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.
His dominion is an eternal dominion;his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing.
He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand or say to him: "What have you done?"
Daniel 3:34-35 [NIV]
It would appear then that George the 3rd wasn't the first King to have mental health issues. We read today that Nebuchadnezzar was totally unable to rule his people for a while. His temporary downfall was prophesied by Daniel when interpreting the king's dream. The pivotal point of the passage is that God commands that the stump of the tree (representing the King himself) be left in the ground, secured with a band of bronze. It will not grow again while bound, but it will not die either. God is sovereign and declares that Nebuchadnezzar will live, but will suffer humiliation. As in Job 2:6 when Satan is not allowed to take Job's life, God is sovereign.
However, after being driven from human society for a while and spending time beyond the fringes, Nebuchadnezzar is restored to health. His response to the episode? Praise. Praise and a humble spirit. Sometimes God brings us into and through things that we would rather he didn't. However, we may grow closer to him through them if we trust in God and prayerfully walk with him.
Take a listen to this and talk to God about what he is teaching you through where you are? Refiner's Fire
John Martin-Jones
Read the Bible in a year: Psalm 135:13-21, Daniel 4:19-5:16, 2 Peter 3:1-18
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