Nebuchadnezzar
went through a transformation that involved three stages of belief in God that
eventually, it appears, reached the point of complete submission to God. After Daniel interpreted the king’s dreams
without the king telling him the dream, Nebuchadnezzar said this:
The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of
gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to
reveal this mystery.” Daniel 2:47
The
king respected Daniel’s God and made a law that enforced that respect. Babylonians believed in many gods but here
the true God made the list of all gods but not as THE God. Then the king witnessed Shadrach, Meshach and
Abednego survive the blazing fire. He
then said this:
Therefore
I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the
God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be
turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.” Daniel
3:29
Nebuchadnezzar
clearly saw this God as more powerful than the other gods, even fearing Him,
but not ready to personally submit to Him.
His public response to God protected himself, however the king still
placed himself on his own throne. Then
God humbled Nebuchadnezzar, driving him insane.
When he healed, the king said this:
At
the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned
to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I
was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. Now
I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because
everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in
pride he is able to humble. Daniel
4:36-37
It
seems here that Nebuchadnezzar fully surrender himself to God, removing himself
from the throne of his life and fully dedicating himself to God’s
purposes. It’s his humility that was
missing from all the other stages. The
king saw that God’s ways were right and he could truly praise and exalt God.
Today,
people still go through these “stages” of acknowledgment, respect and full
surrender. Many think they’re saved when
they acknowledge God on Sundays or respect him by giving an offering, but
that’s not salvation.