ESOCS Devotional 5 July 2025 – God Never Shares His Glory
MEMORY VERSE: “Now, I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and His ways judgment: and those that walk in pride He is able to abase.” Daniel 4:37 KJV
TEXT: DANIEL 4:28-37
All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. 30 The king spoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?”
31 While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! 32 And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven]times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.”
33 That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.
34 And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever:
For His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
And His kingdom is from generation to generation.
35 All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing;
He does according to His will in the army of heaven
And among the inhabitants of the earth.
No one can restrain His hand
Or say to Him, “What have You done?”
36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.
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Elohim Jehovah is the Grand Commander of the Universe. In verse 35 of our text, Nebuchadnezzar himself confessed that all power and authority over heaven and the whole earth belong to the Most High God. Several prophecies and visions throughout the scripture suggest that God determines and rules in the affairs of men. These go to assure us that whatever happens in the world (social, political or economic) are resident within God’s sphere of influence. In the inscription shown to Belshazzar, God revealed how the end of one kingdom and the beginning of the next were His decisions. This also is a confirmation that, even to this day, whatever happens in the world rests within God’s control.
In our text, Nebuchadnezzar had every opportunity in the presence of Daniel and his three friends to experience the miraculous manifestation of God. But he failed to respond with true faith, and thus, he had to reap the consequences of refusing to take advantage of the opportunity for faith.
Without doubt, Nebuchadnezzar built one of the greatest kingdoms of the ancient world. The city of Babylon itself was a city with walls around which two chariots could race side-by-side on top of the walls. The hanging gardens of Babylon was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The city had beautiful buildings and running waters in many luxurious mansions. All these were built under the leadership of King Nebuchadnezzar. But could these have afforded him an opportunity to share in God’s glory? Of course, not at all. Hear his boasting once again: “Is not this great Babylon that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?” (v 30). His extreme pride (like King Herod, Acts 12:21-23) surely caused him to disconnect from the reality of humanity. He began to place himself in the position of a god.
God’s jealous Spirit could not contain that level of pride and arrogance. He was severely disciplined for seven years. God is truly the Grand Commander of the Universe, and cannot share His Glory with anyone. Let’s be guided in all our actions and demeanour, no matter our achievements.
CHALLENGES
- He that exalts himself shall be abased. Do you think this applies to Nebuchadnezzar and Herod?
PRAYER POINT
- Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. Lord, grant me the spirit of meekness.
FURTHER READING: Daniel 5:1-15; Acts 14:1-7; 14:18-28
ESOCS Devotional 5 July 2025
