Hands. “Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish from the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him” (Psalm 2:10-12)