Day 219: Daniel 4-6

I said yesterday that Nebuchadnezzar was nuts. It's true - but he experienced a time of true insanity and lived in the wilderness like an animal (4:33). At the end of that time it seems as if Nebuchadnezzar had a real change of heart. He had respected Daniel and his beliefs but this experience seems to have humbled him and, while there's not a lot more written about Nebuchadnezzar after this, what is written seems to indicate a different man:

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble. (4:37)

It's interesting to read about Daniel and his life as an exile. On the one hand, he was not a citizen but was one of the captives of a conquered nation. On the other hand, it seems he was a well-respected man for his wisdom, insight and character. Nebuchadnezzar had appointed him to a high position in his government. However, his son Belshazzar apparently didn't really know about him...nor did he learn anything from his father's experiences. While Daniel was held in great esteem he had to continually earn that esteem. He wasn't a citizen...he was in exile.

When you think about it, it's true that we (Christians) live in a great nation. It's also true that our real citizenship is elsewhere. Sometimes there will be men and women among us who are held in esteem by the leaders of the world...but the truth is that they will probably never be truly accepted in these circles as one of their own.

We are different. We are aliens.

We are captives and exiles in a foreign land doing the best we can to do as much good as we can knowing that at some point we will taken home where we belong.