Daniel II
It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me. How great are His signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion endures from generation to generation. (Daniel 4:2,3 ESV)
The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom He will and sets over it the lowliest of men.’ (Daniel 4:17 ESV)
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble. (Daniel 4:37 ESV)
Profession
We Christians are often such skeptical cynics.
We doubt professions of faith. We question displays of good works. We disbelieve promises of Christ-loyalty.
And maybe we think that experience gives us good reason.
But these three statements could have been uttered by Daniel, by Abraham, by Moses, by Isaiah, by Malachi, by Luke, by Paul, by Timothy, by Billy Graham, by your own pastor.
But we doubt them. Because they were made by a man that we have decided did not mean them.
Nebuchadnezzar might not have been a thoughtful believer, but do not these statements show Him a believer?
Nebuchadnezzar might not have been a mature believer, but do not these statements show Him a believer?
Nebuchadnezzar might not have been an educated believer, but do not these statements show Him a believer?
He was a believer who made mistakes. He was a believer who continued to sin. He was a believer who doubted, wondered, miss-stepped, and did horrid things.
But those statements are professions of faith that I am sure made the angels rejoice.
We need to do more rejoicing at professions of faith. We need to be less skeptical and cynical.
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