The gospel according to Nebuchadnezzar

More than 2,500 years ago, King Nebuchadnezzar of the Babylonian Empire gave a message that is still important to us today. 

Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon during the years 604 to 561 BC, is one of the most infamous rulers mentioned in the Bible. Along with the pharaoh of Egypt (who tried to keep the Israelites slaves), he is one of the most pagan monarchs named in the Scriptures, and is known for having done great harm to God's people. His infamy is because he destroyed the nation of Judah, including the temple in Jerusalem, and led thousands of captive Jews to Babylon.

However, there is an interesting detail in the history of this king. While Nebuchadnezzar was an enemy to Abraham's descendants, he also had an impressive achievement: the content of an entire chapter of the Bible came directly from him. That's right, Daniel 4 is entirely dedicated to an edict issued by this king, thus making him the only pagan monarch with such extensive intervention in the Bible.

What was so important about Nebuchadnezzar's message for God to decide to include it in his Word? Since all of the Scriptures — including this passage from the book of Daniel — were inspired by God and are "helpful" to us (2 Timothy 3:16), there must have been something in this edict that God wanted us to hear.

But before going to the words of the former monarch, let's review a little the context of his decree.

Written in Aramaic

Although most of the Old Testament was written in Hebrew and most of the New in Greek, there are small portions of both that were written in Aramaic. The longest example of the use of this language in the Bible is found in the book of Daniel and includes the edict of Nebuchadnezzar recorded in chapter 4.

Since the book of Daniel was written during the captivity of the Jews in Babylon, it is not surprising that Aramaic is so present in this book. This language, also known as the Chaldean or Chaldean language, was the language of ancient Babylon, and Daniel and his friends had to learn it as part of their preparation to serve the king (Daniel 1: 4; 2: 4). Likewise, the rest of the Jews - at that time subjects of the Babylonian Empire - began to learn and use this language in daily life during the captivity.

According to The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia , Aramaic even "replaced Hebrew as the language spoken by the Jews in Palestine" (" Aramaic Language "). It could be said, then, that the presence of Hebrew and Aramaic in the book of Daniel is partly a reflection of the Jewish bilingualism of the time.   

Furthermore, since Babylon was the largest empire in the world at the time, Aramaic was known as "the language of international protocols" (commentary on Isaiah 36:11, ESV Study Bible ) ; and being a message to "all peoples, nations, and languages ​​that dwell in all the earth," it makes sense that Nebuchadnezzar's edict was written in this language (Daniel 4: 1).   

A story of humiliation

Most of the ancient pagan kings boasted of erecting monuments proclaiming their military power and success, and Nebuchadnezzar was no exception. I had a lot of those. But the king's edict in Daniel 4 does not follow the normal pattern of kings at all, because in his message Nebuchadnezzar not only recounts a dream confirming the prestige of his kingdom, but also the story of his personal humiliation.

Most people (especially kings) don't like to talk about their flaws. However, for some reason — apparently because he understood something he thought everyone should know — Nebuchadnezzar openly admitted a serious personal error and the punishment he received for it.

His punishment was that he went crazy; His insanity was so great that he lost his mind completely and lived like an animal for “seven times” —apparently seven years (Daniel 4: 32-33).

But what was the cause of that punishment? Your pride. Through a dream God had warned the king about his imminent fall and Daniel, the interpreter of the dream, had advised him: "your sins redeem with justice, and your iniquities doing mercies towards the oppressed, because perhaps it will be that a prolongation of your tranquility ”(v. 27).

But Nebuchadnezzar could not contain himself. Just a year later, while walking in his royal palace, "the king spoke and said: Is not this the great Babylon that I built for the royal house with the force of my power, and for the glory of my majesty?" (v. 30).

God's response was immediate: "King Nebuchadnezzar, you are told: The kingdom has been taken from you" (v. 31). Thereafter, Nebuchadnezzar was humiliated for seven years with a terrible mental illness.

The King's Edict

Nebuchadnezzar's edict begins with the king addressing “all peoples, nations, and languages ​​that dwell in all the earth” (Daniel 4: 1). It was a message to the whole world.

Then, after the desire for peace that was customary in the East (v. 1), Nebuchadnezzar explains what is the purpose of his message: “It is convenient for me to declare the signs and miracles that the Most High God has done with me. How great are his signs, and how powerful are his wonders! His kingdom, everlasting kingdom, and His lordship from generation to generation ”(vv. 2-3).

Although the king had previously known of the existence of God and had shown him respect in his interactions with Daniel and his three Jewish friends, it appears that this time he really had reached a deep understanding of the supremacy of God. That might be the reason why, instead of starting his edict by speaking of his own greatness and majesty, he focused on the Almighty and what He had done.

Later, Nebuchadnezzar continues to relate that he had a dream, interpreted by Daniel, where God warned him about the imminent illness that he would suffer “until you know that the Most High has dominion in the kingdom of men, and that he gives it to whomever he wants. ”(V. 25). In other words, Nebuchadnezzar was to recognize "that heaven rules" (v. 26).

Then the king confirms that God's punishment did indeed come (v. 33).

But after his humiliating experience, and after God gave him back his mental abilities, Nebuchadnezzar writes: “But at the end of time I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes to heaven, and my reason was returned to me; and I blessed the Most High, and praised and glorified him who lives forever, whose dominion is everlasting, and his kingdom for all ages. All the inhabitants of the earth are considered as nothing; and he does according to his will… there is no one to stop his hand, and say to him: What are you doing?… he can humiliate those who walk with pride ”(vv. 34-35, 37).

How will we respond?

Scholars debate whether Nebuchadnezzar really made a deep and serious commitment to God or not. From his edict, it is at least evident that he did acknowledge his supremacy. But the Bible does not say whether the king left his pagan gods to worship only the true God.

Only God, who "knows the secrets of the heart" (Psalm 44:21; compare Acts 15: 8) can judge the fate of this king. But no matter what the end result may have been, Nebuchadnezzar's message to the whole world — preserved for us as well — is still valid. As Nebuchadnezzar, each one of us must recognize that God is supreme, that he is carrying out a plan on Earth and that he will judge us according to our actions.

Obviously the most important elements of Nebuchadnezzar's message are present throughout the entire Bible. This king was not the only one who underlined these important instructions. But in his time, he was in a privileged position to spread that message to everyone.

Years later, Paul also spoke about these principles in his letter to the members of the Church in Corinth: “Because it is necessary for all of us to appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ, so that each one receives according to what he has done while he was in the body, be it good or be it bad ”(2 Corinthians 5:10). And he reminds members of the Church in Rome that "we will all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ" (Romans 14:10).

Although Nebuchadnezzar's understanding was limited, his message remains valid even today. In fact, what is behind his words is a fundamental aspect of the gospel of the Kingdom of God: God is supreme, he is developing an imminent plan to save humanity, he will judge each of us according to our works, and he expects us to repent We humbly believe in His Word.