At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason 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 endures from generation to generation;
all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
and he does according to his will among the host of heaven
and among the inhabitants of the earth;
and none can stay his hand
or say to him, “What have you done?”
At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. 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 4:34–37
Kings are sometimes mighty men. They have great power. They rule over people. They have many soldiers to fight for them.
King Nebuchadnezzar was a mighty king. He had many servants. He told his servants what to do, and they always obeyed him. Nebuchadnezzar had a big army, too. His soldiers were brave and strong. They went where he sent them.
Nebuchadnezzar sent his soldiers to countries all around, to fight. He made all those countries a part of his kingdom. He became a very great king.
Then Nebuchadnezzar built a beautiful city. He called it Babylon. It was a city of palaces and gardens. There had never been such a wonderful city before, all bright with white stones and sparkling gold.
One day King Nebuchadnezzar walked in his own beautiful palace. He was proud and happy. He looked at all the beauty of Babylon, and he said, “What a great king I am! I have built this beautiful city. My power has won me this great kingdom.”
But all of a sudden he heard a voice from heaven. The voice said, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, your kingdom is gone! It is taken away from you Your servants will drive you out of your palace. You will have to live outside, like an animal…”
And that is what happened. Nebuchadnezzar, the great king, was chased away out of his palace. For a long time he lived out in the fields, like a wild man.
But one day, as Nebuchadnezzar walked in the field, he looked up to heaven, and he thought of God. Then he began to praise God. He said, “God is King above all. He does His will in heaven and on earth.” Nebuchadnezzar knew, at last, that he was very small, and God is very great.
After that, God gave the kingdom back to Nebuchadnezzar.
Nebuchadnezzar was a great king, a mighty king. But he was very small beside God. God is almighty. God made heaven and earth. God just spoke, and it was there! And God has all things in His hand. He guides and rules all kings and kingdoms of the earth. He rules the heavens, too. He is king of everything and everybody! We are just His little creatures.
Nebuchadnezzar learned this at last, and he said: All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing | Daniel 4:35
God is so mighty and great that we are as nothing next to Him.
Something to talk about
- Who made Nebuchadnezzar a great king?
- Why did God take the kingdom away from him?
- Why did He give it back to him?
Memory verse:
All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing | Daniel 4:35