I am Nebuchadnezzar
Those who follow Explore Bible notes have been reading the book of Daniel this week. In chapter 3, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon sets up a massive image of gold and requires everyone to fall down and worship it. There is a high take-up for this activity, thanks to the ‘encouragement’ of being thrown into a blazing furnace if you refuse. The writer of the notes, David Helm, takes a fresh and surprising line on this tale:
“It is very easy for us to stand outside this story and judge Nebuchadnezzar. If we do place ourselves in the story, we tend to identify with Daniel’s three friends who stand courageously against the call to worship anything other than God. But, if we are honest, we realise we have much in common with the king. The architecture we build in our own lives and souls is aimed at getting recognition from those around us. We love to call everyone within earshot to respect to our deeds. We set up our achievements as things to be celebrated, so that we might be worshipped.” Am I the only one who reads those words and thinks, “Yes, that’s right, I am Nebuchadnezzar”?
Fortunately, there is good news in this story: “God works very differently. When he came to earth, he came to be ‘lifted up’ – on a criminal’s cross (John 3:14). Why? To pay the penalty himself for our self-worship, so that we can be freed to worship him and serve his name.”