A blog from Kris Vallotton Ministries
Originally posted here.

An excerpt from Kris Vallotton’s upcoming book, Heavy Rain.

“False humility is largely to blame for the Church’s Tall Poppy Syndrome. In my first book, The Supernatural Ways of Royalty, I investigated the serious misunderstanding I regularly encounter among Christians about what humility really is. At the risk of being redundant, I want to briefly review one biblical example that shows how true humility is entirely compatible with confidence, strength, and every other aspect of greatness.

The fourth chapter of Daniel records the testimony of King Nebuchadnezzar, who had a dream about a huge tree that covered the earth and became shade for the animals, birds, and creatures of the planet. In the midst of this amazing vision, the king heard a voice shout:

Chop down the tree and cut off its branches, strip off its foliage and scatter its fruit; let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches. Yet leave the stump with its roots in the ground, but with a band of iron and bronze around it in the new grass of the field; and let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him share with the beasts in the grass of the earth. Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let a beast’s mind be given to him, and let seven periods of time pass over him. (Daniel 4:14-16)

The king was understandably freaked out by the dream and called in his top spiritual consultants to interpret it. Just as the magicians, conjurers, and diviners were communicating to the king that they couldn’t translate the dream, Daniel walked in the room. (I love this guy’s timing; he always seemed to be just a little bit late everywhere he went.) Nebuchadnezzar related the dream to Daniel, who immediately got the interpretation from God.

What Daniel did next may be a little off the subject of humility, but it is still worth commenting on. Before he explained the meaning of the dream, Daniel said to the king, ‘My lord, if only the dream applied to those who hate you and its interpretation to your adversaries!’ (Daniel 4:19). Daniel truly loved the kings he served in spite of the fact that they destroyed his country, probably killed his family, and took him captive to serve at their will. Nebuchadnezzar was so wicked that he probably would have made Adolph Hitler look like a common street thug. But there is a powerful lesson imbedded in this story. If we are ever going to be invited into the chambers of kings to mentor the nations, we better figure out how to love our enemies and help leaders we don’t agree with.

Now back to the story. Daniel told the king that the tree the angel chopped down in the dream actually represented him! Apparently, the king’s destructive behavior, arrogance, and pride had finally gotten him in hot water with God, and the Lord of Heaven was about to severely discipline him. Daniel went on to counsel Nebuchadnezzar to try to avoid this calamity by humbling himself. But the hardheaded king didn’t listen, and a year later his world came crashing in on him. Here is the account of his demise:

He was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon. The king reflected and said, ‘Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?’ While the word was in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: sovereignty has been removed from you, and you will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the beasts of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and seven periods of time will pass over you until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.’ Immediately the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled; and he was driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws. (Daniel 4:29-33)

The insane King lived in exile for seven years. Finally that terrible season came to an end and God restored him. Evidently, Nebuchadnezzar kept a journal of his restoration because his thoughts and reflections became part of the book of Daniel. King Nebuchadnezzar wrote:

At that time my reason returned to me. And my majesty and splendor were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom, and my counselors and my nobles began seeking me out; so I was reestablished in my sovereignty, and surpassing greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride. (Daniel 4:36-37)

God removed the king because of his arrogance and self-absorbed lifestyle. But when the Almighty restored Nebuchadnezzar’s mind, the king said humbly that he had majesty, splendor, glory, sovereignty and surpassing greatness! The obvious point here is that humility isn’t feeling bad about yourself or thinking you are little, insignificant, or anything else demeaning. True humility is actually just remembering the source of your greatness. The truth of God’s grace humbles a man without degrading him and exalts a man without inflating him!

Advertisement